Geography of Real County
Real County is classic frontier Texas: 700 square miles of open land with only about 2,745 residents, which makes it one of the most thinly settled counties in the state (207th of 254 by density).
It lies in the South Texas region at about 29.83° N, 99.82° W and is 216th in size among Texas's 254 counties. Real County shares boundaries with 4 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are San Antonio (about 85 miles away in a straight line) and San Angelo (about 118 miles).
South Texas covers the brush country, the Rio Grande Valley and the ranchlands south of San Antonio. Its culture is strongly shaped by its Tejano heritage and its ties to Mexico, and its economy blends citrus and vegetable farming, ranching, trade and energy.
For a broader view of how Real 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 2,745 residents across 700 square miles, Real County has a population density of about 3.9 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Leakey
If you need an official record from Real County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Leakey is where it is kept. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. In a county this sparsely settled, Leakey may be one of only a few incorporated towns.
History & name origin
Real County was established in 1913 and was named for Julius Real, a rancher and state senator. It was carved from territory previously part of Bandera County, Edwards County and Kerr County.
Real County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Real 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 Real County, Texas located?+
Real County is located in the South Texas region of Texas at approximately 29.832° N, 99.822° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48385. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Real County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Real County in square miles?+
Real County covers approximately 700 square miles of land in the South Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 216th 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 Real County, Texas?+
Real County has a population of approximately 2,745 residents. With 700 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 3.9 people per square mile, which is sparsely populated for a Texas county. That makes Real County the 226th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Real County?+
Leakey is the county seat of Real County, Texas, which was organized in 1913 and named for Julius Real, a rancher and state senator. Real County was originally carved out of Bandera County, Edwards County and Kerr County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Real County are located in Leakey.
Which Texas counties border Real County?+
Real County shares borders with Kerr, Uvalde, Bandera, and Edwards 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 South Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Real County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Real 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 Real 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 Real County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Real County is 48385, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 385. 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.