Population118,908 (July 1, 2025 estimate)
Pine Woods Beside the Colorado River
Bastrop County, TexasBastrop County brings together Central Texas communities, the Colorado River and the distinctive Lost Pines landscape. Bastrop serves as the county seat, while Elgin and Smithville add their own places to the county map. For visitors, the appeal lies in combining time in town with a closer look at the surrounding woods. Prospective residents can use that same mix of communities and landscapes to begin understanding this part of the Austin region.
Bastrop County at a Glance
Population118,908 (July 1, 2025 estimate)
County SeatBastrop
Largest CityElgin
Established1837
ZIP Codes14
Total Area896 sq mi (2,320 km 2 )
Major RoutesU.S. Highway 290 State Highway 21 State Highway 71 State Highway 95 State Highway 304 Loop 109 Loop 150 Loop 223 Loop 230 Spur 186
Area Code512 / 737 / 830 / 979
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
Discover the County
Bastrop County
The county’s roots reach back to the Municipality of Mina, established in 1834 under Coahuila y Tejas. In 1837, the Republic of Texas changed the county and town names to Bastrop, honoring Felipe Enrique Neri, Baron de Bastrop. The early jurisdiction covered far more territory than today’s county, and subsequent boundary changes gradually produced the modern map. Its history is therefore tied both to local settlement and to the formation of surrounding Central Texas counties.
The Lost Pines give this part of Central Texas a recognizable natural character. Loblolly pine woodland grows apart from the larger East Texas forest, alongside post oak landscapes and prairie. Bastrop and Buescher state parks offer ways to experience that setting, with current access and activity information available from Texas Parks and Wildlife. Combine a park visit with time in Bastrop or Smithville, allowing for travel between the communities and the wooded countryside.
What Shapes Us
From Mina Onward
The county’s earlier name, Mina, recalls its history before Texas independence. Its 1837 renaming connects the modern county with the Republic of Texas period.
The Lost Pines
A separated stand of loblolly pines helps distinguish the county’s landscape. Sandy soils, woodland and the Colorado River give visitors several environments to notice.
Several Local Centers
Bastrop, Elgin and Smithville provide different starting points for county life. Planning around individual communities is more useful than treating the whole county as one destination.
River towns and pine woods shape a shared home.
My Local Guide
Bastrop County
Our County. Our Stories.
KXAN — Bastrop County
Woman dead, man injured in shooting in Bastrop
Just before 6 p.m., the Bastrop Police officers responded to reports of a gun shot wound at 1200…
Read the Story Sep 14, 2026 • 2 min read
News & resources for Bastrop County
Local reporting when available, plus statewide Texas news and official resources.
Woman dead, man injured in shooting in Bastrop
Just before 6 p.m., the Bastrop Police officers responded to reports of a gun shot wound at 1200…
KXAN — Bastrop County • Sep 14, 2026 • 2 min read
TribCast: Are Texas’ voter systems ready for a contentious election?
Votebeat's Natalia Contreras joins TribCast to explain the state of Texas’ voter rolls one month before election day.
The Texas Tribune — Statewide • Oct 6, 2026 • 2 min read
Democrat Jon Rosenthal outraises Bo French in Railroad Commission race in latest report
A big chunk of Rosenthal’s haul came after French’s racist social media comments following a UT-Austin football game…
The Texas Tribune — Statewide • Oct 6, 2026 • 2 min read
Greg Abbott outraised Gina Hinojosa but burned through much of his campaign cash in Texas governor’s race
Abbott outspent Hinojosa 6-to-1 from July to late September, but the governor’s narrow polling lead was largely unchanged…
The Texas Tribune — Statewide • Oct 6, 2026 • 2 min read
Law enforcement Democrat, GOP Air Force vet upend partisan script in race for new San Antonio U.S. House district
The 35th Congressional District was redrawn to elect a Republican, but Latino voters’ brewing leftward shift has put…
The Texas Tribune — Statewide • Oct 6, 2026 • 2 min read
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
County Resources
Useful connections for everyday life
Find public information and services through the county and relevant service providers.
Government
County & local resources
County Commissioners
Commissioners court information, meetings and county business.
Food, housing & family support
Central Texas Food Bank — food assistance
Regional food-bank network serving Bastrop County. Find a nearby pantry or distribution and confirm its schedule before visiting.
Central Texas Food Bank — food assistance — details and contacts
2-1-1 Texas — local assistance
Search community assistance by location and type of need, including food, housing and family support.
Texas HHS — local family support
Search family-support programs and local services for parents and caregivers.
Schools
County & local resources
Smithville ISD
School and district information, contacts and educational resources.
Child care & learning
Texas Child Care Connection — scholarships
Review child-care scholarship information and the application process for families who need care while working or attending education or training.
Texas Child Care Connection — scholarships — details and contacts
Bastrop County — AgriLife Extension
Find county Extension contacts, local educational programs and 4-H information.
Hospitals
County & local resources
Ascension Seton Smithville — Critical Access Hospitals
Health services and information about finding local assistance.
Health, aging & caregiver support
Texas WIC — office locator
Find a nearby WIC office and contact it about appointments, nutrition support and eligibility.
Aging and Disability Resource Centers
Find the regional center that helps older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers explore services and support.
Aging and Disability Resource Centers — details and contacts
Local mental and behavioral health authorities
Use the Texas HHS directory to find the authority serving your county and its contact information.
Local mental and behavioral health authorities — details and contacts
Public Safety
County & local resources
Sheriff
Sheriff’s office information, public safety resources and non-emergency contacts.
Emergency Services
For an immediate emergency, call 911. These links provide emergency planning, coordination and recovery information.
County & local resources
Emergency Management
Emergency preparedness, local alerts and response information.
Texas Division of Emergency Management — Region 8 serving Bastrop County
Emergency preparedness, local alerts and response information.
Prepare before an emergency
Texas Ready — emergency planning materials
Download emergency plans, supply checklists and preparedness materials in English and Spanish.
Texas Ready — emergency planning materials — details and contacts
State Parks
County & local resources
Buescher State Park
Park locations, visitor information and current access details.
Trails
Selected local walking, hiking, cycling or paddling options. Check the linked operator or local tourism information for access, fees and current conditions.
County & local resources
Utilities
Water utilities listed for the county. Confirm the provider for your specific address; service territories vary within county lines.
County & local resources
AQUA WATER SUPPLY CORPORATION
Utility services, consumer information and provider contacts.
BASTROP COUNTY WCID 1
Utility services, consumer information and provider contacts.
BASTROP COUNTY WCID 2
Utility services, consumer information and provider contacts.
Help with household costs
Help for Texans — housing and utility assistance
Find local providers for utility bills, housing, weatherization and accessibility repairs. Providers handle applications; availability and eligibility vary.
Help for Texans — housing and utility assistance — details and contacts
Libraries
County & local resources
Accessible reading & library services
Texas Talking Book Program
Learn about accessible library services for qualifying Texans with visual, physical or reading disabilities.
Courts
Use the named county court links or search the official Texas courts directory by county and court name. Confirm the hearing or filing location directly; a regional court may serve more than one county.
County & local resources
County Court at Law
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Justice of the Peace
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Bastrop County — County Court (County Constitutional Court)
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Bastrop County — 21st District Court (District)
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Bastrop County — 335th District Court (District)
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Bastrop County — 423rd District Court (District)
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Bastrop County — 465th District Court (District)
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Find legal assistance
TexasLawHelp — legal help directory
Search legal-aid organizations by counties covered and area of legal help. Each organization determines service availability and eligibility.
DMV
For local vehicle titles and registration, start with the county tax office. Texas DPS handles driver licenses.
County & local resources
Bastrop County Tax Office
Tax office information, payments and available services.
Texas resources
Buying or selling a vehicle
Vehicle registration, licensing and office information.
Apply for a Texas driver license
Vehicle registration, licensing and office information.
Driver license appointments
Vehicle registration, licensing and office information.
Transportation
These agencies or county departments serve local transportation needs. Check routes, service boundaries, eligibility and advance booking with the provider.
Texas resources
Capital Area Rural Transportation System
Transportation services, routes and travel information.
Postal Services
Local postal facilities listed in USPS property records. Confirm retail hours, available services and temporary closures with USPS before visiting.
County & local resources
National resources
USPS — confirm local hours and services
Postal locations, mailing services and address information.
Veterans
County & local resources
Bastrop County veterans service contact — (512) 581-4006
Veterans services, benefits information and support resources.
Employment
County & local resources
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Employment opportunities, job-search assistance and workforce services.
Job search & employment support
Workforce Solutions — find an office
Find nearby workforce offices for job-search, training and employer services.
Vocational rehabilitation — office lookup
Find a vocational rehabilitation office to discuss employment services for people with disabilities.
Vocational rehabilitation — office lookup — details and contacts
A little local knowledge goes a long way
Find practical information before you visit or make a move.
Helpful Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Start with the essentials, then follow the source links for more detail.
Bastrop is the county seat of Bastrop County, Texas.
The county overview lists Elgin as its largest community.
The total area is 896 sq mi (2,320 km 2 ), including land and water.
Use the Bastrop County government website for county offices and public information.
The Lost Pines are a separated area of loblolly pine woodland, with roughly 100 miles of other woodland between them and the East Texas Pineywoods. Texas Parks and Wildlife’s nature guide explains the landscape and its soils.
Buescher State Park offers forest trails and camping options. Check the park’s current alerts and reservation information before planning an outing.
Park Road 1C connects the two parks. The Buescher park guide describes the hilly route and provides information for drivers and cyclists.
For office information, start with Bastrop County — Tax Assessor-Collector. Check that page for current office details before a visit.
The county links residents to Bastrop County — County Clerk. Check that page for current office details before a visit.
Use the county’s page for Bastrop County — District Clerk. Check that page for current office details before a visit.
For departmental information, use Bastrop County — Sheriff. Check that page for current office details before a visit.
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
My Local Guide
Find Something Fun
Make time for a local discoveryPlan your day around places and experiences in the county.
Kids’ Fun
- Dinosaur Park — Explore an outdoor dinosaur museum in Cedar Creek; check admission and visitor arrangements before traveling.
- Fisherman’s Park — A playground and riverside park in Bastrop. The splash pad is seasonal and closes after September 30.
- Bastrop Public Library family programs — The library offers family programs at no cost; consult its current calendar for suitable activities.
Restaurants
- Southside Market & Barbeque — Bastrop — The Bastrop restaurant is at 534 Highway 71; use the location page for current information.
- Store House Market & Eatery — A downtown Bastrop dining destination at 813 Main Street.
- Roadhouse Bastrop — Burgers, salads and vegetarian selections on Highway 21 East.
Shopping & Retail
- The Painted Porch Bookshop — A downtown Bastrop bookshop; check its own contact page before planning a visit.
- Sugar Shack — A Bastrop shop for candy, handmade sweets and gifts.
- Sage & Co. gifts — Alongside clothing, the Main Street boutique carries home items, gifts and accessories.
Clothing & Boutiques
- Sage & Co. — Women’s clothing and accessories at 913 Main Street in Bastrop.
- KC Outfitter — A boutique in historic downtown Bastrop; browse its current collections online.
- Sandy’s Southern Spice — A Bastrop women’s boutique with clothing, jewelry, shoes and accessories.
Outdoor Fun
- Bastrop State Park — Plan a Lost Pines outing using current park alerts, maps and reservation information.
- Buescher State Park — Explore another Lost Pines park near Smithville; check conditions and visiting arrangements.
- Bob Bryant Park — A Bastrop community park with a nature trail, river overlook and shaded playground.
Free Things To Do
- Lost Pines Art Center — Admission to the art center is free for all ages; classes and special activities may have separate charges.
- Bob Bryant Disc Golf Course — The city lists the disc golf course as open year-round and free to the public.
- Bastrop Public Library family activities — Family programs are available at no cost. Borrowing-card arrangements are a separate matter.
Every place has a story.Find Your Next Favorite.