Geography of Jackson County
Small towns and open country define Jackson County. Its 15,393 residents are spread across 830 square miles, giving the county a density typical of rural Texas.
It lies in the Central Texas region at about 28.95° N, 96.58° W and is 192nd in size among Texas's 254 counties. The county fronts the Gulf of Mexico or its bays, so the coastline, wetlands and storm-surge planning are part of everyday life. Jackson County shares boundaries with 6 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Victoria (about 28 miles away in a straight line) and Houston (about 92 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 Jackson 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 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
County government for Jackson County is based in Edna. 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. For many residents, a trip to Edna combines county business with groceries, school events and church.
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. Figures are sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau; answers are written and reviewed by the Texas County Map team.
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?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Jackson 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 Jackson 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 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.