Geography of Waller County
Covering 514 square miles, Waller County combines a regional trade center at Hempstead with farm and ranch land in every direction. About 69,858 people live here.
It lies in the East Texas region at about 30.01° N, 95.99° W and is one of the 25 smallest counties in Texas (237th of 254 by area). Waller County shares boundaries with 6 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Houston (about 41 miles away in a straight line) and College Station (about 47 miles).
East Texas is the state's forested corner — the Piney Woods, red-clay hills, lakes and river bottoms that have more in common with the Deep South than with the open West. Timber, poultry, oil and gas, and growing retirement and lake communities shape its economy.
For a broader view of how Waller 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 69,858 residents across 514 square miles, Waller County has a population density of about 135.9 people per square mile. Density here reflects a mix of small cities, suburbs, and rural land.
County seat: Hempstead
If you need an official record from Waller County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Hempstead is where it is kept. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. Hempstead also serves as the main shopping, school and healthcare center for much of the county.
History & name origin
Waller County was established in 1873 and was named for Edwin Waller (1800–1881), a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and the first mayor of Austin, Texas. It was carved from territory previously part of Austin County and Grimes County.
Waller County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Waller 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 Waller County, Texas located?+
Waller County is located in the East Texas region of Texas at approximately 30.011° N, 95.988° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48473. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Waller County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Waller County in square miles?+
Waller County covers approximately 514 square miles of land in the East Texas region — a compact county by Texas standards. By land area it ranks 237th 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 Waller County, Texas?+
Waller County has a population of approximately 69,858 residents. With 514 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 135.9 people per square mile, which is moderately populated for a Texas county. That makes Waller County the 55th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Waller County?+
Hempstead is the county seat of Waller County, Texas, which was organized in 1873 and named for Edwin Waller (1800–1881), a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and the first mayor of Austin, Texas. Waller County was originally carved out of Austin County and Grimes County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Waller County are located in Hempstead.
Which Texas counties border Waller County?+
Waller County shares borders with Grimes, Harris, Montgomery, Austin, Fort Bend, and Washington 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 East Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Waller County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Waller 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 Waller 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 Waller County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Waller County is 48473, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 473. 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.