Texas has 254 counties — more than any other state, and more than double what Georgia, the runner-up, has. That number hasn’t changed since Loving County organized its government in 1931, which means the current county map is close to a century old even as the state’s population has moved dramatically since then.
Why Texas Has 254 Counties
Most Texas counties were laid out in the 1800s, when travel by horse or wagon meant residents needed a courthouse within a day’s ride. That practical constraint produced a dense grid of small-to-mid-size counties rather than the larger, consolidated counties common in states settled later or with different terrain. Because the legislature has never consolidated counties since, Texas is still governed by a map drawn for 19th-century travel times, even in dense modern metro areas.
How Texas County Government Works
Every Texas county is run by a Commissioners Court: an elected county judge and four commissioners, each representing one of four precincts within the county. This structure applies identically in Harris County, with more than four million residents, and in Loving County, with roughly 60 to 100 — meaning a handful of officials in some counties oversee vastly larger populations and budgets than officials with the identical job title elsewhere in the state.
Largest Texas Counties by Area
Brewster County, in the Big Bend region of far West Texas, is the largest Texas county by land area at more than 6,000 square miles — bigger than the states of Connecticut and Rhode Island combined. Other large West Texas counties, including Presidio and Culberson, follow the same pattern: enormous land area paired with very small populations, since the region’s ranching and desert terrain never supported dense settlement.
Most Populous Texas Counties
Harris County (Houston) is by far the most populous, at more than 4.7 million residents — more than 24 individual US states. Dallas County, Tarrant County (Fort Worth), Bexar County (San Antonio) and Travis County (Austin) round out the next tier, each home to one of the state’s major metro anchors. Together, these five counties account for a large share of the entire state’s population despite being a small fraction of its 254 counties.
Smallest and Least Populous Texas Counties
Loving County, in far West Texas, is the least populous county in the entire United States, not just Texas. Rockwall County, just east of Dallas, is the smallest Texas county by land area at roughly 127 square miles, yet it’s also one of the fastest-growing counties in the state — a reminder that small land area and small population don’t always go together in Texas the way they do out west.
City to County Reference for Major Texas Cities
Houston sits in Harris County, Dallas in Dallas County, Fort Worth in Tarrant County, San Antonio in Bexar County, Austin in Travis County, and El Paso in El Paso County. A few major cities straddle county lines — parts of Fort Worth extend into surrounding counties, for instance — which occasionally causes confusion for anything filed at the county level, from voter registration to property records.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Texas County Map
How many counties does Texas have?
254, more than any other US state, a number that hasn’t changed since 1931.
What is the largest Texas county by area?
Brewster County, in the Big Bend region, at more than 6,000 square miles.
What is the most populous Texas county?
Harris County, home to Houston, with more than 4.7 million residents.
What is the least populous county in Texas?
Loving County, which is also the least populous county in the entire United States.
How is a Texas county governed?
By a Commissioners Court made up of an elected county judge and four precinct commissioners — the same basic structure in every county regardless of population.
