Geography of Matagorda County
Matagorda County sits at roughly 28.86° N and 95.98° W in the Gulf Coast region of Texas, spanning 1,114 square miles of terrain that includes the landscape characteristic of the area — from open ranchland and farmland to small-town main streets. The county's centroid is near Bay City, and the county shares boundaries with 4 neighboring counties.
Population & demographics
With approximately 36,463 residents across 1,114 square miles, Matagorda County has a population density of about 32.7 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Bay City
Bay City serves as the seat of government for Matagorda County. The county courthouse, commissioners court, district clerk, and primary public records are located here. As with all 254 Texas counties, the county seat is the anchor of civic life and the principal address for elections, permits, and court filings.
History & name origin
Matagorda County was established in 1836 and was named for The canebrakes which once grew along the coast (Mata gorda is Spanish for "fat bush"). It was carved from territory previously part of One of the original 23 counties.
Matagorda County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Matagorda County geography, population, county seat, neighboring counties, and how to use the maps on this page. Every answer is generated from the official U.S. Census data backing this site.
Where is Matagorda County, Texas located?+
Matagorda County is located in the Gulf Coast region of Texas at approximately 28.856° N, 95.980° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48321. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Matagorda County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Matagorda County in square miles?+
Matagorda County covers approximately 1,114 square miles of land in the Gulf Coast region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 47th 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 Matagorda County, Texas?+
Matagorda County has a population of approximately 36,463 residents. With 1,114 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 32.7 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Matagorda County the 87th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Matagorda County?+
Bay City is the county seat of Matagorda County, Texas, which was organized in 1836 and named for The canebrakes which once grew along the coast (Mata gorda is Spanish for "fat bush"). Matagorda County was originally carved out of One of the original 23 counties. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Matagorda County are located in Bay City.
Which Texas counties border Matagorda County?+
Matagorda County shares borders with Wharton, Brazoria, Calhoun, and Jackson 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 Gulf Coast region.
Where can I download or print a map of Matagorda County?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Matagorda County is available from the "Download PDF" button at the top of this page. The printable layout uses authentic U.S. Census TIGER boundary geometry for Matagorda County, includes a Texas locator inset, and is sized for standard 8.5" × 11" Letter paper. For interactive use, the live Leaflet map on this page supports OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, Esri topographic, and Carto light basemaps with zoom, scale bar, and fullscreen.
What is the FIPS code for Matagorda County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Matagorda County is 48321, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 321. 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.