Texas County Map: The Complete Guide to All 254 Counties
Texas has 254 counties — more than any other state in the United States. This guide covers every county's seat, FIPS code, region, area, and population, drawing on U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line data and Texas state records. Use the interactive Texas county map to explore boundaries visually, or browse the full A–Z index.
Texas counties at a glance
- Total counties: 254
- Largest by area: Brewster (6,184 sq mi)
- Smallest by area: Rockwall (149 sq mi)
- Most populous: Harris (4.7M+)
- Least populous: Loving (~60)
- State FIPS prefix: 48
- Recognized regions: 9
- Original counties (1836): 23
How to read a Texas county map
A Texas county map shows the legal boundaries of each of the state's 254 administrative subdivisions. Boundaries are defined in Texas statute and digitized by the U.S. Census Bureau as part of the TIGER (Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing) database. Each county is labeled by name and identified by a 5-digit FIPS code beginning with 48 — for example, Harris County is 48201.
On our interactive map, you can toggle boundary overlays, switch between road, satellite, and terrain basemaps, and view real-time traffic on top of any county. Each county tile links to a detailed page with its seat, region, population, and neighboring counties.
The 9 regions of Texas
Texas's 254 counties are conventionally grouped into nine geographic and cultural regions. These regions are not legal subdivisions but are widely used by state agencies, tourism boards, and the U.S. Census Bureau.
- Panhandle
- North Texas
- East Texas (Piney Woods)
- Gulf Coast
- South Texas
- Central Texas
- Hill Country
- Big Bend Country
- West Texas / Trans-Pecos
See the regions of Texas page for a county-by-county breakdown of each region.
Frequently asked questions
How many counties are in Texas?
Texas has 254 counties — more than any other U.S. state. The count has been fixed since Loving County was organized in 1931.
What is the largest county in Texas by area?
Brewster County is the largest Texas county by area at 6,184 square miles, larger than the entire state of Connecticut.
What is the smallest county in Texas by area?
Rockwall County is the smallest Texas county by area at just 149 square miles, located northeast of Dallas.
What is the most populous county in Texas?
Harris County, home to Houston, is the most populous county in Texas with more than 4.7 million residents — the third most populous county in the United States.
What is the least populous county in Texas?
Loving County is the least populous county in Texas and in the entire United States, with roughly 60 residents.
How are Texas counties organized geographically?
Texas counties are grouped into recognized regions: the Panhandle, North Texas, East Texas, the Gulf Coast, South Texas, Central Texas, the Hill Country, the Big Bend, and West Texas / Trans-Pecos.
What is a county seat?
A county seat is the city designated as the administrative center of a county, housing the county courthouse and primary government offices. In Texas, every one of the 254 counties has a designated seat.
Which Texas county is named after Stephen F. Austin?
Austin County, organized in 1836 as one of the original 23 counties of the Republic of Texas, is named in honor of Stephen F. Austin, the 'Father of Texas.' The city of Austin, however, is the seat of Travis County.
What FIPS codes are used for Texas counties?
Texas counties use 5-digit FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standards) codes that begin with '48' — the state code for Texas. For example, Harris County is 48201 and Travis County is 48453.
Where can I find an official Texas county map?
The U.S. Census Bureau publishes the official TIGER/Line shapefiles for all 254 Texas counties. Texas Parks & Wildlife, TxDOT, and the Texas General Land Office also publish authoritative cartographic maps.
How do I look up which Texas county a city is in?
Use the search on our interactive Texas county map, or look up the city in the U.S. Census Gazetteer. Major examples: Houston → Harris, Dallas → Dallas, San Antonio → Bexar, Austin → Travis, Fort Worth → Tarrant, El Paso → El Paso.
What are the original counties of Texas?
When Texas declared independence in 1836, the Republic of Texas was organized into 23 original counties, including Austin, Bexar, Brazoria, Colorado, Goliad, Harris (then Harrisburg), Liberty, Matagorda, Nacogdoches, and Washington.
Why does Texas have so many counties?
Texas's 254 counties reflect 19th-century governance — each county was sized so a resident could ride to the county seat and back in a single day on horseback. The state's enormous land area produced the largest county system in the U.S.
What is the difference between a Texas county and a Texas region?
A county is a legal administrative subdivision with its own elected government. A region (such as the Hill Country or the Panhandle) is a cultural and geographic grouping of counties with no separate government.
All 254 Texas counties
Every Texas county has its own dedicated page with maps, boundary data, demographics, and history. Browse the full list below or use the searchable index.
Authoritative sources
- U.S. Census Bureau — TIGER/Line shapefiles & ACS population estimates
- Texas State Historical Association — Handbook of Texas
- Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) — county boundary GIS
- Texas General Land Office — historical county records
- USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)
See our methodology and editorial standards for details on how we verify every data point.