Texas Counties: Complete List of All 254 Counties

Texas has 254 counties, more than any other U.S. state. Each county has its own county government and county seat, and counties help provide services such as courts, law enforcement, roads, public records, and other local services.

If you are looking for a Texas county list, this guide gives you all 254 counties and their county seats in alphabetical order. I have also included key facts about the largest and smallest counties, population, county government, regional differences, and county codes.

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Quick Answer: How Many Counties Are in Texas?

Texas has 254 counties.

Each county has a county seat, which is the main location for county government and important county offices. The counties range greatly in size and population. Harris County has more than 5 million residents, while Loving County has only a few dozen people based on the latest population estimates.

The size difference is just as striking. Brewster County covers more than 6,180 square miles of land, while Rockwall County is much smaller.

List of All Texas Counties and County Seats

I find an alphabetical list the easiest way to use a Texas counties reference page. The table below includes all 254 Texas county names and their county seats.

#	Texas County	County Seat
1	Anderson County	Palestine
2	Andrews County	Andrews
3	Angelina County	Lufkin
4	Aransas County	Rockport
5	Archer County	Archer City
6	Armstrong County	Claude
7	Atascosa County	Jourdanton
8	Austin County	Bellville
9	Bailey County	Muleshoe
10	Bandera County	Bandera
11	Bastrop County	Bastrop
12	Baylor County	Seymour
13	Bee County	Beeville
14	Bell County	Belton
15	Bexar County	San Antonio
16	Blanco County	Johnson City
17	Borden County	Gail
18	Bosque County	Meridian
19	Bowie County	New Boston
20	Brazoria County	Angleton
21	Brazos County	Bryan
22	Brewster County	Alpine
23	Briscoe County	Silverton
24	Brooks County	Falfurrias
25	Brown County	Brownwood
26	Burleson County	Caldwell
27	Burnet County	Burnet
28	Caldwell County	Lockhart
29	Calhoun County	Port Lavaca
30	Callahan County	Baird
31	Cameron County	Brownsville
32	Camp County	Pittsburg
33	Carson County	Panhandle
34	Cass County	Linden
35	Castro County	Dimmitt
36	Chambers County	Anahuac
37	Cherokee County	Rusk
38	Childress County	Childress
39	Clay County	Henrietta
40	Cochran County	Morton
41	Coke County	Robert Lee
42	Coleman County	Coleman
43	Collin County	McKinney
44	Collingsworth County	Wellington
45	Colorado County	Columbus
46	Comal County	New Braunfels
47	Comanche County	Comanche
48	Concho County	Paint Rock
49	Cooke County	Gainesville
50	Coryell County	Gatesville
51	Cottle County	Paducah
52	Crane County	Crane
53	Crockett County	Ozona
54	Crosby County	Crosbyton
55	Culberson County	Van Horn
56	Dallam County	Dalhart
57	Dallas County	Dallas
58	Dawson County	Lamesa
59	Deaf Smith County	Hereford
60	Delta County	Cooper
61	Denton County	Denton
62	DeWitt County	Cuero
63	Dickens County	Dickens
64	Dimmit County	Carrizo Springs
65	Donley County	Clarendon
66	Duval County	San Diego
67	Eastland County	Eastland
68	Ector County	Odessa
69	Edwards County	Rocksprings
70	El Paso County	El Paso
71	Ellis County	Waxahachie
72	Erath County	Stephenville
73	Falls County	Marlin
74	Fannin County	Bonham
75	Fayette County	La Grange
76	Fisher County	Roby
77	Floyd County	Floydada
78	Foard County	Crowell
79	Fort Bend County	Richmond
80	Franklin County	Mount Vernon
81	Freestone County	Fairfield
82	Frio County	Pearsall
83	Gaines County	Seminole
84	Galveston County	Galveston
85	Garza County	Post
86	Gillespie County	Fredericksburg
87	Glasscock County	Garden City
88	Goliad County	Goliad
89	Gonzales County	Gonzales
90	Gray County	Pampa
91	Grayson County	Sherman
92	Gregg County	Longview
93	Grimes County	Anderson
94	Guadalupe County	Seguin
95	Hale County	Plainview
96	Hall County	Memphis
97	Hamilton County	Hamilton
98	Hansford County	Spearman
99	Hardeman County	Quanah
100	Hardin County	Kountze
101	Harris County	Houston
102	Harrison County	Marshall
103	Hartley County	Channing
104	Haskell County	Haskell
105	Hays County	San Marcos
106	Hemphill County	Canadian
107	Henderson County	Athens
108	Hidalgo County	Edinburg
109	Hill County	Hillsboro
110	Hockley County	Levelland
111	Hood County	Granbury
112	Hopkins County	Sulphur Springs
113	Houston County	Crockett
114	Howard County	Big Spring
115	Hudspeth County	Sierra Blanca
116	Hunt County	Greenville
117	Hutchinson County	Stinnett
118	Irion County	Mertzon
119	Jack County	Jacksboro
120	Jackson County	Edna
121	Jasper County	Jasper
122	Jeff Davis County	Fort Davis
123	Jefferson County	Beaumont
124	Jim Hogg County	Hebbronville
125	Jim Wells County	Alice
126	Johnson County	Cleburne
127	Jones County	Anson
128	Karnes County	Karnes City
129	Kaufman County	Kaufman
130	Kendall County	Boerne
131	Kenedy County	Sarita
132	Kent County	Jayton
133	Kerr County	Kerrville
134	Kimble County	Junction
135	King County	Guthrie
136	Kinney County	Brackettville
137	Kleberg County	Kingsville
138	Knox County	Benjamin
139	La Salle County	Cotulla
140	Lamar County	Paris
141	Lamb County	Littlefield
142	Lampasas County	Lampasas
143	Lavaca County	Hallettsville
144	Lee County	Giddings
145	Leon County	Centerville
146	Liberty County	Liberty
147	Limestone County	Groesbeck
148	Lipscomb County	Lipscomb
149	Live Oak County	George West
150	Llano County	Llano
151	Loving County	Mentone
152	Lubbock County	Lubbock
153	Lynn County	Tahoka
154	Madison County	Madisonville
155	Marion County	Jefferson
156	Martin County	Stanton
157	Mason County	Mason
158	Matagorda County	Bay City
159	Maverick County	Eagle Pass
160	McCulloch County	Brady
161	McLennan County	Waco
162	McMullen County	Tilden
163	Medina County	Hondo
164	Menard County	Menard
165	Midland County	Midland
166	Milam County	Cameron
167	Mills County	Goldthwaite
168	Mitchell County	Colorado City
169	Montague County	Montague
170	Montgomery County	Conroe
171	Moore County	Dumas
172	Morris County	Daingerfield
173	Motley County	Matador
174	Nacogdoches County	Nacogdoches
175	Navarro County	Corsicana
176	Newton County	Newton
177	Nolan County	Sweetwater
178	Nueces County	Corpus Christi
179	Ochiltree County	Perryton
180	Oldham County	Vega
181	Orange County	Orange
182	Palo Pinto County	Palo Pinto
183	Panola County	Carthage
184	Parker County	Weatherford
185	Parmer County	Farwell
186	Pecos County	Fort Stockton
187	Polk County	Livingston
188	Potter County	Amarillo
189	Presidio County	Marfa
190	Rains County	Emory
191	Randall County	Canyon
192	Reagan County	Big Lake
193	Real County	Leakey
194	Red River County	Clarksville
195	Reeves County	Pecos
196	Refugio County	Refugio
197	Roberts County	Miami
198	Robertson County	Franklin
199	Rockwall County	Rockwall
200	Runnels County	Ballinger
201	Rusk County	Henderson
202	Sabine County	Hemphill
203	San Augustine County	San Augustine
204	San Jacinto County	Coldspring
205	San Patricio County	Sinton
206	San Saba County	San Saba
207	Schleicher County	Eldorado
208	Scurry County	Snyder
209	Shackelford County	Albany
210	Shelby County	Center
211	Sherman County	Stratford
212	Smith County	Tyler
213	Somervell County	Glen Rose
214	Starr County	Rio Grande City
215	Stephens County	Breckenridge
216	Sterling County	Sterling City
217	Stonewall County	Aspermont
218	Sutton County	Sonora
219	Swisher County	Tulia
220	Tarrant County	Fort Worth
221	Taylor County	Abilene
222	Terrell County	Sanderson
223	Terry County	Brownfield
224	Throckmorton County	Throckmorton
225	Titus County	Mount Pleasant
226	Tom Green County	San Angelo
227	Travis County	Austin
228	Trinity County	Groveton
229	Tyler County	Woodville
230	Upshur County	Gilmer
231	Upton County	Rankin
232	Uvalde County	Uvalde
233	Val Verde County	Del Rio
234	Van Zandt County	Canton
235	Victoria County	Victoria
236	Walker County	Huntsville
237	Waller County	Hempstead
238	Ward County	Monahans
239	Washington County	Brenham
240	Webb County	Laredo
241	Wharton County	Wharton
242	Wheeler County	Wheeler
243	Wichita County	Wichita Falls
244	Wilbarger County	Vernon
245	Willacy County	Raymondville
246	Williamson County	Georgetown
247	Wilson County	Floresville
248	Winkler County	Kermit
249	Wise County	Decatur
250	Wood County	Quitman
251	Yoakum County	Plains
252	Young County	Graham
253	Zapata County	Zapata
254	Zavala County	Crystal City

The county-seat list follows the current statewide county reference, with Bowie County shown as New Boston, its present county seat.

Texas Counties at a Glance

A few numbers help show how different Texas counties can be from one another.

Fact	County
Number of counties	254
Largest county by area	Brewster County
Smallest county by area	Rockwall County
Most populous county	Harris County
Least populous county	Loving County
County containing the state capital	Travis County
Texas state FIPS code	48

Texas has 254 counties, and each county has a county number used by state systems. Federal FIPS codes use Texas state code 48 followed by a county code.

Largest Counties in Texas

The phrase largest county in Texas can mean two different things. A county can be large by land area but have a small population, so I prefer to separate these measures.

Largest County in Texas by Area

Brewster County is the largest Texas county by land area. It has about 6,183.8 square miles of land, according to current Census data.

Brewster County is in West Texas and includes much of Big Bend country. Its huge land area does not mean it has a huge population. The county had a 2020 Census population of 9,546.

Largest County in Texas by Population

Harris County is the most populous county in Texas. It includes Houston and had an estimated population of about 5.05 million in July 2025.

This is a good example of why county rankings need context. Harris County is much more densely populated than Brewster County even though Brewster covers far more land.

Other Large Texas Counties by Population

Several other Texas counties have populations in the millions or close to that level. Dallas County had about 2.66 million residents in July 2025, placing it among the largest counties in the state.

Other highly populated counties include Tarrant, Bexar, Travis, Collin, Denton, Hidalgo, Fort Bend, and Williamson.

Population rankings can change over time, so I would always check the data year before comparing Texas counties by population.

Smallest Counties in Texas

Texas also has some very small counties by land area and population.

Smallest County in Texas by Area

Rockwall County is the smallest Texas county by land area.

It is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, which helps explain why a relatively small county can have a large population compared with many much larger rural counties.

Smallest County in Texas by Population

Loving County is the least populous county in Texas. The latest population estimate available from the Census Bureau puts its population at 52 people in July 2025.

Loving County sits in West Texas near the New Mexico border. Its population is a useful reminder of how varied Texas counties can be.

Why Are Texas Counties So Different in Size?

Texas covers a huge area, and its counties developed at different times and for different local needs.

Large counties are especially common in sparsely populated parts of West Texas and the Panhandle. Smaller counties are more common in some areas around major population centers and older settlement areas.

That creates a big difference between counties such as Brewster and Rockwall. One covers thousands of square miles, while the other covers a small area but sits within a heavily populated part of the state.

Population density also varies sharply. A rural county can cover hundreds or thousands of square miles while having only a small population.

Texas Counties by Region

There is no single official system that divides every Texas county into one fixed set of regions. Still, regional groupings can make a Texas county map easier to understand.

Common geographic areas include:

Panhandle: The northern part of Texas, including counties such as Potter, Randall, Dallam, and Deaf Smith.
North Texas: A major population and business area that includes Dallas, Denton, Collin, Tarrant, and nearby counties.
East Texas: A greener region with counties such as Smith, Gregg, Harrison, Cherokee, and Nacogdoches.
Central Texas: Includes counties around Austin, Waco, Temple, and the Hill Country.
Gulf Coast: Includes coastal counties such as Galveston, Brazoria, Matagorda, Nueces, and Cameron.
South Texas: Includes counties such as Hidalgo, Webb, Starr, Zapata, and Maverick.
West Texas: A large, mostly rural part of the state with counties such as Midland, Ector, Pecos, and Reeves.
Big Bend: The far western area around Brewster, Presidio, and Jeff Davis counties.

I use these regions as a geographic guide rather than treating them as official county divisions.

How Does County Government Work in Texas?

A Texas county is a local government area. County government handles services and responsibilities that are different from those handled by cities.

The main governing body in a Texas county is generally the Commissioners Court. It consists of the county judge and four county commissioners.

Despite its name, the Commissioners Court is not simply a judicial court. It manages many county government matters, including budgets, spending, county property, roads, and other local business.

What Does a County Judge Do?

The county judge is part of the Commissioners Court and helps lead county government.

The exact duties of a county judge can vary depending on the county and state law. In some counties, the position also has important judicial responsibilities.

What Does a County Commissioner Do?

Texas counties are divided into four commissioners’ precincts. Each precinct elects a county commissioner.

The four commissioners serve with the county judge on the Commissioners Court and help make decisions about county operations and spending.

Other County Offices

Depending on the county, local government can include offices such as:

Sheriff
County clerk
District clerk
County attorney
County treasurer
Tax assessor-collector
Justice of the peace
Constable

These offices handle different parts of local government. For example, sheriffs are responsible for county law enforcement, while clerks maintain various public records and handle other legal or administrative duties.

What Services Do Texas Counties Provide?

Texas counties can provide or fund many local services.

Common examples include:

Law enforcement
County jails
Courts
Roads and bridges
Public records
Libraries
Parks
Public health services
Emergency services
Property-related administration
Local elections
Some economic development activities

Counties can also levy certain taxes and fees to help pay for local services. The exact services and funding structure can differ from one county to another.

This is one reason county government matters even if you live inside a city. A city and a county can provide different services to the same resident.

Texas Counties vs. Texas Cities

A county and a city are not the same thing.

A county is a larger local government area that can contain cities, towns, rural communities, and unincorporated areas.

A city is a municipality with its own local government.

For example, Houston is a city, while Harris County is the county surrounding Houston and many other communities.

The same pattern appears throughout Texas. Dallas is a city inside Dallas County, Austin is in Travis County, and Fort Worth is in Tarrant County.

This distinction is useful if you are looking at a Texas county map or trying to identify which local government provides a particular service.

Texas County Numbers and FIPS Codes

Texas counties have numerical identifiers used in government records and data systems.

Texas assigns county numbers sequentially in alphabetical order. Texas has state FIPS code 48, and county FIPS codes begin with 48 followed by the county identifier.

For example, the FIPS code for Brewster County is 48043.

One detail matters if you work with county data: different agencies can use different county-code systems. A county code used for state tax reporting does not always match the code used by another agency.

If I were joining datasets, I would use the correct code system for both datasets instead of matching records only by county name.

A Short History of Texas Counties

The Texas county system developed from earlier local government divisions used during Spanish and Mexican rule.

When Texas became an independent republic in 1836, the state began with 23 municipalities that became the basis for its early county system. More counties were created as the population grew and settlements expanded.

The state eventually reached its current total of 254 counties. Loving County became the last county to be organized in 1931.

The history explains why Texas has so many counties today. The system grew over time as communities needed local government closer to where people lived.

Why Does Texas Have 254 Counties?

Texas has 254 counties because its county system developed over many years as the state’s population, settlements, and local government needs changed.

Large rural areas needed their own county governments, while growing communities also led to new county boundaries.

The result is a state with huge differences between counties. Some cover thousands of square miles, while others are much smaller. Some have millions of residents, while others have fewer than a few hundred.

Final Take on Texas Counties

Texas has 254 counties, and the best way to understand them is to look at both their names and their differences.

The complete Texas counties list gives you a quick reference for county seats, while the population and area comparisons show how varied the state really is. Brewster County is huge by land area, Harris County is huge by population, and Loving County sits at the opposite end of the population scale.

I prefer keeping these distinctions clear because the phrase “largest county” can mean different things. If you are using Texas county data for research, travel, government information, or local planning, check whether the information refers to population, land area, county seat, or a specific county-code system.

Frequently Asked Questions About Texas Counties

How many counties are in Texas?

Texas has 254 counties. It has more counties than any other U.S. state.

What is the largest county in Texas?

Brewster County is the largest Texas county by land area, with about 6,183.8 square miles of land.

What is the smallest county in Texas?

Rockwall County is the smallest Texas county by land area.

What is the most populous county in Texas?

Harris County is the most populous county in Texas. Its estimated population was about 5.05 million in July 2025.

What is the least populated county in Texas?

Loving County is the least populous county in Texas. Its estimated population was 52 in July 2025.

What is a county seat?

A county seat is the main city or community where a county’s government offices are located. It is the administrative center of the county.

What is the county seat of Harris County?

The county seat of Harris County is Houston.

What is the county seat of Travis County?

The county seat of Travis County is Austin, which is also the capital of Texas.

How many county seats are there in Texas?

There are 254 county seats, one for each Texas county.

Are counties and cities the same thing?

No. A county is a local government area that can contain cities, towns, rural communities, and unincorporated areas. A city is a separate type of local government.

What is the Texas county FIPS code?

Texas has state FIPS code 48. Each county has its own FIPS identifier that begins with 48.

Which Texas county has the largest population?

Harris County has the largest population. The county’s estimated population reached about 5.05 million in July 2025.