Geography of Matagorda County
Matagorda County is a rural county of 1,114 square miles and about 36,463 residents, where farms and ranches fill most of the space between Bay City and its smaller communities.
It lies in the Gulf Coast region at about 28.86° N, 95.98° W and is 47th in size among Texas's 254 counties. The county fronts the Gulf of Mexico or its bays, so the coastline, wetlands and storm-surge planning are part of everyday life. Matagorda County shares boundaries with 4 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Victoria (about 62 miles away in a straight line) and Houston (about 72 miles).
The Gulf Coast region is low, flat and closely tied to the water — bays, barrier islands, rice fields and coastal prairie, along with ports, refineries and petrochemical plants that are central to the Texas economy. Hurricanes and flooding are real planning concerns here.
For a broader view of how Matagorda 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 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
If you need an official record from Matagorda County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Bay City 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 Bay City combines county business with groceries, school events and church.
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. Figures are sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau; answers are written and reviewed by the Texas County Map team.
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?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Matagorda 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 Matagorda 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 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.