Geography of Nueces County
Nueces County sits at roughly 27.72° N and 97.65° W in the Central Texas region of Texas, spanning 836 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 Corpus Christi, and the county shares boundaries with 4 neighboring counties.
Population & demographics
With approximately 352,992 residents across 836 square miles, Nueces County has a population density of about 422.2 people per square mile. Density here reflects a mix of small cities, suburbs, and rural land.
County seat: Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi serves as the seat of government for Nueces 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
Nueces County was established in 1846 and was named for The Nueces River (Nueces is Spanish for "nuts"). It was carved from territory previously part of San Patricio County.
Nueces County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Nueces 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 Nueces County, Texas located?+
Nueces County is located in the Central Texas region of Texas at approximately 27.724° N, 97.646° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48355. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Nueces County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Nueces County in square miles?+
Nueces County covers approximately 836 square miles of land in the Central Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 190th 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 Nueces County, Texas?+
Nueces County has a population of approximately 352,992 residents. With 836 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 422.2 people per square mile, which is densely populated for a Texas county. That makes Nueces County the 17th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Nueces County?+
Corpus Christi is the county seat of Nueces County, Texas, which was organized in 1846 and named for The Nueces River (Nueces is Spanish for "nuts"). Nueces County was originally carved out of San Patricio County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Nueces County are located in Corpus Christi.
Which Texas counties border Nueces County?+
Nueces County shares borders with Kleberg, San Patricio, Aransas, and Jim Wells 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 Central Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Nueces County?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Nueces 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 Nueces 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 Nueces County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Nueces County is 48355, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 355. 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.