Geography of Tarrant County
Tarrant County is one of the urban anchors of Texas. Its 864 square miles hold a population of about 2,248,466, and the county ranks 3rd in the state by population.
It lies in the North Texas region at about 32.77° N, 97.29° W and is 181st in size among Texas's 254 counties. Tarrant County shares boundaries with 6 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Fort Worth (about 3 miles away in a straight line) and Dallas (about 29 miles).
North Texas runs from the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex out to the Red River and the Rolling Plains. It mixes one of America's largest urban regions with wheat fields, cattle country and small towns that grew up along railroads.
For a broader view of how Tarrant 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 2,248,466 residents across 864 square miles, Tarrant County has a population density of about 2602.4 people per square mile. It ranks among the more densely populated counties in Texas — a clear sign of metropolitan urbanization.
County seat: Fort Worth
If you need an official record from Tarrant County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Fort Worth is where it is kept. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. In a county this large, many services are also offered at satellite offices across the county.
History & name origin
Tarrant County was established in 1849 and was named for Edward H. Tarrant, a U.S. Army general who drove the Native Americans out of the future county. It was carved from territory previously part of Navarro County.
Tarrant County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Tarrant 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 Tarrant County, Texas located?+
Tarrant County is located in the North Texas region of Texas at approximately 32.772° N, 97.291° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48439. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Tarrant County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Tarrant County in square miles?+
Tarrant County covers approximately 864 square miles of land in the North Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 181st 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 Tarrant County, Texas?+
Tarrant County has a population of approximately 2,248,466 residents. With 864 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 2602.4 people per square mile, which is highly urban for a Texas county. That makes Tarrant County the 3rd most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Tarrant County?+
Fort Worth is the county seat of Tarrant County, Texas, which was organized in 1849 and named for Edward H. Tarrant, a U.S. Army general who drove the Native Americans out of the future county. Tarrant County was originally carved out of Navarro County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Tarrant County are located in Fort Worth.
Which Texas counties border Tarrant County?+
Tarrant County shares borders with Parker, Dallas, Johnson, Wise, Denton, and Ellis counties. These 6 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 North Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Tarrant County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Tarrant 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 Tarrant 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 Tarrant County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Tarrant County is 48439, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 439. 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.