Geography of Nueces County
Much of Nueces County's 836 square miles now functions as part of a larger metro area: its population of about 352,992 gives it a density well above the Texas county average.
It lies in the Central Texas region at about 27.72° N, 97.65° W and is 190th 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. Nueces County shares boundaries with 4 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Corpus Christi (about 16 miles away in a straight line) and Victoria (about 84 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 Nueces 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 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 is the county seat of Nueces County. This is where the county courthouse stands and where residents go for property records, vehicle registration, marriage licenses, court cases and voter services handled by the county clerk, district clerk and tax assessor-collector. As the county has grown, some offices have added annex locations closer to newer suburbs.
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. Figures are sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau; answers are written and reviewed by the Texas County Map team.
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?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Nueces 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 Nueces 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 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.