Geography of Refugio County
Small towns and open country define Refugio County. Its 6,657 residents are spread across 770 square miles, giving the county a density typical of rural Texas.
It lies in the Central Texas region at about 28.32° N, 97.16° W and is 206th 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. Refugio County shares boundaries with 6 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Victoria (about 34 miles away in a straight line) and Corpus Christi (about 39 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 Refugio 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 6,657 residents across 770 square miles, Refugio County has a population density of about 8.6 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Refugio
If you need an official record from Refugio County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Refugio is where it is kept. The town shares its name with the county. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. For many residents, a trip to Refugio combines county business with groceries, school events and church.
History & name origin
Refugio County was established in 1836 and was named for Its county seat, which was named for the Spanish mission Nuestra Señora del Refugio, "Our Lady of Refuge". It was carved from territory previously part of One of the original 23 counties.
Refugio County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Refugio 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 Refugio County, Texas located?+
Refugio County is located in the Central Texas region of Texas at approximately 28.325° N, 97.165° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48391. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Refugio County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Refugio County in square miles?+
Refugio County covers approximately 770 square miles of land in the Central Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 206th 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 Refugio County, Texas?+
Refugio County has a population of approximately 6,657 residents. With 770 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 8.6 people per square mile, which is sparsely populated for a Texas county. That makes Refugio County the 187th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Refugio County?+
Refugio is the county seat of Refugio County, Texas, which was organized in 1836 and named for Its county seat, which was named for the Spanish mission Nuestra Señora del Refugio, "Our Lady of Refuge". Refugio County was originally carved out of One of the original 23 counties. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Refugio County are located in Refugio.
Which Texas counties border Refugio County?+
Refugio County shares borders with San Patricio, Victoria, Aransas, Bee, Calhoun, and Goliad 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 Refugio County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Refugio 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 Refugio 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 Refugio County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Refugio County is 48391, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 391. 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.