Geography of Harrison County
Harrison County sits at roughly 32.55° N and 94.37° W in the East Texas region of Texas, spanning 899 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 Marshall, and the county shares boundaries with 5 neighboring counties.
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
Marshall serves as the seat of government for Harrison 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
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. Every answer is generated from the official U.S. Census data backing this site.
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?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Harrison 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 Harrison 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 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.