Geography of Hays County
Much of Hays County's 678 square miles now functions as part of a larger metro area: its population of about 304,390 gives it a density well above the Texas county average.
It lies in the Central Texas region at about 30.06° N, 98.03° W and is 220th in size among Texas's 254 counties. Hays County shares boundaries with 5 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Austin (about 23 miles away in a straight line) and San Antonio (about 52 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 Hays 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 304,390 residents across 678 square miles, Hays County has a population density of about 449.0 people per square mile. Density here reflects a mix of small cities, suburbs, and rural land.
County seat: San Marcos
If you need an official record from Hays County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — San Marcos is where it is kept. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. As the county has grown, some offices have added annex locations closer to newer suburbs.
History & name origin
Hays County was established in 1848 and was named for John Coffee Hays (1817–1883), a leading Texas Ranger and Mexican–American War officer. It was carved from territory previously part of Travis County.
Hays County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Hays 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 Hays County, Texas located?+
Hays County is located in the Central Texas region of Texas at approximately 30.058° N, 98.031° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48209. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Hays County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Hays County in square miles?+
Hays County covers approximately 678 square miles of land in the Central Texas region — a compact county by Texas standards. By land area it ranks 220th 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 Hays County, Texas?+
Hays County has a population of approximately 304,390 residents. With 678 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 449.0 people per square mile, which is densely populated for a Texas county. That makes Hays County the 19th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Hays County?+
San Marcos is the county seat of Hays County, Texas, which was organized in 1848 and named for John Coffee Hays (1817–1883), a leading Texas Ranger and Mexican–American War officer. Hays County was originally carved out of Travis County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Hays County are located in San Marcos.
Which Texas counties border Hays County?+
Hays County shares borders with Travis, Caldwell, Comal, Blanco, and Guadalupe 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 Hays County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Hays 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 Hays 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 Hays County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Hays County is 48209, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 209. 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.