Geography of Harris County
Harris County sits at roughly 29.86° N and 95.39° W in the Gulf Coast region of Texas, spanning 1,729 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 Houston, and the county shares boundaries with 7 neighboring counties.
Population & demographics
With approximately 5,045,026 residents across 1,729 square miles, Harris County has a population density of about 2917.9 people per square mile. It ranks among the more densely populated counties in Texas — a clear sign of metropolitan urbanization.
County seat: Houston
Houston serves as the seat of government for Harris 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
Harris County was established in 1836 and was named for John Richardson Harris, early settler and founder of Harrisburg, Texas, which eventually became known as Houston. It was carved from territory previously part of One of the original 23 counties Named Harrisburg County until 1839.
Harris County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Harris 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 Harris County, Texas located?+
Harris County is located in the Gulf Coast region of Texas at approximately 29.858° N, 95.393° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48201. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Harris County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Harris County in square miles?+
Harris County covers approximately 1,729 square miles of land in the Gulf Coast region — a large county by Texas standards. By land area it ranks 14th 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 Harris County, Texas?+
Harris County has a population of approximately 5,045,026 residents. With 1,729 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 2917.9 people per square mile, which is highly urban for a Texas county. That makes Harris County the 1st most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Harris County?+
Houston is the county seat of Harris County, Texas, which was organized in 1836 and named for John Richardson Harris, early settler and founder of Harrisburg, Texas, which eventually became known as Houston. Harris County was originally carved out of One of the original 23 counties Named Harrisburg County until 1839. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Harris County are located in Houston.
Which Texas counties border Harris County?+
Harris County shares borders with Montgomery, Waller, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, and Liberty 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 Gulf Coast region.
Where can I download or print a map of Harris County?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Harris 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 Harris 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 Harris County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Harris County is 48201, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 201. 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.