Geography of Madison County
Small towns and open country define Madison County. Its 14,226 residents are spread across 470 square miles, giving the county a density typical of rural Texas.
It lies in the East Texas region at about 30.97° N, 95.93° W and is one of the 25 smallest counties in Texas (240th of 254 by area). Madison County shares boundaries with 5 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are College Station (about 33 miles away in a straight line) and Waco (about 83 miles).
East Texas is the state's forested corner — the Piney Woods, red-clay hills, lakes and river bottoms that have more in common with the Deep South than with the open West. Timber, poultry, oil and gas, and growing retirement and lake communities shape its economy.
For a broader view of how Madison 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 14,226 residents across 470 square miles, Madison County has a population density of about 30.3 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Madisonville
County government for Madison County is based in Madisonville. 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. For many residents, a trip to Madisonville combines county business with groceries, school events and church.
History & name origin
Madison County was established in 1853 and was named for James Madison, the fourth president of the United States (1809–1817). It was carved from territory previously part of Grimes County, Leon County and Walker County.
Madison County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Madison 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 Madison County, Texas located?+
Madison County is located in the East Texas region of Texas at approximately 30.965° N, 95.928° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48313. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Madison County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Madison County in square miles?+
Madison County covers approximately 470 square miles of land in the East Texas region — a compact county by Texas standards. By land area it ranks 240th 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 Madison County, Texas?+
Madison County has a population of approximately 14,226 residents. With 470 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 30.3 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Madison County the 144th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Madison County?+
Madisonville is the county seat of Madison County, Texas, which was organized in 1853 and named for James Madison, the fourth president of the United States (1809–1817). Madison County was originally carved out of Grimes County, Leon County and Walker County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Madison County are located in Madisonville.
Which Texas counties border Madison County?+
Madison County shares borders with Grimes, Houston, Leon, Brazos, and Walker 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 East Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Madison County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Madison 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 Madison 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 Madison County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Madison County is 48313, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 313. 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.