Geography of Hamilton County
Hamilton County is a rural county of 836 square miles and about 8,680 residents, where farms and ranches fill most of the space between Hamilton and its smaller communities.
It lies in the Central Texas region at about 31.70° N, 98.11° W and is 189th in size among Texas's 254 counties. Hamilton County shares boundaries with 6 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Waco (about 58 miles away in a straight line) and Fort Worth (about 85 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 Hamilton 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 8,680 residents across 836 square miles, Hamilton County has a population density of about 10.4 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Hamilton
If you need an official record from Hamilton County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Hamilton 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 Hamilton combines county business with groceries, school events and church.
History & name origin
Hamilton County was established in 1856 and was named for James Hamilton Jr., governor of South Carolina (1830–1832) who gave financial aid to the Republic of Texas. It was carved from territory previously part of Bosque County, Comanche County and Lampasas County.
Hamilton County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Hamilton 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 Hamilton County, Texas located?+
Hamilton County is located in the Central Texas region of Texas at approximately 31.705° N, 98.111° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48193. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Hamilton County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Hamilton County in square miles?+
Hamilton County covers approximately 836 square miles of land in the Central Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 189th 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 Hamilton County, Texas?+
Hamilton County has a population of approximately 8,680 residents. With 836 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 10.4 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Hamilton County the 175th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Hamilton County?+
Hamilton is the county seat of Hamilton County, Texas, which was organized in 1856 and named for James Hamilton Jr., governor of South Carolina (1830–1832) who gave financial aid to the Republic of Texas. Hamilton County was originally carved out of Bosque County, Comanche County and Lampasas County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Hamilton County are located in Hamilton.
Which Texas counties border Hamilton County?+
Hamilton County shares borders with Mills, Bosque, Lampasas, Coryell, Comanche, and Erath counties. These 6 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 Hamilton County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Hamilton County is 48193, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 193. 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.