Geography of Jefferson County
Jefferson County sits at roughly 29.88° N and 94.16° W in the Gulf Coast region of Texas, spanning 904 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 Beaumont, and the county shares boundaries with 4 neighboring counties.
Population & demographics
With approximately 254,321 residents across 904 square miles, Jefferson County has a population density of about 281.3 people per square mile. Density here reflects a mix of small cities, suburbs, and rural land.
County seat: Beaumont
Beaumont serves as the seat of government for Jefferson 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
Jefferson County was established in 1836 and was named for Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1801–1809). It was carved from territory previously part of One of the original 23 counties.
Jefferson County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Jefferson 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 Jefferson County, Texas located?+
Jefferson County is located in the Gulf Coast region of Texas at approximately 29.883° N, 94.162° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48245. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Jefferson County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Jefferson County in square miles?+
Jefferson County covers approximately 904 square miles of land in the Gulf Coast region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 136th 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 Jefferson County, Texas?+
Jefferson County has a population of approximately 254,321 residents. With 904 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 281.3 people per square mile, which is densely populated for a Texas county. That makes Jefferson County the 22nd most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Jefferson County?+
Beaumont is the county seat of Jefferson County, Texas, which was organized in 1836 and named for Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1801–1809). Jefferson County was originally carved out of One of the original 23 counties. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Jefferson County are located in Beaumont.
Which Texas counties border Jefferson County?+
Jefferson County shares borders with Hardin, Chambers, Liberty, and Orange counties. These 4 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 Gulf Coast region.
Where can I download or print a map of Jefferson County?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Jefferson County is 48245, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 245. 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.