Geography of Lavaca County
Lavaca County is a rural county of 970 square miles and about 20,651 residents, where farms and ranches fill most of the space between Hallettsville and its smaller communities.
It lies in the Central Texas region at about 29.38° N, 96.93° W and is 81st in size among Texas's 254 counties. Lavaca County shares boundaries with 6 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Victoria (about 41 miles away in a straight line) and Austin (about 78 miles).
Central Texas stretches across the Hill Country, the Blackland Prairie and the Cross Timbers. It includes some of the fastest-growing suburbs in the nation along the I-35 corridor, alongside quiet ranching counties with limestone creeks and live-oak savanna.
For a broader view of how Lavaca 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 20,651 residents across 970 square miles, Lavaca County has a population density of about 21.3 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Hallettsville
If you need an official record from Lavaca County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Hallettsville is where it is kept. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. For many residents, a trip to Hallettsville combines county business with groceries, school events and church.
History & name origin
Lavaca County was established in 1842 and was named for The Lavaca River (La vaca is Spanish for "the cow"). It was carved from territory previously part of Colorado County, Fayette County, Gonzales County, Jackson County and Victoria CountyNamed La Baca County until 1846.
Lavaca County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Lavaca 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 Lavaca County, Texas located?+
Lavaca County is located in the Central Texas region of Texas at approximately 29.384° N, 96.930° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48285. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Lavaca County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Lavaca County in square miles?+
Lavaca County covers approximately 970 square miles of land in the Central Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 81st 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 Lavaca County, Texas?+
Lavaca County has a population of approximately 20,651 residents. With 970 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 21.3 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Lavaca County the 119th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Lavaca County?+
Hallettsville is the county seat of Lavaca County, Texas, which was organized in 1842 and named for The Lavaca River (La vaca is Spanish for "the cow"). Lavaca County was originally carved out of Colorado County, Fayette County, Gonzales County, Jackson County and Victoria CountyNamed La Baca County until 1846. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Lavaca County are located in Hallettsville.
Which Texas counties border Lavaca County?+
Lavaca County shares borders with Victoria, Jackson, DeWitt, Colorado, Fayette, and Gonzales 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 Central Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Lavaca County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Lavaca 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 Lavaca 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 Lavaca County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Lavaca County is 48285, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 285. 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.