Geography of Washington County
Washington County sits at roughly 30.21° N and 96.40° W in the Central Texas region of Texas, spanning 609 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 Brenham, and the county shares boundaries with 7 neighboring counties.
Population & demographics
With approximately 38,288 residents across 609 square miles, Washington County has a population density of about 62.9 people per square mile. Density here reflects a mix of small cities, suburbs, and rural land.
County seat: Brenham
Brenham serves as the seat of government for Washington 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
Washington County was established in 1836 and was named for George Washington, the first president of the United States (1789–1797). It was carved from territory previously part of One of the original 23 counties.
Washington County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Washington 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 Washington County, Texas located?+
Washington County is located in the Central Texas region of Texas at approximately 30.215° N, 96.403° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48477. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Washington County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Washington County in square miles?+
Washington County covers approximately 609 square miles of land in the Central Texas region — a compact county by Texas standards. By land area it ranks 228th 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 Washington County, Texas?+
Washington County has a population of approximately 38,288 residents. With 609 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 62.9 people per square mile, which is moderately populated for a Texas county. That makes Washington County the 86th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Washington County?+
Brenham is the county seat of Washington County, Texas, which was organized in 1836 and named for George Washington, the first president of the United States (1789–1797). Washington County was originally carved out of One of the original 23 counties. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Washington County are located in Brenham.
Which Texas counties border Washington County?+
Washington County shares borders with Grimes, Lee, Waller, Austin, Brazos, Burleson, and Fayette counties. These 7 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 Washington County?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Washington County is 48477, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 477. 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.