Geography of Starr County
Starr County is built around Rio Grande City and a handful of smaller towns, with about 66,319 residents across 1,223 square miles of mixed town and countryside.
It lies in the South Texas region at about 26.56° N, 98.74° W and is 40th in size among Texas's 254 counties. It is a border county, touching Mexico (along the Rio Grande). Starr County shares boundaries with 4 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are McAllen (about 40 miles away in a straight line) and Laredo (about 81 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 Starr 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 66,319 residents across 1,223 square miles, Starr County has a population density of about 54.2 people per square mile. Density here reflects a mix of small cities, suburbs, and rural land.
County seat: Rio Grande City
If you need an official record from Starr County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Rio Grande City is where it is kept. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. Rio Grande City also serves as the main shopping, school and healthcare center for much of the county.
History & name origin
Starr County was established in 1848 and was named for James Harper Starr (1809–1890), a treasurer for the Republic of Texas and Confederate official. It was carved from territory previously part of Nueces County.
Starr County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Starr 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 Starr County, Texas located?+
Starr County is located in the South Texas region of Texas at approximately 26.562° N, 98.739° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48427. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Starr County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Starr County in square miles?+
Starr County covers approximately 1,223 square miles of land in the South Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 40th 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 Starr County, Texas?+
Starr County has a population of approximately 66,319 residents. With 1,223 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 54.2 people per square mile, which is moderately populated for a Texas county. That makes Starr County the 56th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Starr County?+
Rio Grande City is the county seat of Starr County, Texas, which was organized in 1848 and named for James Harper Starr (1809–1890), a treasurer for the Republic of Texas and Confederate official. Starr County was originally carved out of Nueces County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Starr County are located in Rio Grande City.
Which Texas counties border Starr County?+
Starr County shares borders with Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Zapata, and Brooks 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 Starr County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Starr 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 Starr 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 Starr County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Starr County is 48427, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 427. 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.