Geography of Stephens County
Stephens County sits at roughly 32.74° N and 98.84° W in the Central Texas region of Texas, spanning 895 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 Breckenridge, and the county shares boundaries with 5 neighboring counties.
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
Breckenridge serves as the seat of government for Stephens 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
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. Every answer is generated from the official U.S. Census data backing this site.
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?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Stephens 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 Stephens 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 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.