Geography of Waller County
Waller County sits at roughly 30.01° N and 95.99° W in the East Texas region of Texas, spanning 514 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 Hempstead, and the county shares boundaries with 6 neighboring counties.
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
Hempstead serves as the seat of government for Waller 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
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. Every answer is generated from the official U.S. Census data backing this site.
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?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Waller 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 Waller 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 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.