Geography of Smith County
Much of Smith County's 928 square miles now functions as part of a larger metro area: its population of about 252,549 gives it a density well above the Texas county average.
It lies in the East Texas region at about 32.38° N, 95.27° W and is 102nd in size among Texas's 254 counties. Smith County shares boundaries with 7 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Tyler (about 2 miles away in a straight line) and Dallas (about 93 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 Smith 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 252,549 residents across 928 square miles, Smith County has a population density of about 272.1 people per square mile. Density here reflects a mix of small cities, suburbs, and rural land.
County seat: Tyler
If you need an official record from Smith County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Tyler is where it is kept. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. As the county has grown, some offices have added annex locations closer to newer suburbs.
History & name origin
Smith County was established in 1846 and was named for James Smith, a general during the Texas Revolution. It was carved from territory previously part of Nacogdoches County.
Smith County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Smith 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 Smith County, Texas located?+
Smith County is located in the East Texas region of Texas at approximately 32.375° N, 95.269° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48423. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Smith County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Smith County in square miles?+
Smith County covers approximately 928 square miles of land in the East Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 102nd 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 Smith County, Texas?+
Smith County has a population of approximately 252,549 residents. With 928 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 272.1 people per square mile, which is densely populated for a Texas county. That makes Smith County the 23rd most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Smith County?+
Tyler is the county seat of Smith County, Texas, which was organized in 1846 and named for James Smith, a general during the Texas Revolution. Smith County was originally carved out of Nacogdoches County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Smith County are located in Tyler.
Which Texas counties border Smith County?+
Smith County shares borders with Henderson, Van Zandt, Wood, Gregg, Cherokee, Rusk, and Upshur counties. These 7 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 Smith County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Smith 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 Smith 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 Smith County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Smith County is 48423, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 423. 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.