Geography of Jefferson County
Jefferson County has grown into a suburban county, with about 254,321 people living across 904 square miles. Subdivisions, commuter corridors and remaining farmland sit side by side here.
It lies in the Gulf Coast region at about 29.88° N, 94.16° W and is 136th 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. Jefferson County shares boundaries with 4 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Beaumont (about 14 miles away in a straight line) and Houston (about 73 miles).
The Gulf Coast region is low, flat and closely tied to the water — bays, barrier islands, rice fields and coastal prairie, along with ports, refineries and petrochemical plants that are central to the Texas economy. Hurricanes and flooding are real planning concerns here.
For a broader view of how Jefferson 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 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
If you need an official record from Jefferson County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Beaumont is where it is kept. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. As the county has grown, some offices have added annex locations closer to newer suburbs.
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. Figures are sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau; answers are written and reviewed by the Texas County Map team.
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?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 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.