Geography of Hill County
Hill County sits at roughly 31.99° N and 97.13° W in the Central Texas region of Texas, spanning 962 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 Hillsboro, and the county shares boundaries with 6 neighboring counties.
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
Hillsboro serves as the seat of government for Hill 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
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. Every answer is generated from the official U.S. Census data backing this site.
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?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Hill 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 Hill 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 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.