Geography of Hill County
Covering 962 square miles, Hill County combines a regional trade center at Hillsboro with farm and ranch land in every direction. About 39,503 people live here.
It lies in the Central Texas region at about 31.99° N, 97.13° W and is 83rd in size among Texas's 254 counties. Hill County shares boundaries with 6 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Waco (about 30 miles away in a straight line) and Fort Worth (about 54 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 Hill 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 39,503 residents across 962 square miles, Hill County has a population density of about 41.1 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Hillsboro
County government for Hill County is based in Hillsboro. The commissioners court, made up of a county judge and four precinct commissioners, meets here and sets the county budget, roads policy and tax rate. Hillsboro also serves as the main shopping, school and healthcare center for much of the county.
History & name origin
Hill County was established in 1853 and was named for George Washington Hill, a secretary of war and secretary of the navy under the Republic of Texas. It was carved from territory previously part of Navarro County.
Hill County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Hill 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 Hill County, Texas located?+
Hill County is located in the Central Texas region of Texas at approximately 31.991° N, 97.132° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48217. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Hill County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Hill County in square miles?+
Hill County covers approximately 962 square miles of land in the Central Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 83rd 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 Hill County, Texas?+
Hill County has a population of approximately 39,503 residents. With 962 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 41.1 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Hill County the 81st most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Hill County?+
Hillsboro is the county seat of Hill County, Texas, which was organized in 1853 and named for George Washington Hill, a secretary of war and secretary of the navy under the Republic of Texas. Hill County was originally carved out of Navarro County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Hill County are located in Hillsboro.
Which Texas counties border Hill County?+
Hill County shares borders with Navarro, Bosque, McLennan, Johnson, Limestone, and Ellis 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 Hill County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Hill 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 Hill 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 Hill County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Hill County is 48217, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 217. 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.