Geography of Tarrant County
Tarrant County sits at roughly 32.77° N and 97.29° W in the North Texas region of Texas, spanning 864 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 Fort Worth, and the county shares boundaries with 6 neighboring counties.
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
Fort Worth serves as the seat of government for Tarrant 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
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. Every answer is generated from the official U.S. Census data backing this site.
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?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Tarrant 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 Tarrant 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 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.