Geography of McLennan County
McLennan County sits at roughly 31.55° N and 97.20° W in the Central Texas region of Texas, spanning 1,042 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 Waco, and the county shares boundaries with 6 neighboring counties.
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
Waco serves as the seat of government for McLennan 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
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. Every answer is generated from the official U.S. Census data backing this site.
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?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of McLennan 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 McLennan 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 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.