Geography of Goliad County
Goliad County is a rural county of 854 square miles and about 7,208 residents, where farms and ranches fill most of the space between Goliad and its smaller communities.
It lies in the Central Texas region at about 28.66° N, 97.43° W and is 183rd in size among Texas's 254 counties. Goliad County shares boundaries with 5 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Victoria (about 28 miles away in a straight line) and Corpus Christi (about 59 miles).
Central Texas stretches across the Hill Country, the Blackland Prairie and the Cross Timbers. It includes some of the fastest-growing suburbs in the nation along the I-35 corridor, alongside quiet ranching counties with limestone creeks and live-oak savanna.
For a broader view of how Goliad County fits within the state, download our free Texas map with counties and cities PDF — a printable, high-resolution reference showing all 254 Texas counties labeled with their county seats.
Population & demographics
With approximately 7,208 residents across 854 square miles, Goliad County has a population density of about 8.4 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Goliad
County government for Goliad County is based in Goliad — one of several Texas county seats that carry the same name as their county. The commissioners court, made up of a county judge and four precinct commissioners, meets here and sets the county budget, roads policy and tax rate. For many residents, a trip to Goliad combines county business with groceries, school events and church.
History & name origin
Goliad County was established in 1836 and was named for Its county seat, named in turn as an anagram of Miguel Hidalgo, the inspirational figure behind the Mexican War of Independence. It was carved from territory previously part of One of the original 23 counties.
Goliad County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Goliad County geography, population, county seat, neighboring counties, and how to use the maps on this page. Figures are sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau; answers are written and reviewed by the Texas County Map team.
Where is Goliad County, Texas located?+
Goliad County is located in the Central Texas region of Texas at approximately 28.657° N, 97.427° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48175. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Goliad County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Goliad County in square miles?+
Goliad County covers approximately 854 square miles of land in the Central Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 183rd out of 254 Texas counties. The full bounding box of the county is rendered to scale on the interactive map and matches the U.S. Census TIGER 2023 polygon.
What is the population of Goliad County, Texas?+
Goliad County has a population of approximately 7,208 residents. With 854 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 8.4 people per square mile, which is sparsely populated for a Texas county. That makes Goliad County the 184th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Goliad County?+
Goliad is the county seat of Goliad County, Texas, which was organized in 1836 and named for Its county seat, named in turn as an anagram of Miguel Hidalgo, the inspirational figure behind the Mexican War of Independence. Goliad County was originally carved out of One of the original 23 counties. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Goliad County are located in Goliad.
Which Texas counties border Goliad County?+
Goliad County shares borders with Refugio, Victoria, Bee, Karnes, and DeWitt counties. These 5 neighboring counties are highlighted on the schematic boundary map and linked at the bottom of this page so you can quickly compare population, area, and county seats across the Central Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Goliad County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Goliad County map on this page to save a letter-size PDF of the county boundary, neighboring counties and incorporated places, drawn from U.S. Census Bureau 2023 boundary files. The "Official TxDOT road map" button downloads the Texas Department of Transportation county road mapbook for Goliad County. Both files are stored on this site and download directly. Our free Texas map with counties and cities PDF shows all 254 counties on one sheet.
What is the FIPS code for Goliad County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Goliad County is 48175, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 175. This is the same FIPS code used by the U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line files, the American Community Survey, and most federal datasets that key on county.