Geography of Zapata County
Zapata County sits at roughly 27.00° N and 99.17° W in the South Texas region of Texas, spanning 997 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 Zapata, and the county shares boundaries with 3 neighboring counties.
Population & demographics
With approximately 13,753 residents across 997 square miles, Zapata County has a population density of about 13.8 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Zapata
Zapata serves as the seat of government for Zapata 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
Zapata County was established in 1858 and was named for José Antonio Zapata, a local rancher and colonel of the short-lived Republic of the Rio Grande. It was carved from territory previously part of Starr County and Webb County.
Zapata County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Zapata 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 Zapata County, Texas located?+
Zapata County is located in the South Texas region of Texas at approximately 27.001° N, 99.169° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48505. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Zapata County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Zapata County in square miles?+
Zapata County covers approximately 997 square miles of land in the South Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 73rd 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 Zapata County, Texas?+
Zapata County has a population of approximately 13,753 residents. With 997 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 13.8 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Zapata County the 146th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Zapata County?+
Zapata is the county seat of Zapata County, Texas, which was organized in 1858 and named for José Antonio Zapata, a local rancher and colonel of the short-lived Republic of the Rio Grande. Zapata County was originally carved out of Starr County and Webb County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Zapata County are located in Zapata.
Which Texas counties border Zapata County?+
Zapata County shares borders with Jim Hogg, Starr, and Webb counties. These 3 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 South Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Zapata County?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Zapata 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 Zapata 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 Zapata County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Zapata County is 48505, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 505. 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.