Geography of McLennan County
McLennan County has grown into a suburban county, with about 272,020 people living across 1,042 square miles. Subdivisions, commuter corridors and remaining farmland sit side by side here.
It lies in the Central Texas region at about 31.55° N, 97.20° W and is 67th in size among Texas's 254 counties. McLennan County shares boundaries with 6 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Waco (about 3 miles away in a straight line) and College Station (about 82 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 McLennan 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 272,020 residents across 1,042 square miles, McLennan County has a population density of about 261.1 people per square mile. Density here reflects a mix of small cities, suburbs, and rural land.
County seat: Waco
County government for McLennan County is based in Waco. 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. As the county has grown, some offices have added annex locations closer to newer suburbs.
History & name origin
McLennan County was established in 1850 and was named for Neil McLennan, an early settler in the future county. It was carved from territory previously part of Limestone County and Milam County.
McLennan County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about McLennan 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 McLennan County, Texas located?+
McLennan County is located in the Central Texas region of Texas at approximately 31.552° N, 97.202° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48309. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for McLennan County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is McLennan County in square miles?+
McLennan County covers approximately 1,042 square miles of land in the Central Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 67th 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 McLennan County, Texas?+
McLennan County has a population of approximately 272,020 residents. With 1,042 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 261.1 people per square mile, which is densely populated for a Texas county. That makes McLennan County the 21st most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of McLennan County?+
Waco is the county seat of McLennan County, Texas, which was organized in 1850 and named for Neil McLennan, an early settler in the future county. McLennan County was originally carved out of Limestone County and Milam County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for McLennan County are located in Waco.
Which Texas counties border McLennan County?+
McLennan County shares borders with Hill, Bosque, Limestone, Coryell, Bell, and Falls 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 McLennan County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the McLennan 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 McLennan 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 McLennan County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for McLennan County is 48309, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 309. 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.