Geography of Marion County
Marion County is a rural county of 381 square miles and about 9,896 residents, where farms and ranches fill most of the space between Jefferson and its smaller communities.
It lies in the East Texas region at about 32.80° N, 94.36° W and is one of the 25 smallest counties in Texas (244th of 254 by area). It is a border county, touching Louisiana. Marion County shares boundaries with 4 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Texarkana (about 47 miles away in a straight line) and Tyler (about 63 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 Marion 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 9,896 residents across 381 square miles, Marion County has a population density of about 26.0 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Jefferson
If you need an official record from Marion County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Jefferson 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 Jefferson combines county business with groceries, school events and church.
History & name origin
Marion County was established in 1860 and was named for Francis Marion (1732–1795), American Revolutionary War general. It was carved from territory previously part of Cass County.
Marion County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Marion 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 Marion County, Texas located?+
Marion County is located in the East Texas region of Texas at approximately 32.798° N, 94.357° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48315. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Marion County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Marion County in square miles?+
Marion County covers approximately 381 square miles of land in the East Texas region — a compact county by Texas standards. By land area it ranks 244th 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 Marion County, Texas?+
Marion County has a population of approximately 9,896 residents. With 381 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 26.0 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Marion County the 164th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Marion County?+
Jefferson is the county seat of Marion County, Texas, which was organized in 1860 and named for Francis Marion (1732–1795), American Revolutionary War general. Marion County was originally carved out of Cass County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Marion County are located in Jefferson.
Which Texas counties border Marion County?+
Marion County shares borders with Harrison, Morris, Cass, and Upshur counties. These 4 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 Marion County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Marion 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 Marion 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 Marion County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Marion County is 48315, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 315. 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.