Geography of Gonzales County
Small towns and open country define Gonzales County. Its 20,159 residents are spread across 1,068 square miles, giving the county a density typical of rural Texas.
It lies in the Central Texas region at about 29.46° N, 97.49° W and is 57th in size among Texas's 254 counties. Gonzales County shares boundaries with 7 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Victoria (about 54 miles away in a straight line) and Austin (about 58 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 Gonzales 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 20,159 residents across 1,068 square miles, Gonzales County has a population density of about 18.9 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Gonzales
If you need an official record from Gonzales County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Gonzales is where it is kept. The town shares its name with the county. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. For many residents, a trip to Gonzales combines county business with groceries, school events and church.
History & name origin
Gonzales County was established in 1836 and was named for Its county seat, named in turn for Coahuila y Tejas governor Rafael Gonzales. It was carved from territory previously part of One of the original 23 counties.
Gonzales County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Gonzales 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 Gonzales County, Texas located?+
Gonzales County is located in the Central Texas region of Texas at approximately 29.457° N, 97.493° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48177. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Gonzales County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Gonzales County in square miles?+
Gonzales County covers approximately 1,068 square miles of land in the Central Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 57th 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 Gonzales County, Texas?+
Gonzales County has a population of approximately 20,159 residents. With 1,068 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 18.9 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Gonzales County the 123rd most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Gonzales County?+
Gonzales is the county seat of Gonzales County, Texas, which was organized in 1836 and named for Its county seat, named in turn for Coahuila y Tejas governor Rafael Gonzales. Gonzales County was originally carved out of One of the original 23 counties. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Gonzales County are located in Gonzales.
Which Texas counties border Gonzales County?+
Gonzales County shares borders with Caldwell, Karnes, Lavaca, Wilson, DeWitt, Fayette, and Guadalupe counties. These 7 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 Gonzales County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Gonzales 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 Gonzales 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 Gonzales County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Gonzales County is 48177, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 177. 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.