Geography of Houston County
Houston County sits at roughly 31.32° N and 95.42° W in the East Texas region of Texas, spanning 1,231 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 Crockett, and the county shares boundaries with 7 neighboring counties.
Population & demographics
With approximately 22,316 residents across 1,231 square miles, Houston County has a population density of about 18.1 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Crockett
Crockett serves as the seat of government for Houston 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
Houston County was established in 1837 and was named for Sam Houston (1793–1863), general of the Texan Revolution, commander at the Battle of San Jacinto and later president of the Republic of Texas, U.S. Senator and governor of the state of Texas. It was carved from territory previously part of Nacogdoches County.
Houston County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Houston 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 Houston County, Texas located?+
Houston County is located in the East Texas region of Texas at approximately 31.318° N, 95.423° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48225. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Houston County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Houston County in square miles?+
Houston County covers approximately 1,231 square miles of land in the East Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 39th 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 Houston County, Texas?+
Houston County has a population of approximately 22,316 residents. With 1,231 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 18.1 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Houston County the 111th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Houston County?+
Crockett is the county seat of Houston County, Texas, which was organized in 1837 and named for Sam Houston (1793–1863), general of the Texan Revolution, commander at the Battle of San Jacinto and later president of the Republic of Texas, U.S. Senator and governor of the state of Texas. Houston County was originally carved out of Nacogdoches County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Houston County are located in Crockett.
Which Texas counties border Houston County?+
Houston County shares borders with Leon, Madison, Trinity, Anderson, Angelina, Cherokee, and Walker counties. These 7 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 East Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Houston County?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Houston 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 Houston 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 Houston County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Houston County is 48225, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 225. 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.