Geography of Jackson County
Jackson County sits at roughly 28.95° N and 96.58° W in the Central Texas region of Texas, spanning 830 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 Edna, and the county shares boundaries with 6 neighboring counties.
Population & demographics
With approximately 15,393 residents across 830 square miles, Jackson County has a population density of about 18.5 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Edna
Edna serves as the seat of government for Jackson 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
Jackson County was established in 1836 and was named for Andrew Jackson, hero of the Battle of New Orleans and the seventh president of the United States (1829–1837). It was carved from territory previously part of One of the original 23 counties.
Jackson County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Jackson 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 Jackson County, Texas located?+
Jackson County is located in the Central Texas region of Texas at approximately 28.954° N, 96.578° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48239. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Jackson County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Jackson County in square miles?+
Jackson County covers approximately 830 square miles of land in the Central Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 192nd 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 Jackson County, Texas?+
Jackson County has a population of approximately 15,393 residents. With 830 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 18.5 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Jackson County the 138th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Jackson County?+
Edna is the county seat of Jackson County, Texas, which was organized in 1836 and named for Andrew Jackson, hero of the Battle of New Orleans and the seventh president of the United States (1829–1837). Jackson County was originally carved out of One of the original 23 counties. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Jackson County are located in Edna.
Which Texas counties border Jackson County?+
Jackson County shares borders with Matagorda, Victoria, Wharton, Calhoun, Lavaca, and Colorado 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 Jackson County?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Jackson 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 Jackson 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 Jackson County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Jackson County is 48239, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 239. 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.