Geography of Hidalgo County
Hidalgo County is one of the urban anchors of Texas. Its 1,569 square miles hold a population of about 921,549, and the county ranks 9th in the state by population.
It lies in the South Texas region at about 26.40° N, 98.18° W and is one of the 25 largest counties in Texas (15th of 254). It is a border county, touching Mexico (along the Rio Grande). Hidalgo County shares boundaries with 5 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are McAllen (about 14 miles away in a straight line) and Brownsville (about 54 miles).
South Texas covers the brush country, the Rio Grande Valley and the ranchlands south of San Antonio. Its culture is strongly shaped by its Tejano heritage and its ties to Mexico, and its economy blends citrus and vegetable farming, ranching, trade and energy.
For a broader view of how Hidalgo 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 921,549 residents across 1,569 square miles, Hidalgo County has a population density of about 587.3 people per square mile. It ranks among the more densely populated counties in Texas — a clear sign of metropolitan urbanization.
County seat: Edinburg
If you need an official record from Hidalgo County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Edinburg is where it is kept. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. In a county this large, many services are also offered at satellite offices across the county.
History & name origin
Hidalgo County was established in 1852 and was named for Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (1753–1811), the priest who raised the call for Mexico's independence from Spain. It was carved from territory previously part of Cameron County.
Hidalgo County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Hidalgo 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 Hidalgo County, Texas located?+
Hidalgo County is located in the South Texas region of Texas at approximately 26.397° N, 98.181° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48215. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Hidalgo County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Hidalgo County in square miles?+
Hidalgo County covers approximately 1,569 square miles of land in the South Texas region — a large county by Texas standards. By land area it ranks 15th 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 Hidalgo County, Texas?+
Hidalgo County has a population of approximately 921,549 residents. With 1,569 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 587.3 people per square mile, which is densely populated for a Texas county. That makes Hidalgo County the 9th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Hidalgo County?+
Edinburg is the county seat of Hidalgo County, Texas, which was organized in 1852 and named for Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (1753–1811), the priest who raised the call for Mexico's independence from Spain. Hidalgo County was originally carved out of Cameron County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Hidalgo County are located in Edinburg.
Which Texas counties border Hidalgo County?+
Hidalgo County shares borders with Kenedy, Starr, Willacy, Brooks, and Cameron 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 South Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Hidalgo County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Hidalgo 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 Hidalgo 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 Hidalgo County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Hidalgo County is 48215, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 215. 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.