Geography of La Salle County
Few places in Texas are as wide open as La Salle County. Only around 6,517 people live in its 1,489 square miles, and ranchland stretches for miles between settlements.
It lies in the South Texas region at about 28.34° N, 99.10° W and is one of the 25 largest counties in Texas (23rd of 254). La Salle County shares boundaries with 5 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Laredo (about 63 miles away in a straight line) and San Antonio (about 83 miles).
South Texas covers the brush country, the Rio Grande Valley and the ranchlands south of San Antonio. Its culture is strongly shaped by its Tejano heritage and its ties to Mexico, and its economy blends citrus and vegetable farming, ranching, trade and energy.
For a broader view of how La Salle 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 6,517 residents across 1,489 square miles, La Salle County has a population density of about 4.4 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Cotulla
County government for La Salle County is based in Cotulla. 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. In a county this sparsely settled, Cotulla may be one of only a few incorporated towns.
History & name origin
La Salle County was established in 1858 and was named for René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle (1643–1687), the French explorer who traveled through Texas. It was carved from territory previously part of Bexar County.
La Salle County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about La Salle 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 La Salle County, Texas located?+
La Salle County is located in the South Texas region of Texas at approximately 28.345° N, 99.100° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48283. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for La Salle County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is La Salle County in square miles?+
La Salle County covers approximately 1,489 square miles of land in the South Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 23rd 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 La Salle County, Texas?+
La Salle County has a population of approximately 6,517 residents. With 1,489 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 4.4 people per square mile, which is sparsely populated for a Texas county. That makes La Salle County the 190th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of La Salle County?+
Cotulla is the county seat of La Salle County, Texas, which was organized in 1858 and named for René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle (1643–1687), the French explorer who traveled through Texas. La Salle County was originally carved out of Bexar County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for La Salle County are located in Cotulla.
Which Texas counties border La Salle County?+
La Salle County shares borders with McMullen, Dimmit, Atascosa, Webb, and Frio counties. These 5 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 South Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of La Salle County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the La Salle 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 La Salle 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 La Salle County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for La Salle County is 48283, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 283. 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.