Geography of Starr County
Starr County sits at roughly 26.56° N and 98.74° W in the South Texas region of Texas, spanning 1,223 square miles of terrain that includes the landscape characteristic of the area — from open ranchland and farmland to small-town main streets. The county's centroid is near Rio Grande City, and the county shares boundaries with 4 neighboring counties.
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
Rio Grande City serves as the seat of government for Starr County. The county courthouse, commissioners court, district clerk, and primary public records are located here. As with all 254 Texas counties, the county seat is the anchor of civic life and the principal address for elections, permits, and court filings.
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. Every answer is generated from the official U.S. Census data backing this site.
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?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Starr County is available from the "Download PDF" button at the top of this page. The printable layout uses authentic U.S. Census TIGER boundary geometry for Starr County, includes a Texas locator inset, and is sized for standard 8.5" × 11" Letter paper. For interactive use, the live Leaflet map on this page supports OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, Esri topographic, and Carto light basemaps with zoom, scale bar, and fullscreen.
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.