Geography of Zapata County
Small towns and open country define Zapata County. Its 13,753 residents are spread across 997 square miles, giving the county a density typical of rural Texas.
It lies in the South Texas region at about 27.00° N, 99.17° W and is 73rd in size among Texas's 254 counties. It is a border county, touching Mexico (along the Rio Grande). Zapata County shares boundaries with 3 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Laredo (about 41 miles away in a straight line) and McAllen (about 80 miles).
South Texas covers the brush country, the Rio Grande Valley and the ranchlands south of San Antonio. Its culture is strongly shaped by its Tejano heritage and its ties to Mexico, and its economy blends citrus and vegetable farming, ranching, trade and energy.
For a broader view of how Zapata 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 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 is the county seat of Zapata County, sharing its name with the county itself. This is where the county courthouse stands and where residents go for property records, vehicle registration, marriage licenses, court cases and voter services handled by the county clerk, district clerk and tax assessor-collector. For many residents, a trip to Zapata combines county business with groceries, school events and church.
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. Figures are sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau; answers are written and reviewed by the Texas County Map team.
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?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Zapata 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 Zapata 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 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.