Geography of Harrison County
Harrison County is built around Marshall and a handful of smaller towns, with about 71,956 residents across 899 square miles of mixed town and countryside.
It lies in the East Texas region at about 32.55° N, 94.37° W and is 158th in size among Texas's 254 counties. It is a border county, touching Louisiana. Harrison County shares boundaries with 5 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Tyler (about 56 miles away in a straight line) and Texarkana (about 64 miles).
East Texas is the state's forested corner — the Piney Woods, red-clay hills, lakes and river bottoms that have more in common with the Deep South than with the open West. Timber, poultry, oil and gas, and growing retirement and lake communities shape its economy.
For a broader view of how Harrison 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 71,956 residents across 899 square miles, Harrison County has a population density of about 80.0 people per square mile. Density here reflects a mix of small cities, suburbs, and rural land.
County seat: Marshall
If you need an official record from Harrison County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Marshall is where it is kept. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. Marshall also serves as the main shopping, school and healthcare center for much of the county.
History & name origin
Harrison County was established in 1839 and was named for Jonas Harrison, a lawyer and soldier in the Texas Revolution. It was carved from territory previously part of Shelby County.
Harrison County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Harrison 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 Harrison County, Texas located?+
Harrison County is located in the East Texas region of Texas at approximately 32.548° N, 94.371° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48203. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Harrison County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Harrison County in square miles?+
Harrison County covers approximately 899 square miles of land in the East Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 158th 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 Harrison County, Texas?+
Harrison County has a population of approximately 71,956 residents. With 899 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 80.0 people per square mile, which is moderately populated for a Texas county. That makes Harrison County the 53rd most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Harrison County?+
Marshall is the county seat of Harrison County, Texas, which was organized in 1839 and named for Jonas Harrison, a lawyer and soldier in the Texas Revolution. Harrison County was originally carved out of Shelby County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Harrison County are located in Marshall.
Which Texas counties border Harrison County?+
Harrison County shares borders with Gregg, Marion, Panola, Rusk, and Upshur counties. These 5 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 East Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Harrison County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Harrison 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 Harrison 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 Harrison County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Harrison County is 48203, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 203. 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.