Geography of Washington County
Washington County is built around Brenham and a handful of smaller towns, with about 38,288 residents across 609 square miles of mixed town and countryside.
It lies in the Central Texas region at about 30.21° N, 96.40° W and is 228th in size among Texas's 254 counties. Washington County shares boundaries with 7 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are College Station (about 29 miles away in a straight line) and Houston (about 69 miles).
Central Texas stretches across the Hill Country, the Blackland Prairie and the Cross Timbers. It includes some of the fastest-growing suburbs in the nation along the I-35 corridor, alongside quiet ranching counties with limestone creeks and live-oak savanna.
For a broader view of how Washington 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 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
If you need an official record from Washington County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Brenham is where it is kept. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. Brenham also serves as the main shopping, school and healthcare center for much of the county.
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. Figures are sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau; answers are written and reviewed by the Texas County Map team.
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?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Washington 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 Washington 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 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.