Geography of Johnson County
Much of Johnson County's 729 square miles now functions as part of a larger metro area: its population of about 218,048 gives it a density well above the Texas county average.
It lies in the North Texas region at about 32.38° N, 97.37° W and is 210th in size among Texas's 254 counties. Johnson County shares boundaries with 7 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Fort Worth (about 26 miles away in a straight line) and Dallas (about 43 miles).
North Texas runs from the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex out to the Red River and the Rolling Plains. It mixes one of America's largest urban regions with wheat fields, cattle country and small towns that grew up along railroads.
For a broader view of how Johnson 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 218,048 residents across 729 square miles, Johnson County has a population density of about 299.1 people per square mile. Density here reflects a mix of small cities, suburbs, and rural land.
County seat: Cleburne
If you need an official record from Johnson County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Cleburne 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
Johnson County was established in 1854 and was named for Middleton Tate Johnson, a Texas Ranger, soldier in the Mexican–American War, and senator for the Republic of Texas. It was carved from territory previously part of Ellis County, Hill County and Navarro County.
Johnson County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Johnson 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 Johnson County, Texas located?+
Johnson County is located in the North Texas region of Texas at approximately 32.379° N, 97.366° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48251. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Johnson County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Johnson County in square miles?+
Johnson County covers approximately 729 square miles of land in the North Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 210th 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 Johnson County, Texas?+
Johnson County has a population of approximately 218,048 residents. With 729 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 299.1 people per square mile, which is densely populated for a Texas county. That makes Johnson County the 26th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Johnson County?+
Cleburne is the county seat of Johnson County, Texas, which was organized in 1854 and named for Middleton Tate Johnson, a Texas Ranger, soldier in the Mexican–American War, and senator for the Republic of Texas. Johnson County was originally carved out of Ellis County, Hill County and Navarro County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Johnson County are located in Cleburne.
Which Texas counties border Johnson County?+
Johnson County shares borders with Hill, Hood, Parker, Somervell, Bosque, Tarrant, and Ellis 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 North Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Johnson County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Johnson 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 Johnson 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 Johnson County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Johnson County is 48251, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 251. 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.