Geography of Kaufman County
Much of Kaufman County's 786 square miles now functions as part of a larger metro area: its population of about 209,235 gives it a density well above the Texas county average.
It lies in the North Texas region at about 32.60° N, 96.29° W and is 203rd in size among Texas's 254 counties. Kaufman County shares boundaries with 6 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Dallas (about 32 miles away in a straight line) and Tyler (about 60 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 Kaufman 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 209,235 residents across 786 square miles, Kaufman County has a population density of about 266.2 people per square mile. Density here reflects a mix of small cities, suburbs, and rural land.
County seat: Kaufman
County government for Kaufman County is based in Kaufman — one of several Texas county seats that carry the same name as their county. 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. As the county has grown, some offices have added annex locations closer to newer suburbs.
History & name origin
Kaufman County was established in 1848 and was named for David Spangler Kaufman, a Jewish Texas state senator and the second Jewish member of the United States House of Representatives. It was carved from territory previously part of Henderson County.
Kaufman County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Kaufman 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 Kaufman County, Texas located?+
Kaufman County is located in the North Texas region of Texas at approximately 32.599° N, 96.288° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48257. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Kaufman County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Kaufman County in square miles?+
Kaufman County covers approximately 786 square miles of land in the North Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 203rd 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 Kaufman County, Texas?+
Kaufman County has a population of approximately 209,235 residents. With 786 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 266.2 people per square mile, which is densely populated for a Texas county. That makes Kaufman County the 27th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Kaufman County?+
Kaufman is the county seat of Kaufman County, Texas, which was organized in 1848 and named for David Spangler Kaufman, a Jewish Texas state senator and the second Jewish member of the United States House of Representatives. Kaufman County was originally carved out of Henderson County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Kaufman County are located in Kaufman.
Which Texas counties border Kaufman County?+
Kaufman County shares borders with Henderson, Hunt, Van Zandt, Dallas, Rockwall, and Ellis 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 North Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Kaufman County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Kaufman 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 Kaufman 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 Kaufman County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Kaufman County is 48257, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 257. 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.