List of counties in Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Counties of Texas |
|
---|---|
Location | State of Texas |
Number | 254 |
Populations | 43 (Loving) – 4,835,125 (Harris) |
Areas | 149 square miles (390 km2) (Rockwall) – 6,192 square miles (16,040 km2) (Brewster) |
Government | County government |
Subdivisions | Precinct |
The U.S. state of Texas is divided into 254 counties, more than any other U.S. state. While only about 20% of Texas counties are generally located within the Houston—Dallas—San Antonio—Austin areas, they serve a majority of the state's population with approximately 22,000,000 inhabitants.
Texas was originally divided into municipalities (municipios in Spanish), a unit of local government under Spanish and Mexican rule. When the Republic of Texas gained its independence in 1836, the 23 municipalities became the original Texas counties. Many of these were later divided into new counties. The last county to be initially created was Kenedy County in 1921, but Loving County is the newest organized county; it was first organized in 1893 in an apparent scheme to defraud, abolished in 1897, then reorganized in 1931. Most of these recent counties, especially near the northwest, were created from Bexar County during the 1870s.
Each county is run by a commissioners' court, consisting of four elected commissioners (one from each of four precincts drawn based on population) and a county judge elected from all the voters of the county. In smaller counties, the county judge actually does perform judicial duties, but in larger counties, the county judge functions as the county's chief executive officer. Certain officials, such as the sheriff and tax collector, are elected separately by the voters, but the commissioners' court determines their office budgets, and sets overall county policy. All county elections are partisan; the one exception is the board of trustees of the Dallas County department of education (the Harris County trustees were elected on a nonpartisan basis until 1984).
While the counties have eminent domain power and control all unincorporated land within their boundaries, they have neither home-rule authority nor zoning power. The county is responsible for providing essential services (except for fire and ambulance, which are often supplied by volunteer fire departments). Unlike other US states, Texas does not allow for consolidated city-county governments. Cities and counties (as well as other political entities) are permitted to enter "interlocal agreements" to share services (as an example, a city and a school district may enter into agreements with the county whereby the county bills for and collects property taxes for the city and school district; thus, only one tax bill is sent instead of three). School districts are independent of county and city government (with the exception of the Stafford Municipal School District, which is city controlled).
The Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) code, which is used by the United States government to uniquely identify states and counties, is provided with each entry. Texas' code is 48
, which when combined with any county code would be written in the form of 48XXX
. The FIPS code for each county in the table links to census data for that county.
List
County |
FIPS code | County seat | Est. | Origin | Etymology | Population | Area | Map |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Anderson County | 001 | Palestine | 1846 | Houston County | Kenneth Lewis Anderson (1805–1845), the last vice president of the Republic of Texas | 57,736 | ( 2,774 km2) |
1,071 sq mi|
Andrews County | 003 | Andrews | 1876 | Bexar County | Richard Andrews (1800–1835), the first Texan soldier to die in the Texas Revolution | 18,664 | ( 3,888 km2) |
1,501 sq mi|
Angelina County | 005 | Lufkin | 1846 | Nacogdoches County | A Hainai Native American woman who assisted early Spanish missionaries, whom they called "Little Angel" (Spanish:Angelina) | 87,319 | ( 2,077 km2) |
802 sq mi|
Aransas County | 007 | Rockport | 1871 | Refugio County | Aransas Bay, named in turn for an early Spanish fort; this support was supposedly named in turn for a Spanish palace Aránzazu, possibly related to the Sanctuario de Aránzazu. (Arantzazu is Basque for "place of thorns") | 25,374 | ( 653 km2) |
252 sq mi|
Archer County | 009 | Archer City | 1858 | Fannin County | Branch Tanner Archer, a commissioner for the Republic of Texas | 9,029 | ( 2,357 km2) |
910 sq mi|
Armstrong County | 011 | Claude | 1876 | Bexar County | One of several Texas pioneer families, although it is not certain which one | 1,832 | ( 2,367 km2) |
914 sq mi|
Atascosa County | 013 | Jourdanton | 1856 | Bexar County | The Spanish word for "boggy" | 51,784 | ( 3,191 km2) |
1,232 sq mi|
Austin County | 015 | Bellville | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | Stephen F. Austin (1793–1836), known as the Father of Texas | 31,677 | ( 1,691 km2) |
653 sq mi|
Bailey County | 017 | Muleshoe | 1876 | Bexar County | Peter James Bailey III, a soldier and defender of the Alamo | 6,672 | ( 2,142 km2) |
827 sq mi|
Bandera County | 019 | Bandera | 1856 | Bexar County | Bandera Pass, named in turn for the Spanish word for "flag" | 22,637 | ( 2,051 km2) |
792 sq mi|
Bastrop County | 021 | Bastrop | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | Baron Felipe Enrique Neri de Bastrop, the Dutch settler who provided essential help to Stephen F. Austin in obtaining his original land grants | 110,778 | ( 2,300 km2) |
888 sq mi|
Baylor County | 023 | Seymour | 1858 | Fannin County | Henry Weidner Baylor, a surgeon in the Texas Rangers during the Mexican–American War | 3,463 | ( 2,256 km2) |
871 sq mi|
Bee County | 025 | Beeville | 1857 | San Patricio County, Goliad County, Refugio County, Live Oak County, and Karnes County | Barnard Elliott Bee, Sr. (1787–1853), a secretary of state of the Republic of Texas | 30,850 | ( 2,279 km2) |
880 sq mi|
Bell County | 027 | Belton | 1850 | Milam County | Peter Hansborough Bell, the third governor of Texas (1849–1853) | 393,193 | ( 2,743 km2) |
1,059 sq mi|
Bexar County | 029 | San Antonio | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | San Antonio de Béxar, the major presidio in Mexican Texas, named in turn for the San Antonio River and the Spanish viceroy's family, who were Dukes of Béjar in Spain | 2,087,679 | ( 3,230 km2) |
1,247 sq mi|
Blanco County | 031 | Johnson City | 1858 | Burnet County, Comal County, Gillespie County and Hays County | The Blanco River. (Blanco is Spanish for "white") | 13,048 | ( 1,841 km2) |
711 sq mi|
Borden County | 033 | Gail | 1876 | Bexar County | Gail Borden, Jr. (1801–1874), businessman, publisher, surveyor, and inventor of condensed milk | 572 | ( 2,328 km2) |
899 sq mi|
Bosque County | 035 | Meridian | 1854 | McLennan County | The Bosque River. (Bosque is Spanish for "wooded") | 18,996 | ( 2,561 km2) |
989 sq mi|
Bowie County | 037 | New Boston | 1840 | Red River County | James Bowie (1796–1836), the legendary knife fighter who died at the Battle of the Alamo | 91,687 | ( 2,300 km2) |
888 sq mi|
Brazoria County | 039 | Angleton | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | Brazoria, Texas, an early port on the Brazos River | 398,938 | ( 3,592 km2) |
1,387 sq mi|
Brazos County | 041 | Bryan | 1841 | Washington County. Named Navasota County until 1842 | The Brazos River (from Spanish Los Brazos de Dios, the arms of God) | 244,703 | ( 1,518 km2) |
586 sq mi|
Brewster County | 043 | Alpine | 1887 | Presidio County | Henry Percy Brewster (1816–1884), a secretary of war for the Republic of Texas and soldier in the Civil War | 9,513 | ( 16,040 km2) |
6,193 sq mi|
Briscoe County | 045 | Silverton | 1876 | Bexar County | Andrew Briscoe (1810–1849), a signatory of the Texan Declaration of Independence and soldier during the Texan Revolution | 1,445 | ( 2,331 km2) |
900 sq mi|
Brooks County | 047 | Falfurrias | 1911 | Starr County | James Abijah Brooks, a Texas Ranger and state legislator | 6,848 | ( 2,442 km2) |
943 sq mi|
Brown County | 049 | Brownwood | 1856 | Comanche County and Travis County | Henry Stevenson Brown, a commander at the Battle of Velasco | 38,709 | ( 2,445 km2) |
944 sq mi|
Burleson County | 051 | Caldwell | 1846 | Milam County | Edward Burleson (1798–1851), a general of the Texas Revolution and Vice President of the Republic of Texas | 19,475 | ( 1,725 km2) |
666 sq mi|
Burnet County | 053 | Burnet | 1852 | Bell County, Travis County and Williamson County | David Gouverneur Burnet, the first president of the Republic of Texas (1836) | 53,991 | ( 2,577 km2) |
995 sq mi|
Caldwell County | 055 | Lockhart | 1848 | Bastrop County and Gonzales County | Matthew Caldwell, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and soldier during the Texas Revolution | 49,859 | ( 1,414 km2) |
546 sq mi|
Calhoun County | 057 | Port Lavaca | 1846 | Jackson County, Matagorda County and Victoria County | John C. Calhoun, the seventh vice president of the United States (1825–1832) | 19,696 | ( 1,326 km2) |
512 sq mi|
Callahan County | 059 | Baird | 1858 | Bexar County, Bosque County, and Travis County | James Hughes Callahan, a soldier during the Texas Revolution | 14,374 | ( 2,328 km2) |
899 sq mi|
Cameron County | 061 | Brownsville | 1848 | Nueces County and lands ceded by Mexico | Ewen Cameron, a soldier during the Texas Revolution killed during the Black Bean Episode | 426,710 | ( 2,347 km2) |
906 sq mi|
Camp County | 063 | Pittsburg | 1874 | Upshur County | John Lafayette Camp (1828–1891), a Texas state senator | 13,000 | ( 513 km2) |
198 sq mi|
Carson County | 065 | Panhandle | 1876 | Bexar County | Samuel Price Carson, the first secretary of state of the Republic of Texas (1836–1838) | 5,878 | ( 2,391 km2) |
923 sq mi|
Cass County | 067 | Linden | 1846 | Bowie County | Lewis Cass (1782–1866), a senator from Michigan, who had favored the annexation of Texas to the United States. Named Davis County 1861-1871 |
28,659 | ( 2,429 km2) |
938 sq mi|
Castro County | 069 | Dimmitt | 1876 | Bexar County | Henri Castro (1786–1865), a French consul general for the Republic of Texas and founder of a colony in Texas | 7,227 | ( 2,326 km2) |
898 sq mi|
Chambers County | 071 | Anahuac | 1858 | Jefferson County and Liberty County | Thomas Jefferson Chambers, lawyer and surveyor who helped to resolve land disputes for Americans in Mexican Texas | 53,876 | ( 1,551 km2) |
599 sq mi|
Cherokee County | 073 | Rusk | 1846 | Nacogdoches County | The Cherokee Native American tribe | 52,217 | ( 2,725 km2) |
1,052 sq mi|
Childress County | 075 | Childress | 1876 | Bexar County | George Campbell Childress (1804–1841), one of the authors of the Texas Declaration of Independence | 6,788 | ( 1,839 km2) |
710 sq mi|
Clay County | 077 | Henrietta | 1857 | Cooke County | Henry Clay, U.S. Senator from Kentucky and ninth secretary of state of the United States (1825–1829) | 10,738 | ( 2,844 km2) |
1,098 sq mi|
Cochran County | 079 | Morton | 1876 | Bexar County | Robert E. Cochran (1810–1836), a defender of the Alamo | 2,509 | ( 2,007 km2) |
775 sq mi|
Coke County | 081 | Robert Lee | 1889 | Tom Green County | Richard Coke, the 15th governor of Texas (1874–1876) | 3,352 | ( 2,328 km2) |
899 sq mi|
Coleman County | 083 | Coleman | 1858 | Brown County and Travis County | Robert M. Coleman, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and soldier at the Battle of San Jacinto | 7,842 | ( 3,297 km2) |
1,273 sq mi|
Collin County | 085 | McKinney | 1846 | Fannin County | Collin McKinney (1766–1861), an author of the Texas Declaration of Independence and the oldest person to sign it | 1,195,359 | ( 2,196 km2) |
848 sq mi|
Collingsworth County | 087 | Wellington | 1876 | Bexar County | James Collinsworth, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and first chief justice of the Republic of Texas. (spelling differs due to an error in the bill creating the county) | 2,563 | ( 2,380 km2) |
919 sq mi|
Colorado County | 089 | Columbus | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | The Colorado River of Texas (Colorado is Spanish for "colored") |
21,117 | ( 2,494 km2) |
963 sq mi|
Comal County | 091 | New Braunfels | 1846 | Bexar County | The Comal River. (Comal is Spanish for "basin") | 193,928 | ( 1,456 km2) |
562 sq mi|
Comanche County | 093 | Comanche | 1856 | Bosque County and Coryell County | The Comanche Native American tribe | 14,050 | ( 2,429 km2) |
938 sq mi|
Concho County | 095 | Paint Rock | 1858 | Bexar County | The Concho River. (Concho is Spanish for "shell") | 3,297 | ( 2,569 km2) |
992 sq mi|
Cooke County | 097 | Gainesville | 1848 | Fannin County | William Gordon Cooke, a soldier during the Texas Revolution | 43,782 | ( 2,264 km2) |
874 sq mi|
Coryell County | 099 | Gatesville | 1854 | Bell County | James Coryell, a frontiersman and Texas Ranger who was killed by Native Americans | 84,878 | ( 2,725 km2) |
1,052 sq mi|
Cottle County | 101 | Paducah | 1876 | Fannin County | George Washington Cottle, who died defending the Alamo | 1,294 | ( 2,334 km2) |
901 sq mi|
Crane County | 103 | Crane | 1887 | Tom Green County | William Carey Crane, a president of Baylor University | 4,574 | ( 2,036 km2) |
786 sq mi|
Crockett County | 105 | Ozona | 1875 | Bexar County | David Crockett (1786–1836), the legendary frontiersman who died at the Battle of the Alamo | 2,858 | ( 7,273 km2) |
2,808 sq mi|
Crosby County | 107 | Crosbyton | 1876 | Bexar County | Stephen Crosby, a Texas Land Commissioner | 4,917 | ( 2,331 km2) |
900 sq mi|
Culberson County | 109 | Van Horn | 1911 | El Paso County | David Browning Culberson, a lawyer, U.S. Congressman, and soldier in the Civil War | 2,196 | ( 9,876 km2) |
3,813 sq mi|
Dallam County | 111 | Dalhart | 1876 | Bexar County | James Wilmer Dallam, a lawyer and newspaper publisher who had a close association with the Supreme Court of Texas | 7,237 | ( 3,898 km2) |
1,505 sq mi|
Dallas County | 113 | Dallas | 1846 | Nacogdoches County and Robertson County | George Mifflin Dallas, the eleventh vice president of the United States (1845–1849) (Disputed) |
2,606,358 | ( 2,279 km2) |
880 sq mi|
Dawson County | 115 | Lamesa | 1876 | Bexar County | Nicholas Mosby Dawson, a soldier of the Texan Revolution and victim of the Dawson Massacre | 12,004 | ( 2,336 km2) |
902 sq mi|
Deaf Smith County | 117 | Hereford | 1876 | Bexar County | Erastus "Deaf" Smith (1787–1837), a scout during the Texan Revolution | 18,347 | ( 3,877 km2) |
1,497 sq mi|
Delta County | 119 | Cooper | 1870 | Hopkins County and Lamar County | Its triangular shape, much like the Greek letter Delta | 5,520 | ( 717 km2) |
277 sq mi|
Denton County | 121 | Denton | 1846 | Fannin County | John Bunyan Denton (1806–1841), a preacher, lawyer, and soldier killed during a raid on a Native American camp | 1,007,703 | ( 2,300 km2) |
888 sq mi|
DeWitt County | 123 | Cuero | 1846 | Goliad County, Gonzales County and Victoria County | Green DeWitt, an empresario who founded an early colony in Texas | 19,929 | ( 2,354 km2) |
909 sq mi|
Dickens County | 125 | Dickens | 1876 | Bexar County | J.A. Dickens, who died at the Battle of the Alamo | 1,711 | ( 2,341 km2) |
904 sq mi|
Dimmit County | 127 | Carrizo Springs | 1858 | Bexar County, Maverick County, Uvalde County and Webb County | Philip Dimmitt, a major figure in the Texas Revolution | 8,257 | ( 3,447 km2) |
1,331 sq mi|
Donley County | 129 | Clarendon | 1876 | Bexar County | Stockton P. Donley, a frontier lawyer and Texas Supreme Court justice | 3,214 | ( 2,409 km2) |
930 sq mi|
Duval County | 131 | San Diego | 1858 | Live Oak County, Nueces County and Starr County | Burr Harrison DuVal (1809–1836), a soldier in the Texas Revolution who died in the Goliad Massacre | 9,604 | ( 4,644 km2) |
1,793 sq mi|
Eastland County | 133 | Eastland | 1858 | Bosque County, Coryell County and Travis County | William Mosby Eastland, a soldier during the Texas Revolution | 18,037 | ( 2,398 km2) |
926 sq mi|
Ector County | 135 | Odessa | 1887 | Tom Green County | Matthew Ector (1822–1879), a Confederate general during the Civil War | 164,494 | ( 2,334 km2) |
901 sq mi|
Edwards County | 137 | Rocksprings | 1858 | Bexar County | Haden Edwards (1771–1849), empresario and filibuster who led the Fredonian Rebellion | 1,393 | ( 5,491 km2) |
2,120 sq mi|
Ellis County | 139 | Waxahachie | 1849 | Navarro County | Richard Ellis (1781–1846), president of the convention that produced the Texas Declaration of Independence | 222,829 | ( 2,435 km2) |
940 sq mi|
El Paso County | 141 | El Paso | 1848 | Santa Fe County | Neighboring Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, formerly called El Paso del Norte as it served as the pass north from central Mexico to the settlements of New Mexico | 869,880 | ( 2,624 km2) |
1,013 sq mi|
Erath County | 143 | Stephenville | 1856 | Bosque County and Coryell County | George Bernard Erath, an early surveyor and a soldier at the Battle of San Jacinto | 44,195 | ( 2,813 km2) |
1,086 sq mi|
Falls County | 145 | Marlin | 1850 | Limestone County and Milam County | The Falls on the Brazos | 17,286 | ( 1,992 km2) |
769 sq mi|
Fannin County | 147 | Bonham | 1837 | Red River County | James Walker Fannin, Jr. (1805–1836), the commander of the Texans killed in the Goliad Massacre | 37,571 | ( 2,310 km2) |
892 sq mi|
Fayette County | 149 | La Grange | 1837 | Bastrop County | Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette (1757–1834), the French-born general and hero of the American Revolutionary War | 25,474 | ( 2,460 km2) |
950 sq mi|
Fisher County | 151 | Roby | 1876 | Bexar County | Samuel Rhoads Fisher (1794–1839), a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and secretary of the Navy under the Republic of Texas | 3,612 | ( 2,334 km2) |
901 sq mi|
Floyd County | 153 | Floydada | 1876 | Bexar County | Dolphin Ward Floyd, who died defending the Alamo | 5,090 | ( 2,569 km2) |
992 sq mi|
Foard County | 155 | Crowell | 1891 | Cottle County, Hardeman County, King County and Knox County | Robert Levi Foard, an attorney and Confederate major in the Civil War | 1,079 | ( 1,831 km2) |
707 sq mi|
Fort Bend County | 157 | Richmond | 1837 | Austin County, Brazoria County and Harris County | A blockhouse positioned in a bend of the Brazos River | 916,778 | ( 2,266 km2) |
875 sq mi|
Franklin County | 159 | Mount Vernon | 1875 | Titus County | Benjamin Cromwell Franklin (1805–1873), a judge and Texas State Senator | 10,735 | ( 741 km2) |
286 sq mi|
Freestone County | 161 | Fairfield | 1850 | Limestone County | A type of peach grown in the area | 20,441 | ( 2,292 km2) |
885 sq mi|
Frio County | 163 | Pearsall | 1858 | Atascosa County, Bexar County and Uvalde County | The Frio River (Frío is Spanish for "cold") |
17,987 | ( 2,934 km2) |
1,133 sq mi|
Gaines County | 165 | Seminole | 1876 | Bexar County | James Gaines, merchant and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence | 22,523 | ( 3,890 km2) |
1,502 sq mi|
Galveston County | 167 | Galveston | 1838 | Brazoria County, Harris County and Liberty County | Its county seat, named after Bernardo de Gálvez, Spanish governor of the Louisiana Territory (1777–1785) | 361,744 | ( 1,033 km2) |
399 sq mi|
Garza County | 169 | Post | 1876 | Bexar County | José Antonio de la Garza, pioneering settler and first Mayor of San Antonio | 4,517 | ( 2,321 km2) |
896 sq mi|
Gillespie County | 171 | Fredericksburg | 1848 | Bexar County and Travis County | Robert Addison Gillespie, a merchant, Mexican–American War soldier, and Texas Ranger | 27,733 | ( 2,748 km2) |
1,061 sq mi|
Glasscock County | 173 | Garden City | 1887 | Tom Green County | George Washington Glasscock (1810–1868), an early Texian settler, businessman, soldier, and state representative | 1,141 | ( 2,334 km2) |
901 sq mi|
Goliad County | 175 | Goliad | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | Its county seat, named in turn as an anagram of Miguel Hidalgo, the inspirational figure behind the Mexican War of Independence | 7,144 | ( 2,212 km2) |
854 sq mi|
Gonzales County | 177 | Gonzales | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | Its county seat, named in turn for Coahuila y Tejas governor Rafael Gonzales | 19,930 | ( 2,766 km2) |
1,068 sq mi|
Gray County | 179 | Pampa | 1876 | Bexar County | Peter W. Gray (1819–1874), a lawyer, state senator, and soldier in the Civil War | 20,916 | ( 2,404 km2) |
928 sq mi|
Grayson County | 181 | Sherman | 1846 | Fannin County | Peter Wagener Grayson, an attorney general of the Republic of Texas | 146,907 | ( 2,419 km2) |
934 sq mi|
Gregg County | 183 | Longview | 1873 | Upshur County | John Gregg (1828–1864), a Confederate general during the Civil War | 126,243 | ( 710 km2) |
274 sq mi|
Grimes County | 185 | Anderson | 1846 | Montgomery County | Jesse Grimes (1788–1866), a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and early settler of the future county | 32,384 | ( 2,056 km2) |
794 sq mi|
Guadalupe County | 187 | Seguin | 1846 | Bexar County and Gonzales County | The Guadalupe River, named in turn for the Mexican spiritual icon Our Lady of Guadalupe | 188,454 | ( 1,841 km2) |
711 sq mi|
Hale County | 189 | Plainview | 1876 | Bexar County | John C. Hale, a lieutenant killed in action at the Battle of San Jacinto | 31,761 | ( 2,603 km2) |
1,005 sq mi|
Hall County | 191 | Memphis | 1876 | Bexar County | Warren DeWitt Clinton Hall, a secretary of war for the Republic of Texas (1836) | 2,818 | ( 2,339 km2) |
903 sq mi|
Hamilton County | 193 | Hamilton | 1856 | Bosque County, Comanche County and Lampasas County | James Hamilton Jr., governor of South Carolina (1830–1832) who gave financial aid to the Republic of Texas | 8,619 | ( 2,165 km2) |
836 sq mi|
Hansford County | 195 | Spearman | 1876 | Bexar County | John M. Hansford, a Texas state representative and judge | 5,071 | ( 2,383 km2) |
920 sq mi|
Hardeman County | 197 | Quanah | 1858 | Fannin County | Bailey Hardeman, the first secretary of the treasury for the Republic of Texas, and his brother Thomas Jones Hardeman, state representative and judge | 3,490 | ( 1,800 km2) |
695 sq mi|
Hardin County | 199 | Kountze | 1858 | Jefferson County and Liberty County | The Hardin family, earliest settlers of Liberty County | 58,261 | ( 2,315 km2) |
894 sq mi|
Harris County | 201 | Houston | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | John Richardson Harris, early settler and founder of Harrisburg, Texas, which eventually became known as Houston Named Harrisburg County until 1839 |
4,835,125 | ( 4,478 km2) |
1,729 sq mi|
Harrison County | 203 | Marshall | 1839 | Shelby County | Jonas Harrison, a lawyer and soldier in the Texas Revolution | 70,895 | ( 2,328 km2) |
899 sq mi|
Hartley County | 205 | Channing | 1876 | Bexar County | Oliver C. and Rufus K. Hartley, brothers and original reporters for the Texas Supreme Court | 5,145 | ( 3,787 km2) |
1,462 sq mi|
Haskell County | 207 | Haskell | 1858 | Fannin County and Milam County | Charles Ready Haskell, Texas revolutionary soldier killed in the Goliad Massacre | 5,385 | ( 2,339 km2) |
903 sq mi|
Hays County | 209 | San Marcos | 1848 | Travis County | John Coffee Hays (1817–1883), a leading Texas Ranger and Mexican–American War officer | 280,486 | ( 1,756 km2) |
678 sq mi|
Hemphill County | 211 | Canadian | 1876 | Bexar County | John Hemphill (1803–1862), U.S. Senator and Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court | 3,189 | ( 2,357 km2) |
910 sq mi|
Henderson County | 213 | Athens | 1846 | Houston County and Nacogdoches County | James Pinckney Henderson, the first governor of Texas (1846–1847) | 86,158 | ( 2,264 km2) |
874 sq mi|
Hidalgo County | 215 | Edinburg | 1852 | Cameron County | Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (1753–1811), the priest who raised the call for Mexico's independence from Spain | 898,471 | ( 4,064 km2) |
1,569 sq mi|
Hill County | 217 | Hillsboro | 1853 | Navarro County | George Washington Hill, a secretary of war and secretary of the navy under the Republic of Texas | 38,101 | ( 2,492 km2) |
962 sq mi|
Hockley County | 219 | Levelland | 1876 | Bexar County | George Washington Hockley (1802–1854), Chief of Staff of the Texas Army during the Texas Revolution and secretary of war of the Republic of Texas | 21,460 | ( 2,352 km2) |
908 sq mi|
Hood County | 221 | Granbury | 1866 | Johnson County | John Bell Hood (1831–1879), a Confederate lieutenant general and the commander of Hood's Texas Brigade | 67,774 | ( 1,093 km2) |
422 sq mi|
Hopkins County | 223 | Sulphur Springs | 1846 | Lamar County and Nacogdoches County | David Hopkins, an early settler in the future county | 38,172 | ( 2,033 km2) |
785 sq mi|
Houston County | 225 | Crockett | 1837 | Nacogdoches County | Sam Houston (1793–1863), general of the Texan Revolution, commander at the Battle of San Jacinto and later president of the Republic of Texas, U.S. Senator and governor of the state of Texas | 22,066 | ( 3,188 km2) |
1,231 sq mi|
Howard County | 227 | Big Spring | 1876 | Bexar County | Volney Eskine Howard, U.S. Representative from Texas (1849–1853) | 30,554 | ( 2,339 km2) |
903 sq mi|
Hudspeth County | 229 | Sierra Blanca | 1917 | El Paso County | Claude Benton Hudspeth, a U.S. Congressman (1919–1931), rancher, and newspaper publisher | 3,451 | ( 11,839 km2) |
4,571 sq mi|
Hunt County | 231 | Greenville | 1846 | Fannin County and Nacogdoches County | Memucan Hunt, Jr. (1807–1856), a secretary of the navy under the Republic of Texas | 113,347 | ( 2,178 km2) |
841 sq mi|
Hutchinson County | 233 | Stinnett | 1876 | Bexar County | Andrew Hutchinson, an early settler and attorney | 20,033 | ( 2,297 km2) |
887 sq mi|
Irion County | 235 | Mertzon | 1889 | Tom Green County | Robert Anderson Irion (1804–1861), a secretary of state in the Republic of Texas | 1,549 | ( 2,725 km2) |
1,052 sq mi|
Jack County | 237 | Jacksboro | 1856 | Cooke County | Patrick and William Jack, brothers, participants in the Anahuac Disturbance, and veterans of the Texas Revolution | 8,875 | ( 2,375 km2) |
917 sq mi|
Jackson County | 239 | Edna | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | Andrew Jackson, hero of the Battle of New Orleans and the seventh president of the United States (1829–1837) | 15,221 | ( 2,150 km2) |
830 sq mi|
Jasper County | 241 | Jasper | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | William Jasper (1750–1779), an American Revolutionary War hero | 32,694 | ( 2,429 km2) |
938 sq mi|
Jeff Davis County | 243 | Fort Davis | 1887 | Presidio County | Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States of America (1861–1865) | 1,856 | ( 5,866 km2) |
2,265 sq mi|
Jefferson County | 245 | Beaumont | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1801–1809) | 251,496 | ( 2,341 km2) |
904 sq mi|
Jim Hogg County | 247 | Hebbronville | 1913 | Brooks County and Duval County | James Stephen Hogg, the twentieth (and first native-born) governor of Texas (1891–1895) | 4,720 | ( 2,942 km2) |
1,136 sq mi|
Jim Wells County | 249 | Alice | 1911 | Nueces County | James Babbage Wells Jr., judge and Democratic party boss in southern Texas | 38,662 | ( 2,240 km2) |
865 sq mi|
Johnson County | 251 | Cleburne | 1854 | Ellis County, Hill County and Navarro County | Middleton Tate Johnson, a Texas Ranger, soldier in the Mexican–American War, and senator for the Republic of Texas | 202,906 | ( 1,888 km2) |
729 sq mi|
Jones County | 253 | Anson | 1854 | Bexar County and Bosque County | Anson Jones, the fifth president of the Republic of Texas (1844–1846) | 20,381 | ( 2,411 km2) |
931 sq mi|
Karnes County | 255 | Karnes City | 1854 | Bexar County, DeWitt County, Goliad County, Gonzales County and San Patricio County | Henry Karnes (1812–1840), a soldier in the Texas Revolution | 15,018 | ( 1,942 km2) |
750 sq mi|
Kaufman County | 257 | Kaufman | 1848 | Henderson County | David Spangler Kaufman, a Jewish Texas state senator and the second Jewish member of the United States House of Representatives | 185,690 | ( 2,036 km2) |
786 sq mi|
Kendall County | 259 | Boerne | 1862 | Blanco County and Kerr County | George Wilkins Kendall, an early journalist and sheep rancher who gained national fame as a war correspondent during the Mexican–American War | 50,537 | ( 1,715 km2) |
662 sq mi|
Kenedy County | 261 | Sarita | 1921 | Hidalgo County and Willacy County (Due to a reorganization of Willacy County) | Mifflin Kenedy, an early rancher and land speculator | 343 | ( 3,774 km2) |
1,457 sq mi|
Kent County | 263 | Jayton | 1876 | Bexar County | Andrew Kent, who died at the Battle of the Alamo | 734 | ( 2,336 km2) |
902 sq mi|
Kerr County | 265 | Kerrville | 1856 | Bexar County | James Kerr (1790–1850), an early colonist in Texas and soldier in the Texas Revolution | 53,915 | ( 2,865 km2) |
1,106 sq mi|
Kimble County | 267 | Junction | 1858 | Bexar County | George C. Kimbell, who died at the Battle of the Alamo (spelling differs due to an error in the bill creating the county) | 4,442 | ( 3,240 km2) |
1,251 sq mi|
King County | 269 | Guthrie | 1876 | Bexar County | William Phillip King, who died at the Battle of the Alamo | 217 | ( 2,362 km2) |
912 sq mi|
Kinney County | 271 | Brackettville | 1850 | Bexar County | Henry Lawrence Kinney, a Texas state senator and unsuccessful land speculator | 3,148 | ( 3,533 km2) |
1,364 sq mi|
Kleberg County | 273 | Kingsville | 1913 | Nueces County | Robert Justus Kleberg (1803–1888), an early German settler and soldier at the Battle of San Jacinto | 30,069 | ( 2,256 km2) |
871 sq mi|
Knox County | 275 | Benjamin | 1858 | Bexar County | Henry Knox, the first secretary of war of the United States (1785–1794) | 3,302 | ( 2,212 km2) |
854 sq mi|
Lamar County | 277 | Paris | 1840 | Red River County | Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar, the third president of the Republic of Texas (1838–1842) | 51,127 | ( 2,375 km2) |
917 sq mi|
Lamb County | 279 | Littlefield | 1876 | Bexar County | George A. Lamb, who died at the Battle of San Jacinto | 12,711 | ( 2,631 km2) |
1,016 sq mi|
Lampasas County | 281 | Lampasas | 1856 | Bell County, Coryell County and Travis County | The Lampasas River (Lampasas is Spanish for "lilies") |
23,262 | ( 1,844 km2) |
712 sq mi|
La Salle County | 283 | Cotulla | 1858 | Bexar County | René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle (1643–1687), the French explorer who traveled through Texas | 6,537 | ( 3,856 km2) |
1,489 sq mi|
Lavaca County | 285 | Hallettsville | 1842 | Colorado County, Fayette County, Gonzales County, Jackson County and Victoria County Named La Buca County until 1846 |
The Lavaca River (La vaca is Spanish for "the cow") |
20,571 | ( 2,512 km2) |
970 sq mi|
Lee County | 287 | Giddings | 1874 | Bastrop County, Burleson County, Fayette County and Washington County | Robert Edward Lee (1807–1870), the commanding general of the Confederate forces during the Civil War | 18,240 | ( 1,629 km2) |
629 sq mi|
Leon County | 289 | Centerville | 1846 | Robertson County | Disputed: Either Mexican empresario Martín De León, who founded Victoria, Texas; or the león, a local variety of yellow wolf |
16,538 | ( 2,776 km2) |
1,072 sq mi|
Liberty County | 291 | Liberty | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | Its county seat, which was named either for the recent success of the Mexican War of Independence or for Liberty, Mississippi | 108,272 | ( 3,004 km2) |
1,160 sq mi|
Limestone County | 293 | Groesbeck | 1846 | Robertson County | The limestone deposits in the region | 22,250 | ( 2,354 km2) |
909 sq mi|
Lipscomb County | 295 | Lipscomb | 1876 | Bexar County | Abner Smith Lipscomb, justice of the Texas Supreme Court (1846–1856) and secretary of state of the Republic of Texas (1840) | 2,906 | ( 2,414 km2) |
932 sq mi|
Live Oak County | 297 | George West | 1856 | Nueces County and San Patricio County | The Texas live oak tree under which the petition for a new county was signed | 11,584 | ( 2,683 km2) |
1,036 sq mi|
Llano County | 299 | Llano | 1856 | Bexar County, Gillespie County | The Llano River (Llano is Spanish for "plains") |
22,875 | ( 2,422 km2) |
935 sq mi|
Loving County | 301 | Mentone | 1887 | Tom Green County (1891) Reeves County (1931) |
Oliver Loving (1812–1867), a cattle rancher and pioneer of the cattle drive who, with Charles Goodnight, developed the Goodnight–Loving Trail | 43 | ( 1,743 km2) |
673 sq mi|
Lubbock County | 303 | Lubbock | 1876 | Bexar County | Thomas Saltus Lubbock (1817–1862), a Texas Ranger and Confederate colonel during the Civil War | 320,940 | ( 2,331 km2) |
900 sq mi|
Lynn County | 305 | Tahoka | 1876 | Bexar County | William Lynn, a soldier in the Texas Revolution from Massachusetts who is believed to have died defending the Alamo | 5,761 | ( 2,310 km2) |
892 sq mi|
McCulloch County | 307 | Brady | 1856 | Bexar County | Benjamin McCulloch (1811–1862), veteran of San Jacinto, Texas Ranger, and Confederate general | 7,452 | ( 2,769 km2) |
1,069 sq mi|
McLennan County | 309 | Waco | 1850 | Limestone County and Milam County | Neil McLennan, an early settler in the future county | 268,583 | ( 2,699 km2) |
1,042 sq mi|
McMullen County | 311 | Tilden | 1858 | Atascosa County, Bexar County and Live Oak County | John McMullen (1832–1883), an Irish-born empresario in Texas | 568 | ( 2,883 km2) |
1,113 sq mi|
Madison County | 313 | Madisonville | 1853 | Grimes County, Leon County and Walker County | James Madison, the fourth president of the United States (1809–1817) | 13,742 | ( 1,217 km2) |
470 sq mi|
Marion County | 315 | Jefferson | 1860 | Cass County | Francis Marion (1732–1795), American Revolutionary War general | 9,571 | ( 987 km2) |
381 sq mi|
Martin County | 317 | Stanton | 1876 | Bexar County | Wylie Martin, a Texas Revolutionary soldier and legislative representative for the Republic of Texas | 5,216 | ( 2,370 km2) |
915 sq mi|
Mason County | 319 | Mason | 1858 | Gillespie County | Fort Mason, which was named for either Lt. George T. Mason, killed during the Mexican–American War in fighting near Brownsville, or for Gen. Richard Barnes Mason, military governor of California | 3,931 | ( 2,414 km2) |
932 sq mi|
Matagorda County | 321 | Bay City | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | The canebrakes which once grew along the coast (Mata gorda is Spanish for "fat bush") |
36,359 | ( 2,885 km2) |
1,114 sq mi|
Maverick County | 323 | Eagle Pass | 1856 | Kinney County | Samuel Augustus Maverick (1803–1870), a rancher, signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, and representative in the Republic of Texas legislature | 57,762 | ( 3,315 km2) |
1,280 sq mi|
Medina County | 325 | Hondo | 1848 | Bexar County | The Medina River, named for Spanish engineer Pedro de Medina | 54,797 | ( 3,440 km2) |
1,328 sq mi|
Menard County | 327 | Menard | 1858 | Bexar County | Michel Branamour Menard, the founder of Galveston, Texas | 1,958 | ( 2,336 km2) |
902 sq mi|
Midland County | 329 | Midland | 1885 | Tom Green County | Its county seat, which was named for its location halfway between Fort Worth and El Paso on the Texas and Pacific Railway (and "Midway, Texas", being already in use) | 177,108 | ( 2,331 km2) |
900 sq mi|
Milam County | 331 | Cameron | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | Benjamin Rush Milam (1788–1835), an early Texas colonizer and soldier in the Texas Revolution | 25,951 | ( 2,634 km2) |
1,017 sq mi|
Mills County | 333 | Goldthwaite | 1887 | Brown County, Comanche County, Hamilton County and Lampasas County | John T. Mills (1817–1871), a Texas Supreme Court judge | 4,548 | ( 1,937 km2) |
748 sq mi|
Mitchell County | 335 | Colorado City | 1876 | Bexar County | Asa and Eli Mitchell, two early settlers and soldiers in the Texas Revolution | 9,075 | ( 2,357 km2) |
910 sq mi|
Montague County | 337 | Montague | 1857 | Cooke County | Daniel Montague, a state senator and early surveyor in the future county | 21,598 | ( 2,411 km2) |
931 sq mi|
Montgomery County | 339 | Conroe | 1837 | Washington County | Montgomery, Texas, which was named for Montgomery County, Alabama, which was named for Major Lemuel P. Montgomery, Sam Houston's commanding officer in the Battle of Horseshoe Bend (1814) | 711,354 | ( 2,704 km2) |
1,044 sq mi|
Moore County | 341 | Dumas | 1876 | Bexar County | Edwin Ward Moore (1810–1865), commodore of the Texan Navy | 21,190 | ( 2,331 km2) |
900 sq mi|
Morris County | 343 | Daingerfield | 1875 | Titus County | William Wright Morris, a planter and state legislator | 12,066 | ( 658 km2) |
254 sq mi|
Motley County | 345 | Matador | 1876 | Bexar County | Junius William Mottley, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence | 1,020 | ( 2,561 km2) |
989 sq mi|
Nacogdoches County | 347 | Nacogdoches | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | Its county seat, which was named for the Nacogdoche Native American tribe | 65,375 | ( 2,453 km2) |
947 sq mi|
Navarro County | 349 | Corsicana | 1846 | Robertson County | José Antonio Navarro (1795–1871), a leading Tejano participant in the Texan Revolution and signer of the Texan Declaration of Independence | 55,635 | ( 2,774 km2) |
1,071 sq mi|
Newton County | 351 | Newton | 1846 | Jasper County | John Newton (1755–1780), a veteran of the Revolutionary War | 12,039 | ( 2,416 km2) |
933 sq mi|
Nolan County | 353 | Sweetwater | 1876 | Bexar County | Philip Nolan (1771–1801), a mustanger who was killed by Spanish troops while on a mission into Texas | 14,306 | ( 2,362 km2) |
912 sq mi|
Nueces County | 355 | Corpus Christi | 1846 | San Patricio County | The Nueces River (Nueces is Spanish for "nuts") |
352,289 | ( 2,165 km2) |
836 sq mi|
Ochiltree County | 357 | Perryton | 1876 | Bexar County | William Beck Ochiltree (1811–1867), secretary of the treasury for the Republic of Texas and legislator for the state of Texas | 9,704 | ( 2,378 km2) |
918 sq mi|
Oldham County | 359 | Vega | 1876 | Bexar County | Williamson Simpson Oldham, a Confederate Senator for Texas | 1,783 | ( 3,888 km2) |
1,501 sq mi|
Orange County | 361 | Orange | 1852 | Jefferson County | An orange grove planted by early settlers at the mouth of the Sabine River | 85,722 | ( 922 km2) |
356 sq mi|
Palo Pinto County | 363 | Palo Pinto | 1856 | Bosque County and Navarro County | The Palo Pinto Creek (Palo Pinto is Spanish for "painted stick") |
29,747 | ( 2,468 km2) |
953 sq mi|
Panola County | 365 | Carthage | 1846 | Harrison County and Shelby County | A Native American word for cotton. | 22,838 | ( 2,075 km2) |
801 sq mi|
Parker County | 367 | Weatherford | 1855 | Bosque County and Navarro County | Isaac Parker, legislator for both the Republic of Texas and the state of Texas | 173,494 | ( 2,341 km2) |
904 sq mi|
Parmer County | 369 | Farwell | 1876 | Bexar County | Martin Parmer (1778–1850), a Republic of Texas legislator, judge, and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence | 9,617 | ( 2,284 km2) |
882 sq mi|
Pecos County | 371 | Fort Stockton | 1871 | Presidio County | The Pecos River, which was named for the Pecos Pueblo, which is of unknown etymology | 14,623 | ( 12,339 km2) |
4,764 sq mi|
Polk County | 373 | Livingston | 1846 | Liberty County | James Knox Polk, the eleventh president of the United States (1845–1849) | 54,186 | ( 2,738 km2) |
1,057 sq mi|
Potter County | 375 | Amarillo | 1876 | Bexar County | Robert Potter (1800–1842), secretary of the navy for the Republic of Texas, and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence | 114,647 | ( 2,354 km2) |
909 sq mi|
Presidio County | 377 | Marfa | 1850 | Santa Fe County | Presidio del Norte, an eighteenth-century fort and settlement on the south side of the Rio Grande | 5,795 | ( 9,987 km2) |
3,856 sq mi|
Rains County | 379 | Emory | 1870 | Hopkins County, Hunt County and Wood County | Emory Rains (1800–1878), a state senator and surveyor of the future county | 12,986 | ( 671 km2) |
259 sq mi|
Randall County | 381 | Canyon | 1876 | Bexar County | Horace Randal, a Confederate brigadier general in the Civil War | 148,255 | ( 2,367 km2) |
914 sq mi|
Reagan County | 383 | Big Lake | 1903 | Tom Green County | John H. Reagan (1818–1905), Confederate postmaster general, U.S. Congressman, and Governor of Texas | 3,141 | ( 3,043 km2) |
1,175 sq mi|
Real County | 385 | Leakey | 1913 | Bandera County, Edwards County and Kerr County | Julius Real, a rancher and state senator | 2,854 | ( 1,813 km2) |
700 sq mi|
Red River County | 387 | Clarksville | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | The Red River of Texas | 11,678 | ( 2,719 km2) |
1,050 sq mi|
Reeves County | 389 | Pecos | 1883 | Pecos County | George Robertson Reeves, a Texas state representative and colonel in the Confederate army | 11,770 | ( 6,827 km2) |
2,636 sq mi|
Refugio County | 391 | Refugio | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | Its county seat, which was named for the Spanish mission Nuestra Señora del Refugio, "Our Lady of Refuge" | 6,666 | ( 1,994 km2) |
770 sq mi|
Roberts County | 393 | Miami | 1876 | Bexar County | John S. Roberts, a signer of the Texan Declaration of Independence, and his brother Oran Milo Roberts, attorney general for the Republic of Texas and the seventeenth governor of Texas | 840 | ( 2,393 km2) |
924 sq mi|
Robertson County | 395 | Franklin | 1837 | Bexar County, Milam County and Nacogdoches County | Sterling Clack Robertson, an empresario in Mexican Texas | 17,267 | ( 2,214 km2) |
855 sq mi|
Rockwall County | 397 | Rockwall | 1873 | Kaufman County | Its county seat, which was named for a submerged stone wall found by its initial settlers | 131,307 | ( 386 km2) |
149 sq mi|
Runnels County | 399 | Ballinger | 1858 | Bexar County and Travis County | Hiram Runnels, the ninth governor of Mississippi (1833–1835) and planter in Texas | 9,868 | ( 2,730 km2) |
1,054 sq mi|
Rusk County | 401 | Henderson | 1843 | Nacogdoches County | Thomas Jefferson Rusk (1803–1857), a general in the Texas Revolution | 53,079 | ( 2,393 km2) |
924 sq mi|
Sabine County | 403 | Hemphill | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | The Sabine River, which forms its eastern border (Sabina is Spanish for "cypress") |
10,106 | ( 1,269 km2) |
490 sq mi|
San Augustine County | 405 | San Augustine | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | Presumably Augustine of Hippo (354–430) | 7,833 | ( 1,368 km2) |
528 sq mi|
San Jacinto County | 407 | Coldspring | 1870 | Liberty County, Montgomery County, Polk County and Walker County | The Battle of San Jacinto, which won Texas its independence from Mexico. San Jacinto is Spanish for Saint Hyacinth | 28,936 | ( 1,479 km2) |
571 sq mi|
San Patricio County | 409 | Sinton | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | Its former county seat San Patricio de Hibernia, an Irish colony named for Saint Patrick | 70,660 | ( 1,792 km2) |
692 sq mi|
San Saba County | 411 | San Saba | 1856 | Bexar County | The San Saba River, discovered on the Catholic feast of Saint Sabbas | 5,845 | ( 2,937 km2) |
1,134 sq mi|
Schleicher County | 413 | Eldorado | 1887 | Crockett County | Gustav Schleicher, engineer and U.S. Congressman from Texas | 2,391 | ( 3,395 km2) |
1,311 sq mi|
Scurry County | 415 | Snyder | 1876 | Bexar County | William Read Scurry (1821–1864), a Texas state legislator and Confederate general | 16,212 | ( 2,339 km2) |
903 sq mi|
Shackelford County | 417 | Albany | 1858 | Bosque County | Jack Shackelford, a soldier of the Texas Revolution | 3,229 | ( 2,367 km2) |
914 sq mi|
Shelby County | 419 | Center | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | Isaac Shelby, a Revolutionary War soldier from Tennessee and governor of Kentucky (1792–1796) (1812–1816) | 24,179 | ( 2,056 km2) |
794 sq mi|
Sherman County | 421 | Stratford | 1876 | Bexar County | Sidney Sherman (1805–1873), a soldier in the Texas Revolution | 2,678 | ( 2,391 km2) |
923 sq mi|
Smith County | 423 | Tyler | 1846 | Nacogdoches County | James Smith, a general during the Texas Revolution | 245,209 | ( 2,404 km2) |
928 sq mi|
Somervell County | 425 | Glen Rose | 1875 | Hood County | Alexander Somervell, a soldier in the Texas Revolution and leader of the Somervell Expedition | 9,888 | ( 484 km2) |
187 sq mi|
Starr County | 427 | Rio Grande City | 1848 | Nueces County | James Harper Starr (1809–1890), a treasurer for the Republic of Texas and Confederate official | 65,934 | ( 3,168 km2) |
1,223 sq mi|
Stephens County | 429 | Breckenridge | 1858 | Bosque County Named Buchanan County until 1861 |
Alexander Hamilton Stephens, the only vice-president of the Confederate States of America (1861–1865) | 9,343 | ( 2,318 km2) |
895 sq mi|
Sterling County | 431 | Sterling City | 1891 | Tom Green County | W. S. Sterling, an early rancher, buffalo hunter, and Native American fighter | 1,397 | ( 2,391 km2) |
923 sq mi|
Stonewall County | 433 | Aspermont | 1876 | Bexar County | Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (1824–1863), the famous Confederate General | 1,218 | ( 2,380 km2) |
919 sq mi|
Sutton County | 435 | Sonora | 1887 | Crockett County | John Schuyler Sutton, a Texas Ranger and soldier in the Texas Revolution and Mexican–American War | 3,221 | ( 3,766 km2) |
1,454 sq mi|
Swisher County | 437 | Tulia | 1876 | Bexar County | James Gibson Swisher, a soldier of the Texas Revolution | 6,955 | ( 2,331 km2) |
900 sq mi|
Tarrant County | 439 | Fort Worth | 1849 | Navarro County | Edward H. Tarrant, a U.S. Army general who drove the Native Americans out of the future county | 2,182,947 | ( 2,238 km2) |
864 sq mi|
Taylor County | 441 | Abilene | 1858 | Bexar County and Travis County | Edward Taylor (1812–1836), George Taylor (1816–1836), and James Taylor (1814–1836), three brothers who died at the Alamo | 146,836 | ( 2,372 km2) |
916 sq mi|
Terrell County | 443 | Sanderson | 1905 | Pecos County | Alexander Watkins Terrell, attorney, judge, state legislator, diplomat, and Confederate cavalry officer | 687 | ( 6,107 km2) |
2,358 sq mi|
Terry County | 445 | Brownfield | 1876 | Bexar County | Frank Terry, a Confederate colonel and commander of Terry's Texas Rangers | 11,547 | ( 2,305 km2) |
890 sq mi|
Throckmorton County | 447 | Throckmorton | 1858 | Fannin County | William Edward Throckmorton, an early Collin County settler | 1,526 | ( 2,362 km2) |
912 sq mi|
Titus County | 449 | Mount Pleasant | 1846 | Bowie County | Andrew Jackson Titus, planter and Texas state representative | 31,357 | ( 1,064 km2) |
411 sq mi|
Tom Green County | 451 | San Angelo | 1874 | Bexar County | Thomas Green (1814–1864), a Confederate brigadier general | 119,057 | ( 3,942 km2) |
1,522 sq mi|
Travis County | 453 | Austin | 1840 | Bastrop County | William Barret Travis (1809–1836), the commander of the Texan forces at the Alamo | 1,334,961 | ( 2,561 km2) |
989 sq mi|
Trinity County | 455 | Groveton | 1850 | Houston County | The Trinity River, named for the spiritual concept of the Trinity | 14,228 | ( 1,795 km2) |
693 sq mi|
Tyler County | 457 | Woodville | 1846 | Liberty County | John Tyler, the tenth president of the United States (1841–1845) | 20,382 | ( 2,391 km2) |
923 sq mi|
Upshur County | 459 | Gilmer | 1846 | Harrison County | Abel Parker Upshur, the fifteenth secretary of state of the United States (1843–1844) | 43,281 | ( 1,523 km2) |
588 sq mi|
Upton County | 461 | Rankin | 1887 | Tom Green County | John C. & William F. Upton, brothers and lieutenant colonels in the Confederate army during the Civil War | 3,109 | ( 3,217 km2) |
1,242 sq mi|
Uvalde County | 463 | Uvalde | 1850 | Bexar County | The Cañón de Ugalde, a nearby battlefield where Spanish General Juan de Ugalde was victorious in a skirmish with over 300 Apaches | 24,960 | ( 4,033 km2) |
1,557 sq mi|
Val Verde County | 465 | Del Rio | 1885 | Crockett County, Kinney County and Pecos County | Civil War Battle of Val Verde (Val Verde is Spanish for "green valley") |
47,720 | ( 8,213 km2) |
3,171 sq mi|
Van Zandt County | 467 | Canton | 1848 | Henderson County | Isaac Van Zandt (1813–1847), attorney, Texas state representative, and diplomat | 64,000 | ( 2,199 km2) |
849 sq mi|
Victoria County | 469 | Victoria | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | Its county seat, which was named for Guadalupe Victoria, Mexican revolutionary and its first president (1824–1829) | 91,664 | ( 2,287 km2) |
883 sq mi|
Walker County | 471 | Huntsville | 1846 | Montgomery County | Robert J. Walker (1801–1869); officially renamed after Samuel Hamilton Walker (no relation) (1815–1847), a Texas Ranger and soldier in the Mexican–American War | 81,268 | ( 2,041 km2) |
788 sq mi|
Waller County | 473 | Hempstead | 1873 | Austin County and Grimes County | Edwin Waller (1800–1881), a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and the first mayor of Austin, Texas | 63,553 | ( 1,331 km2) |
514 sq mi|
Ward County | 475 | Monahans | 1887 | Tom Green County | Thomas William Ward, a commissioner for the General Land Office of Texas and mayor of Austin, Texas | 10,966 | ( 2,165 km2) |
836 sq mi|
Washington County | 477 | Brenham | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | George Washington, the first president of the United States (1789–1797) | 37,007 | ( 1,577 km2) |
609 sq mi|
Webb County | 479 | Laredo | 1848 | Nueces County | James Webb, who served as secretary of the Treasury, secretary of State, and Attorney General of the Republic of Texas | 269,148 | ( 8,695 km2) |
3,357 sq mi|
Wharton County | 481 | Wharton | 1846 | Colorado County, Jackson County and Matagorda County | William Harris Wharton (1802–1839) and John Austin Wharton (1806–1838), brothers and officers in the Texas Revolution | 41,739 | ( 2,823 km2) |
1,090 sq mi|
Wheeler County | 483 | Wheeler | 1876 | Bexar County | Royal Tyler Wheeler, the second Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court | 4,804 | ( 2,367 km2) |
914 sq mi|
Wichita County | 485 | Wichita Falls | 1858 | Cooke County | The Wichita Native American tribe | 130,180 | ( 1,627 km2) |
628 sq mi|
Wilbarger County | 487 | Vernon | 1858 | Bexar County | Josiah P. (1801–1845) and Mathias Wilbarger, brothers and early settlers | 12,522 | ( 2,515 km2) |
971 sq mi|
Willacy County | 489 | Raymondville | 1911 | Cameron County and Hidalgo County | John G. Willacy, Texas state senator who was the author of the bill that established the county | 20,037 | ( 1,546 km2) |
597 sq mi|
Williamson County | 491 | Georgetown | 1848 | Milam County | Robert McAlpin Williamson, a leader and veteran of the Battle of San Jacinto | 697,191 | ( 2,911 km2) |
1,124 sq mi|
Wilson County | 493 | Floresville | 1860 | Bexar County, Guadalupe County and Karnes County | James Charles Wilson, a Texas state senator (1851–1853) | 54,183 | ( 2,090 km2) |
807 sq mi|
Winkler County | 495 | Kermit | 1887 | Tom Green County | Clinton Winkler, an appeals court judge, Texas state representative, and Confederate colonel | 7,414 | ( 2,178 km2) |
841 sq mi|
Wise County | 497 | Decatur | 1856 | Cooke County | Henry Alexander Wise, the U.S. Congressman and future thirty-eighth governor of Virginia (1856–1860) who supported the annexation of Texas | 78,097 | ( 2,344 km2) |
905 sq mi|
Wood County | 499 | Quitman | 1850 | Van Zandt County | George Tyler Wood, the second governor of Texas (1847–1849) | 47,921 | ( 1,683 km2) |
650 sq mi|
Yoakum County | 501 | Plains | 1876 | Bexar County | Henderson King Yoakum (1810–1856), soldier, attorney, and Texas historian | 7,468 | ( 2,072 km2) |
800 sq mi|
Young County | 503 | Graham | 1856 | Bosque County and Fannin County | William Cocke Young, early Texas settler, attorney, sheriff, and United States Marshal | 18,124 | ( 2,388 km2) |
922 sq mi|
Zapata County | 505 | Zapata | 1858 | Starr County and Webb County | José Antonio Zapata, a local rancher and colonel of the short-lived Republic of the Rio Grande | 13,736 | ( 2,582 km2) |
997 sq mi|
Zavala County | 507 | Crystal City | 1846 | Maverick County | Lorenzo de Zavala (1788–1836), signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and the first Vice-President of the Republic of Texas | 9,312 | ( 3,364 km2) |
1,299 sq mi
Defunct counties
There have been at least thirty-two counties established by Texas law that no longer exist. These fall into five categories: judicial counties; counties established by the Constitutional Convention of 1868–69; counties never organized which were abolished by legislative act; counties whose territory is no longer considered part of the state; and counties whose names have been changed.
- Buchel County, formed in 1887 from Presidio County. Annexed in 1897 to Brewster County.
- Dawson County, formed in 1858 in what is now Kinney County and Uvalde County and abolished in 1866 (not to be confused with the present-day Dawson County).
- Encinal County, formed in 1856. Abolished in 1899 and annexed to Webb County.
- Foley County, formed in 1887 from Presidio County. Annexed in 1897 to Brewster County.
- Greer County, formed in 1860. Separated from Texas by U.S. Supreme Court ruling in United States v. the State of Texas, 162 U.S. 1 (1896) and is now part of southwestern Oklahoma.
- Perdido County, formed in 1824 and forgotten during the upheavals of the 1840s. Perdido was reportedly abolished in 1858 and again in 1871. Records of annexation to Dawson County are also inconclusive.
- Santa Fe County, Texas formed in 1848 from lands claimed by the Republic of Texas and ceded by Mexico. It included a vast area later becoming portions of several states from New Mexico east of the Rio Grande extending northward into south-central Wyoming. Within Texas' modern boundaries, the county included the Trans-Pecos and most of the Panhandle. The county was abolished when Texas ceded its western lands under the Compromise of 1850.
- Wegefarth County, formed in 1873 in the Texas Panhandle and abolished in 1876.
- Worth County, formed in 1850 from part of Santa Fe County. Abolished under the Compromise of 1850 and is now part of east-central New Mexico.
See also
In Spanish: Anexo:Condados de Texas para niños
- Texas census statistical areas
- List of Texas county seat name etymologies
- List of counties in Georgia