Geography of Hidalgo County
Hidalgo County sits at roughly 26.40° N and 98.18° W in the South Texas region of Texas, spanning 1,569 square miles of terrain that includes the landscape characteristic of the area — from open ranchland and farmland to small-town main streets. The county's centroid is near Edinburg, and the county shares boundaries with 5 neighboring counties.
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
Edinburg serves as the seat of government for Hidalgo County. The county courthouse, commissioners court, district clerk, and primary public records are located here. As with all 254 Texas counties, the county seat is the anchor of civic life and the principal address for elections, permits, and court filings.
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. Every answer is generated from the official U.S. Census data backing this site.
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?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Hidalgo County is available from the "Download PDF" button at the top of this page. The printable layout uses authentic U.S. Census TIGER boundary geometry for Hidalgo County, includes a Texas locator inset, and is sized for standard 8.5" × 11" Letter paper. For interactive use, the live Leaflet map on this page supports OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, Esri topographic, and Carto light basemaps with zoom, scale bar, and fullscreen.
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.