Geography of Stephens County
Stephens County is a rural county of 895 square miles and about 9,380 residents, where farms and ranches fill most of the space between Breckenridge and its smaller communities.
It lies in the Central Texas region at about 32.74° N, 98.84° W and is 161st in size among Texas's 254 counties. Stephens County shares boundaries with 5 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Abilene (about 56 miles away in a straight line) and Wichita Falls (about 84 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 Stephens 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 9,380 residents across 895 square miles, Stephens County has a population density of about 10.5 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Breckenridge
If you need an official record from Stephens County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Breckenridge is where it is kept. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. For many residents, a trip to Breckenridge combines county business with groceries, school events and church.
History & name origin
Stephens County was established in 1858 and was named for Alexander Hamilton Stephens, the only vice-president of the Confederate States of America (1861–1865). It was carved from territory previously part of Bosque CountyNamed Buchanan County until 1861.
Stephens County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Stephens 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 Stephens County, Texas located?+
Stephens County is located in the Central Texas region of Texas at approximately 32.736° N, 98.836° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48429. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Stephens County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Stephens County in square miles?+
Stephens County covers approximately 895 square miles of land in the Central Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 161st 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 Stephens County, Texas?+
Stephens County has a population of approximately 9,380 residents. With 895 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 10.5 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Stephens County the 170th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Stephens County?+
Breckenridge is the county seat of Stephens County, Texas, which was organized in 1858 and named for Alexander Hamilton Stephens, the only vice-president of the Confederate States of America (1861–1865). Stephens County was originally carved out of Bosque CountyNamed Buchanan County until 1861. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Stephens County are located in Breckenridge.
Which Texas counties border Stephens County?+
Stephens County shares borders with Throckmorton, Shackelford, Palo Pinto, Young, and Eastland counties. These 5 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 Stephens County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Stephens 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 Stephens 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 Stephens County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Stephens County is 48429, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 429. 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.