Geography of Newton County
Small towns and open country define Newton County. Its 11,954 residents are spread across 933 square miles, giving the county a density typical of rural Texas.
It lies in the East Texas region at about 30.79° N, 93.74° W and is 95th in size among Texas's 254 counties. It is a border county, touching Louisiana. Newton County shares boundaries with 3 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Beaumont (about 54 miles away in a straight line) and Houston (about 120 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 Newton 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 11,954 residents across 933 square miles, Newton County has a population density of about 12.8 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Newton
County government for Newton County is based in Newton — one of several Texas county seats that carry the same name as their county. 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. For many residents, a trip to Newton combines county business with groceries, school events and church.
History & name origin
Newton County was established in 1846 and was named for John Newton (1755–1780), a veteran of the Revolutionary War. It was carved from territory previously part of Jasper County.
Newton County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Newton 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 Newton County, Texas located?+
Newton County is located in the East Texas region of Texas at approximately 30.787° N, 93.744° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48351. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Newton County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Newton County in square miles?+
Newton County covers approximately 933 square miles of land in the East Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 95th 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 Newton County, Texas?+
Newton County has a population of approximately 11,954 residents. With 933 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 12.8 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Newton County the 154th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Newton County?+
Newton is the county seat of Newton County, Texas, which was organized in 1846 and named for John Newton (1755–1780), a veteran of the Revolutionary War. Newton County was originally carved out of Jasper County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Newton County are located in Newton.
Which Texas counties border Newton County?+
Newton County shares borders with Jasper, Sabine, and Orange counties. These 3 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 Newton County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Newton 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 Newton 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 Newton County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Newton County is 48351, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 351. 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.