List of counties in Texas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The state of Texas is divided into 254 counties, more than any other U.S. state.[1] Texas was originally divided into municipalities, a unit of local government under Spanish and Mexican rule. When the Republic of Texas gained its independence in 1836, there were 23 municipalities, which became the original Texas counties. Many of these would later be divided into new counties. The most recent county to be created was Kenedy County in 1921. The most recent county to be organized was Loving County in 1931.[2]
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 judge's role is limited to serving on the commissioners court. 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.[3]
Counties in Texas also have less legal power than cities or towns. 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 done by volunteer fire departments).
Unlike other 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).[4] School districts are independent of county and city government (with the exception of the Stafford 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.[5] Texas' code is 48, which when combined with any county code would be written as 48XXX. The FIPS code for each county links to census data for that county.
Contents |
[edit] List
| County |
FIPS Code[6] | County Seat |
Created |
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 | 55,109 | 1,071 sq mi (2,774 km²) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrews County | 003 | Andrews | 1876 | Bexar County | Richard Andrews (?–1835), the first Texan soldier to die in the Texas Revolution | 13,004 | 1,501 sq mi (3,888 km²) |
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| Angelina County | 005 | Lufkin | 1846 | Nacogdoches County | A Hainai Native American woman who assisted early Spanish missionaries and was named Angelina by them | 80,130 | 802 sq mi (2,077 km²) |
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| Aransas County | 007 | Rockport | 1871 | Refugio County | The Rio Nuestra Senora de Aranzazu, a Spanish outpost in early Texas | 22,497 | 252 sq mi (653 km²) |
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| Archer County | 009 | Archer City | 1858 | Fannin County | Branch Tanner Archer, a commissioner for the Republic of Texas | 8,854 | 910 sq mi (2,357 km²) |
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| Armstrong County | 011 | Claude | 1876 | Bexar County | One of several Texas pioneer families, although it is not certain which one | 2,148 | 914 sq mi (2,367 km²) |
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| Atascosa County | 013 | Jourdanton | 1856 | Bexar County | The Spanish word for "boggy" | 38,628 | 1,232 sq mi (3,191 km²) |
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| Austin County | 015 | Bellville | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | Stephen F. Austin (1793–1836), known as the Father of Texas | 23,590 | 653 sq mi (1,691 km²) |
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| Bailey County | 017 | Muleshoe | 1876 | Bexar County | Peter James Bailey, a defender of the Alamo | 6,594 | 827 sq mi (2,142 km²) |
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| Bandera County | 019 | Bandera | 1856 | Bexar County | Bandera Pass, named in turn for the Spanish word for "flag" | 17,645 | 792 sq mi (2,051 km²) |
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| Bastrop County | 021 | Bastrop | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | Felipe Enrique Neri, Baron de Bastrop, Dutch settler who assisted Stephen F. Austin in obtaining land grants | 57,733 | 888 sq mi (2,300 km²) |
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| Baylor County | 023 | Seymour | 1858 | Fannin County | Henry Weidner Baylor, a surgeon in the Texas Rangers during the Mexican-American War | 4,093 | 871 sq mi (2,256 km²) |
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| 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 | 32,359 | 880 sq mi (2,279 km²) |
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| Bell County | 027 | Belton | 1850 | Milam County | Peter Hansborough Bell, the third governor of Texas (1849–1853) | 237,974 | 1,059 sq mi (2,743 km²) |
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| Bexar County | 029 | San Antonio | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | San Antonio de Béjar, the capital of Mexican Texas, in turn named for Saint Anthony and the municipality of Béjar in Spain | 1,392,931 | 1,247 sq mi (3,230 km²) |
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| Blanco County | 031 | Johnson City | 1858 | Burnet County, Comal County, Gillespie County and Hays County | The Blanco River (Blanco means "white" in Spanish) | 8,418 | 711 sq mi (1,841 km²) |
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| Borden County | 033 | Gail | 1876 | Bexar County | Gail Borden, Jr. (1801–1874), businessman, publisher, surveyor, and inventor of condensed milk | 729 | 899 sq mi (2,328 km²) |
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| Bosque County | 035 | Meridian | 1854 | McLennan County | The Bosque River (Bosque is Spanish for "wooded") | 17,204 | 989 sq mi (2,561 km²) |
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| Bowie County | 037 | Boston | 1840 | Red River County | James Bowie (1796–1836), the legendary knife fighter who died at the Battle of the Alamo | 89,306 | 888 sq mi (2,300 km²) |
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| Brazoria County | 039 | Angleton | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | The Brazos River | 241,767 | 1,387 sq mi (3,592 km²) |
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| Brazos County | 041 | Bryan | 1841 | Washington County Named Navasota County until 1842 |
The Brazos River | 152,415 | 586 sq mi (1,518 km²) |
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| 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 | 8,866 | 6,193 sq mi (16,040 km²) |
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| Briscoe County | 045 | Silverton | 1876 | Bexar County | Andrew Briscoe (1810–1849), a soldier during the Texas Revolution | 1,790 | 900 sq mi (2,331 km²) |
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| Brooks County | 047 | Falfurrias | 1911 | Starr County | John Abijah Brooks, a Texas Ranger and legislator | 7,976 | 943 sq mi (2,442 km²) |
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| Brown County | 049 | Brownwood | 1856 | Comanche County and Travis County | Henry Stevenson Brown, a commander at the Battle of Velasco | 37,674 | 944 sq mi (2,445 km²) |
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| Burleson County | 051 | Caldwell | 1846 | Milam County | Edward Burleson (1798–1851), a general and statesman of the Texas Revolution | 16,470 | 666 sq mi (1,725 km²) |
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| Burnet County | 053 | Burnet | 1852 | Bell County, Travis County and Williamson County | David Gouverneur Burnet, the first president of the Republic of Texas (1836) | 34,147 | 995 sq mi (2,577 km²) |
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| Caldwell County | 055 | Lockhart | 1848 | Bastrop County and Gonzales County | Mathew Caldwell, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and soldier during the Texas Revolution | 32,194 | 546 sq mi (1,414 km²) |
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| Calhoun County | 057 | Port Lavaca | 1846 | Jackson County, Matagorda County and Victoria County | John Caldwell Calhoun, the seventh vice president of the United States (1825–1832) | 20,647 | 512 sq mi (1,326 km²) |
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| Callahan County | 059 | Baird | 1858 | Bexar County, Bosque County, and Travis County | James Hughes Callahan, a soldier during the Texas Revolution | 12,905 | 899 sq mi (2,328 km²) |
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| Cameron County | 061 | Brownsville | 1848 | Nueces County and lands ceded by Mexico | Ewen Cameron, a soldier during the Texas Revolution | 335,227 | 906 sq mi (2,347 km²) |
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| Camp County | 063 | Pittsburg | 1874 | Upshur County | John Lafayette Camp (1828–1891), a Texas state politician | 11,549 | 198 sq mi (513 km²) |
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| Carson County | 065 | Panhandle | 1876 | Bexar County | Samuel Price Carson, the first secretary of state of the Republic of Texas (1836–1838) | 6,516 | 923 sq mi (2,391 km²) |
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| Cass County | 067 | Linden | 1846 | Bowie County Named Davis County 1861–1871 |
Lewis Cass (1782–1866), a senator from Michigan who had favored the annexation of Texas to the United States | 30,438 | 938 sq mi (2,429 km²) |
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| 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 | 8,285 | 898 sq mi (2,326 km²) |
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| Chambers County | 071 | Anahuac | 1858 | Jefferson County and Liberty County | Thomas Jefferson Chambers, an early lawyer in Texas | 26,031 | 599 sq mi (1,551 km²) |
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| Cherokee County | 073 | Rusk | 1846 | Nacogdoches County | The Cherokee Native American tribe | 46,659 | 1,052 sq mi (2,725 km²) |
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| Childress County | 075 | Childress | 1876 | Bexar County and Young County | George Campbell Childress (1804–1841), one of the authors of the Texas Declaration of Independence | 7,688 | 710 sq mi (1,839 km²) |
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| Clay County | 077 | Henrietta | 1857 | Cooke County | Henry Clay, Kentucky statesman and ninth secretary of state of the United States (1825–1829) | 11,006 | 1,098 sq mi (2,844 km²) |
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| Cochran County | 079 | Morton | 1876 | Bexar County and Young County | Robert E. Cochran (1810–1836), a defender of the Alamo | 3,730 | 775 sq mi (2,007 km²) |
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| Coke County | 081 | Robert Lee | 1889 | Tom Green County | Richard Coke, the fifteenth governor of Texas (1874–1876) | 3,864 | 899 sq mi (2,328 km²) |
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| 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 | 9,235 | 1,273 sq mi (3,297 km²) |
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| Collin County | 085 | McKinney | 1846 | Fannin County | Collin McKinney (1766–1861), an author of the Texas Declaration of Independence | 491,675 | 848 sq mi (2,196 km²) |
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| Collingsworth County | 087 | Wellington | 1876 | Bexar County and Young 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) | 3,206 | 919 sq mi (2,380 km²) |
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| Colorado County | 089 | Columbus | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | The Colorado River | 20,390 | 963 sq mi (2,494 km²) |
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| Comal County | 091 | New Braunfels | 1846 | Bexar County | The Comal River | 78,021 | 562 sq mi (1,456 km²) |
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| Comanche County | 093 | Comanche | 1856 | Bosque County and Coryell County | The Comanche Native American tribe | 14,026 | 938 sq mi (2,429 km²) |
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| Concho County | 095 | Paint Rock | 1858 | Bexar County | The Concho River | 3,966 | 992 sq mi (2,569 km²) |
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| Cooke County | 097 | Gainesville | 1848 | Fannin County | William Gordon Cooke, a soldier during the Texas Revolution | 36,363 | 874 sq mi (2,264 km²) |
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| Coryell County | 099 | Gatesville | 1854 | Bell County | James Coryell, a frontiersman who was killed by Native Americans | 74,978 | 1,052 sq mi (2,725 km²) |
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| Cottle County | 101 | Paducah | 1876 | Fannin County | George Washington Cottle, who died defending the Alamo | 1,904 | 901 sq mi (2,334 km²) |
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| Crane County | 103 | Crane | 1887 | Tom Green County | William Carey Crane, a president of Baylor University | 3,996 | 786 sq mi (2,036 km²) |
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| Crockett County | 105 | Ozona | 1875 | Bexar County | David Crockett (1786–1836), the legendary frontiersman who died at the Battle of the Alamo | 4,099 | 2,808 sq mi (7,273 km²) |
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| Crosby County | 107 | Crosbyton | 1876 | Bexar County and Young County | Stephen Crosby, a land commissioner | 7,072 | 900 sq mi (2,331 km²) |
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| Culberson County | 109 | Van Horn | 1911 | El Paso County | David Browning Culberson, a lawyer and soldier in the Civil War | 2,975 | 3,813 sq mi (9,876 km²) |
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| Dallam County | 111 | Dalhart | 1876 | Bexar County | James Wilmer Dallam, a lawyer and newspaper publisher | 6,222 | 1,505 sq mi (3,898 km²) |
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| Dallas County | 113 | Dallas | 1876 | Nacogdoches County and Robertson County | George Mifflin Dallas, the eleventh vice president of the United States (1845–1849) | 2,294,706 | 880 sq mi (2,279 km²) |
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| Dawson County | 115 | Lamesa | 1846 | Bexar County | Nicholas Mosby Dawson, a soldier of the Texas Revolution | 14,985 | 902 sq mi (2,336 km²) |
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| Deaf Smith County | 117 | Hereford | 1876 | Bexar County | Erastus "Deaf" Smith (1787–1837), a scout during the Texas Revolution | 18,561 | 1,497 sq mi (3,877 km²) |
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| Delta County | 119 | Cooper | 1870 | Hopkins County and Lamar County | Its triangular shape, much like the Greek letter Delta | 5,327 | 277 sq mi (717 km²) |
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| 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 | 584,238 | 888 sq mi (2,300 km²) |
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| DeWitt County | 123 | Cuero | 1846 | Goliad County, Gonzales County and Victoria County | Green DeWitt, who founded an early colony in Texas | 20,013 | 909 sq mi (2,354 km²) |
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| Dickens County | 125 | Dickens | 1876 | Bexar County | J. Dickens, who died at the Battle of the Alamo | 2,762 | 904 sq mi (2,341 km²) |
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| Dimmit County | 127 | Carrizo Springs | 1858 | Bexar County, Maverick County, Uvalde County and Webb County | Philip Dimmitt, a major figure in the Texas Revolution | 10,248 | 1,331 sq mi (3,447 km²) |
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| Donley County | 129 | Clarendon | 1876 | Bexar County | Stockton P. Donley, a frontier lawyer | 3,828 | 930 sq mi (2,409 km²) |
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| 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 | 13,120 | 1,793 sq mi (4,644 km²) |
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| Eastland County | 133 | Eastland | 1858 | Bosque County, Coryell County and Travis County | William Mosby Eastland, a soldier during the Texas Revolution | 18,297 | 926 sq mi (2,398 km²) |
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| Ector County | 135 | Odessa | 1887 | Tom Green County | Mathew Ector (1822–1879), a Confederate general | 121,123 | 901 sq mi (2,334 km²) |
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| Edwards County | 137 | Rocksprings | 1858 | Bexar County | Haden Edwards (1771–1849), an early settler of Nacogdoches | 2,162 | 2,120 sq mi (5,491 km²) |
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| El Paso County | 139 | El Paso | 1848 | Santa Fe County | The pass the Rio Grande creates flowing through the mountains on either side of the river | 721,598 | 1,013 sq mi (2,624 km²) |
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| Ellis County | 141 | Waxahachie | 1849 | Navarro County | Richard Ellis (1781–1846), president of the convention that produced the Texas Declaration of Independence | 111,360 | 940 sq mi (2,435 km²) |
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| 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 | 33,001 | 1,086 sq mi (2,813 km²) |
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| Falls County | 145 | Marlin | 1850 | Limestone County and Milam County | The waterfalls on the Brazos River | 18,576 | 769 sq mi (1,992 km²) |
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| Fannin County | 147 | Bonham | 1837 | Red River County | James Walker Fannin, Jr. (1805–1836), the commander of the group of Texans killed in the Goliad Massacre | 31,242 | 892 sq mi (2,310 km²) |
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| Fayette County | 149 | La Grange | 1837 | Bastrop County | Marquis de La Fayette (1757–1834), the French hero of the American Revolutionary War | 21,804 | 950 sq mi (2,460 km²) |
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| 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 | 4,344 | 901 sq mi (2,334 km²) |
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| Floyd County | 153 | Floydada | 1876 | Bexar County and Young County | Dolphin Ward Floyd, who died defending the Alamo | 7,771 | 992 sq mi (2,569 km²) |
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| Foard County | 155 | Crowell | 1891 | Cottle County, Hardeman County, King County and Knox County | Robert Levi Foard, an attorney and Civil War soldier | 1,622 | 707 sq mi (1,831 km²) |
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| Fort Bend County | 157 | Richmond | 1837 | Austin County, Brazoria County and Harris County | A blockhouse positioned in a bend of the Brazos River | 354,452 | 875 sq mi (2,266 km²) |
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| Franklin County | 159 | Mount Vernon | 1875 | Titus County | Benjamin Cromwell Franklin (1805–1873), an early judge and legislator in Texas | 9,458 | 286 sq mi (741 km²) |
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| Freestone County | 161 | Fairfield | 1850 | Limestone County | A type of peach[7] | 17,867 | 885 sq mi (2,292 km²) |
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| Frio County | 163 | Pearsall | 1858 | Atascosa County, Bexar County and Uvalde County | The Frio River (Frio is "cold" in Spanish) | 16,252 | 1,133 sq mi (2,934 km²) |
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| Gaines County | 165 | Seminole | 1876 | Bexar County | James Gaines, merchant and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence | 14,467 | 1,502 sq mi (3,890 km²) |
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| Galveston County | 167 | Galveston | 1838 | Brazoria County, Harris County and Liberty County | Bernardo de Gálvez, a Spanish governor of the Louisiana Territory (1777–1785) | 277,563 | 399 sq mi (1,033 km²) |
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| Garza County | 169 | Post | 1876 | Bexar County | A pioneer Bexar County family | 4,872 | 896 sq mi (2,321 km²) |
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| Gillespie County | 171 | Fredericksburg | 1848 | Bexar County and Travis County | Robert Addison Gillespie, a merchant and soldier in the Mexican-American War | 20,814 | 1,061 sq mi (2,748 km²) |
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| Glasscock County | 173 | Garden City | 1887 | Tom Green County | George Washington Glasscock (1810–1868), an early settler of the Austin, Texas area | 1,406 | 901 sq mi (2,334 km²) |
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| Goliad County | 175 | Goliad | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | Its county seat, which preceded the modern county | 6,928 | 854 sq mi (2,212 km²) |
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| Gonzales County | 177 | Gonzales | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | Its county seat, which preceded the modern county | 18,628 | 1,068 sq mi (2,766 km²) |
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| Gray County | 179 | Pampa | 1876 | Bexar County | Peter W. Gray (1819–1874), a lawyer and soldier in the Civil War | 22,744 | 928 sq mi (2,404 km²) |
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| Grayson County | 181 | Sherman | 1846 | Fannin County | Peter Wagener Grayson, an attorney general of the Republic of Texas | 110,595 | 934 sq mi (2,419 km²) |
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| Gregg County | 183 | Longview | 1873 | Upshur County | John Gregg (1828–1864), a Confederate war hero | 111,379 | 274 sq mi (710 km²) |
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| 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 | 23,552 | 794 sq mi (2,056 km²) |
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| Guadalupe County | 187 | Seguin | 1846 | Bexar County and Gonzales County | The Guadalupe River | 89,023 | 711 sq mi (1,841 km²) |
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| Hale County | 189 | Plainview | 1876 | Bexar County | John C. Hale, a lieutenant killed in action at the Battle of San Jacinto | 36,602 | 1,005 sq mi (2,603 km²) |
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| Hall County | 191 | Memphis | 1876 | Bexar County and Young County | Warren DeWitt Clinton Hall, a secretary of war for the Republic of Texas (1836) | 3,782 | 903 sq mi (2,339 km²) |
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| 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 | 8,229 | 836 sq mi (2,165 km²) |
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| Hansford County | 195 | Spearman | 1876 | Bexar County and Young County | John M. Hansford, a Texas state congressman and judge | 5,369 | 920 sq mi (2,383 km²) |
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| Hardeman County | 197 | Quanah | 1858 | Fannin County | Bailey Hardeman and Thomas Jones Hardeman, two early Texas politicians and legislators | 4,724 | 695 sq mi (1,800 km²) |
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| Hardin County | 199 | Kountze | 1858 | Jefferson County and Liberty County | The Hardin family in Liberty County | 48,073 | 894 sq mi (2,315 km²) |
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| Harris County | 201 | Houston | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | John Richardson Harris, an early settler of the future county Named Harrisburg County until 1839 |
3,693,050 | 1,729 sq mi (4,478 km²) |
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| Harrison County | 203 | Marshall | 1839 | Shelby County | Jonas Harrison, a lawyer and Texas revolutionary | 62,110 | 899 sq mi (2,328 km²) |
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| Hartley County | 205 | Channing | 1839 | Bexar County and Young County | Oliver C. Hartley (1823–1859) and Rufus K. Hartley, two early Texas legislators and lawmakers | 5,537 | 1,462 sq mi (3,787 km²) |
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| Haskell County | 207 | Haskell | 1858 | Fannin County and Milam County | Charles Ready Haskell, killed in the Goliad Massacre | 6,093 | 903 sq mi (2,339 km²) |
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| Hays County | 209 | San Marcos | 1848 | Travis County | John Coffee Hays (1817–1883), a leading Texas Ranger and Mexican-American War officer | 97,589 | 678 sq mi (1,756 km²) |
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| Hemphill County | 211 | Canadian | 1876 | Bexar County and Young County | John Hemphill (1803–1862), a judge and Confederate congressman | 3,351 | 910 sq mi (2,357 km²) |
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| Henderson County | 213 | Athens | 1846 | Houston County and Nacogdoches County | James Pinckney Henderson, the first governor of Texas (1846–1847) | 73,277 | 874 sq mi (2,264 km²) |
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| 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 | 569,463 | 1,569 sq mi (4,064 km²) |
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| Hill County | 217 | Hillsboro | 1853 | Navarro County | George Washington Hill, a secretary of war and secretary of the navy under the Republic of Texas | 32,321 | 962 sq mi (2,492 km²) |
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| Hockley County | 219 | Levelland | 1876 | Bexar County and Young 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 | 22,716 | 908 sq mi (2,352 km²) |
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| Hood County | 221 | Granbury | 1866 | Johnson County | John Bell Hood (1831–1879), a Confederate lieutenant general and the commander of Hood's Texas Brigade | 41,100 | 422 sq mi (1,093 km²) |
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| Hopkins County | 223 | Sulphur Springs | 1846 | Lamar County and Nacogdoches County | The family of David Hopkins, an early settler in the future county | 31,960 | 785 sq mi (2,033 km²) |
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| Houston County | 225 | Crockett | 1837 | Nacogdoches County | Sam Houston (1793–1863), the second and fourth president of the Republic of Texas and seventh governor of Texas | 23,185 | 1,231 sq mi (3,188 km²) |
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| Howard County | 227 | Big Spring | 1876 | Bexar County | Volney Eskine Howard, U.S. Representative from Texas (1849–1853) | 33,627 | 903 sq mi (2,339 km²) |
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| Hudspeth County | 229 | Sierra Blanca | 1917 | El Paso County | Claude Benton Hudspeth, a state congressman (1919–1931), rancher, and newspaper publisher | 3,344 | 4,571 sq mi (11,839 km²) |
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| 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 | 76,596 | 841 sq mi (2,178 km²) |
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| Hutchinson County | 233 | Stinnett | 1876 | Bexar County | Andrew Hutchinson, an early attorney in Texas | 23,857 | 887 sq mi (2,297 km²) |
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| Irion County | 235 | Mertzon | 1889 | Tom Green County | Robert Anderson Irion (1804–1861), a secretary of state in the Republic of Texas | 1,771 | 1,052 sq mi (2,725 km²) |
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| Jack County | 237 | Jacksboro | 1856 | Cooke County | Brothers Patrick Churchill Jack and William Houston Jack, colonists and veterans of the Texas Revolution | 8,763 | 917 sq mi (2,375 km²) |
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| Jackson County | 239 | Edna | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States (1829–1837) | 14,391 | 830 sq mi (2,150 km²) |
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| Jasper County | 241 | Jasper | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | William Jasper (1750–1779), an American Revolutionary War hero | 35,604 | 938 sq mi (2,429 km²) |
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| Jeff Davis County | 243 | Fort Davis | 1887 | Presidio County | Jefferson Davis, the only president of the Confederate States of America (1861–1865) | 2,207 | 2,265 sq mi (5,866 km²) |
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| Jefferson County | 245 | Beaumont | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States (1801–1809) | 252,051 | 904 sq mi (2,341 km²) |
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| Jim Hogg County | 247 | Hebbronville | 1913 | Brooks County and Duval County | James Stephen Hogg, the twentieth governor of Texas (1891–1895) | 5,281 | 1,136 sq mi (2,942 km²) |
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| Jim Wells County | 249 | Alice | 1911 | Nueces County | James Babbage Wells Jr., a powerful politician in southern Texas | 39,326 | 865 sq mi (2,240 km²) |
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| Johnson County | 251 | Cleburne | 1854 | Ellis County, Hill County and Navarro County | Middleton Tate Johnson, a Texas Ranger, soldier, and politician | 126,811 | 729 sq mi (1,888 km²) |
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| Jones County | 253 | Anson | 1854 | Bexar County and Bosque County | Anson Jones, the fifth president of the Republic of Texas (1844–1846) | 20,785 | 931 sq mi (2,411 km²) |
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| Karnes County | 255 | Karnes City | 1854 | Bexar County, DeWitt County, Goliad County, Gonzales County and San Patricio County | Henry Wax Karnes (1812–1840), a soldier in the Texas Revolution | 15,446 | 750 sq mi (1,942 km²) |
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| Kaufman County | 257 | Kaufman | 1848 | Henderson County | David Spangler Kaufman, a Jewish Texas state senator and first Texas Jewish member of the United States House of Representatives | 71,313 | 786 sq mi (2,036 km²) |
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| Kendall County | 259 | Boerne | 1862 | Blanco County and Kerr County | George Wilkins Kendall, an early journalist and sheep rancher | 23,743 | 662 sq mi (1,715 km²) |
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| Kenedy County | 261 | Sarita | 1921 | Hidalgo County and Willacy County | Mifflin Kenedy, an early rancher in the area | 414 | 1,457 sq mi (3,774 km²) |
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| Kent County | 263 | Jayton | 1876 | Bexar County and Young County | Andrew Kent, who died at the Battle of the Alamo | 859 | 902 sq mi (2,336 km²) |
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| Kerr County | 265 | Kerrville | 1856 | Bexar County | James Kerr (1790–1850), an early colonist in Texas and soldier in the Texas Revolution | 43,653 | 1,106 sq mi (2,865 km²) |
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| Kimble County | 267 | Junction | 1858 | Bexar County | George C. Kimbell, who died at the Battle of the Alamo | 4,468 | 1,251 sq mi (3,240 km²) |
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| King County | 269 | Guthrie | 1876 | Bexar County | William Phillip King, who died at the Battle of the Alamo | 356 | 912 sq mi (2,362 km²) |
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| Kinney County | 271 | Brackettville | 1850 | Bexar County | Henry Lawrence Kinney, an unsuccessful land speculator | 3,379 | 1,364 sq mi (3,533 km²) |
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| Kleberg County | 273 | Kingsville | 1913 | Nueces County | Robert Justus Kleberg (1803–1888), an early German settler and soldier at the Battle of San Jacinto | 31,549 | 871 sq mi (2,256 km²) |
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| Knox County | 275 | Benjamin | 1858 | Bexar County and Young County | Henry Knox, the first secretary of war of the United States (1785–1794) | 4,253 | 854 sq mi (2,212 km²) |
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| La Salle County | 277 | Cotulla | 1858 | Bexar County | René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle (1643–1687), the French explorer who traveled through Texas | 5,866 | 1,489 sq mi (3,856 km²) |
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| Lamar County | 279 | Paris | 1840 | Red River County | Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar, the third president of the Republic of Texas (1838–1842) | 48,499 | 917 sq mi (2,375 km²) |
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| Lamb County | 281 | Littlefield | 1876 | Bexar County | George A. Lamb, who died at the Battle of San Jacinto | 14,709 | 1,016 sq mi (2,631 km²) |
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| Lampasas County | 283 | Lampasas | 1856 | Bell County, Coryell County and Travis County | The Lampasas River (Lampasas is Spanish for "lilies") | 17,762 | 712 sq mi (1,844 km²) |
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| 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 "cow") | 19,210 | 970 sq mi (2,512 km²) |
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| 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 | 15,657 | 629 sq mi (1,629 km²) |
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| Leon County | 289 | Centerville | 1846 | Robertson County | A yellow wolf which lived in the area and was nicknamed "lion" (leon in Spanish) | 15,335 | 1,072 sq mi (2,776 km²) |
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| Liberty County | 291 | Liberty | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | Its county seat, which preceded the modern county | 70,154 | 1,160 sq mi (3,004 km²) |
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| Limestone County | 293 | Groesbeck | 1846 | Robertson County | The limestone deposits in the region | 22,051 | 909 sq mi (2,354 km²) |
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| 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) | 3,057 | 932 sq mi (2,414 km²) |
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| 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 | 12,309 | 1,036 sq mi (2,683 km²) |
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| Llano County | 299 | Llano | 1856 | Bexar County, Gillespie County | The Llano River (Llano is Spanish for "plains") | 17,044 | 935 sq mi (2,422 km²) |
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| Loving County | 301 | Mentone | 1931 (originally 1887, deorganized 1897) |
Tom Green County | Oliver Loving (1812–1867), a cattle rancher and pioneer of the cattle drive who with Charles Goodnight developed the Goodnight-Loving Trail | 67 | 673 sq mi (1,743 km²) |
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| Lubbock County | 303 | Lubbock | 1876 | Bexar County | Thomas Saltus Lubbock (1817–1862), a Texas Ranger and soldier in the Confederate army | 242,628 | 900 sq mi (2,331 km²) |
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| Lynn County | 305 | Tahoka | 1876 | Garza County | William Lynn, a soldier in the Texas Revolution from Massachusetts who is believed to have died defending the Alamo | 6,550 | 892 sq mi (2,310 km²) |
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| McCulloch County | 307 | Brady | 1856 | Bexar County | Benjamin McCulloch (1811–1862), a famous Texas Ranger and Confederate general | 8,205 | 1,069 sq mi (2,769 km²) |
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| McLennan County | 309 | Waco | 1850 | Limestone County and Milam County | Neil McLennan, an early settler in the future county | 213,517 | 1,042 sq mi (2,699 km²) |
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| McMullen County | 311 | Tilden | 1858 | Atascosa County, Bexar County and Live Oak County | John McMullen (1832–1883), an Irish founder of a colony in Texas | 851 | 1,113 sq mi (2,883 km²) |
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| Madison County | 313 | Madisonville | 1853 | Grimes County, Leon County and Walker County | James Madison, the fourth president of the United States (1809–1817) | 12,940 | 470 sq mi (1,217 km²) |
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| Marion County | 315 | Jefferson | 1860 | Cass County | Francis Marion (1732–1795), American Revolutionary War general | 10,941 | 381 sq mi (987 km²) |
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| Martin County | 317 | Stanton | 1876 | Bexar County | Wylie Martin, an early settler in Texas | 4,746 | 915 sq mi (2,370 km²) |
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| Mason County | 319 | Mason | 1858 | Gillespie County | Fort Mason which was located in the future county | 3,738 | 932 sq mi (2,414 km²) |
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| Matagorda County | 321 | Bay City | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | The canebrakes which once grew along the coast (Matagorda is Spanish for "thick bush") | 37,957 | 1,114 sq mi (2,885 km²) |
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| Maverick County | 323 | Eagle Pass | 1856 | Kinney County | Samuel Augustus Maverick (1803–1870), an early legislator and rancher near the future county | 47,297 | 1,280 sq mi (3,315 km²) |
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| Medina County | 325 | Hondo | 1848 | Bexar County | The Medina River | 39,304 | 1,328 sq mi (3,440 km²) |
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| Menard County | 327 | Menard | 1858 | Bexar County | Michel Branamour Menard, the founder of Galveston, Texas | 2,360 | 902 sq mi (2,336 km²) |
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| Midland County | 329 | Midland | 1885 | Tom Green County | The fact that the county is located halfway between Fort Worth and El Paso on the Texas and Pacific Railway. | 116,009 | 900 sq mi (2,331 km²) |
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| 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 | 24,238 | 1,017 sq mi (2,634 km²) |
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| Mills County | 333 | Goldthwaite | 1887 | Brown County, Comanche County, Hamilton County and Lampasas County | John T. Mills (1817–1871), an early judge in Texas | 5,151 | 748 sq mi (1,937 km²) |
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| Mitchell County | 335 | Colorado City | 1876 | Bexar County | Asa Mitchell and Eli Mitchell, two early settlers and soldiers in the Texas Revolution | 9,698 | 910 sq mi (2,357 km²) |
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| Montague County | 337 | Montague | 1857 | Cooke County | Daniel Montague, a state senator and early surveyor in the future county | 19,117 | 931 sq mi (2,411 km²) |
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| Montgomery County | 339 | Conroe | 1837 | Washington County | City of Montgomery, which in turn was named for Andrew Montgomery | 293,768 | 1,044 sq mi (2,704 km²) |
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| Moore County | 341 | Dumas | 1876 | Bexar County | Edwin Ward Moore (1810–1865), the commodore of the Texan navy during the Republic of Texas | 20,121 | 900 sq mi (2,331 km²) |
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| Morris County | 343 | Daingerfield | 1875 | Titus County | William Wright Morris, a legislator and planter in the area | 13,048 | 254 sq mi (658 km²) |
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| Motley County | 345 | Matador | 1876 | Bexar County | Junius William Mottley, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence | 1,426 | 989 sq mi (2,561 km²) |
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| Nacogdoches County | 347 | Nacogdoches | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | The Nacogdoches Native American tribe | 59,203 | 947 sq mi (2,453 km²) |
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| Navarro County | 349 | Corsicana | 1846 | Robertson County | José Antonio Navarro (1795–1871), a leading Tejano participant in the Texas Revolution and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence | 45,124 | 1,071 sq mi (2,774 km²) |
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| Newton County | 351 | Newton | 1846 | Jasper County | John Newton (1755–1780), a veteran of the Revolutionary War | 15,072 | 933 sq mi (2,416 km²) |
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| 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 | 15,802 | 912 sq mi (2,362 km²) |
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| Nueces County | 355 | Corpus Christi | 1846 | San Patricio County | The Nueces River (Nueces is Spanish for "nuts") | 313,645 | 836 sq mi (2,165 km²) |
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| Ochiltree County | 357 | Perryton | 1876 | Bexar County | William Beck Ochiltree (1811–1867), an early settler, judge, and legislator | 9,006 | 918 sq mi (2,378 km²) |
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| Oldham County | 359 | Vega | 1876 | Bexar County | Williamson Simpson Oldham, a Confederate legislator in Texas | 2,185 | 1,501 sq mi (3,888 km²) |
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| Orange County | 361 | Orange | 1852 | Jefferson County | The orange grove planted by early settlers at the mouth of the Sabine River | 84,966 | 356 sq mi (922 km²) |
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| Palo Pinto County | 363 | Palo Pinto | 1856 | Bosque County and Navarro County | The Palo Pinto Creek (Palo Pinto is Spanish for "painted stick") | 27,026 | 953 sq mi (2,468 km²) |
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| Panola County | 365 | Carthage | 1846 | Harrison County and Shelby County | A Native American word for cotton. | 22,756 | 801 sq mi (2,075 km²) |
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| Parker County | 367 | Weatherford | 1855 | Bosque County and Navarro County | Isaac Parker (1838–1896), an early legislator in the state | 88,495 | 904 sq mi (2,341 km²) |
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| Parmer County | 369 | Farwell | 1876 | Bexar County | Martin Parmer (1778–1850), an early legislator, judge, and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence | 10,016 | 882 sq mi (2,284 km²) |
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| Pecos County | 371 | Fort Stockton | 1871 | Presidio County | The Pecos River | 16,809 | 4,764 sq mi (12,339 km²) |
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| Polk County | 373 | Livingston | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | James Knox Polk, the eleventh president of the United States (1845–1849) | 41,133 | 1,057 sq mi (2,738 km²) |
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| 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 | 113,546 | 909 sq mi (2,354 km²) |
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| Presidio County | 377 | Marfa | 1850 | Bexar County | Presidio del Norte, an eighteenth-century fort and settlement on the south side of the Rio Grande | 7,304 | 3,856 sq mi (9,987 km²) |
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| Rains County | 379 | Emory | 1870 | Hopkins County, Hunt County and Wood County | Emory Rains (1800–1878), an early legislator and surveyor of the future county | 9,139 | 232 sq mi (601 km²) |
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| Randall County | 381 | Canyon | 1876 | Bexar County | Horace Randal, a Confederate brigadier general | 104,312 | 914 sq mi (2,367 km²) |
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| Reagan County | 383 | Big Lake | 1903 | Tom Green County | John Henninger Reagan (1818–1905), postmaster general of the Confederacy and leader of the United States Democratic Party in Texas | 3,326 | 1,175 sq mi (3,043 km²) |
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| Real County | 385 | Leakey | 1913 | Bandera County, Edwards County and Kerr County | Julius Real, a rancher and legislator | 3,047 | 700 sq mi (1,813 km²) |
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| Red River County | 387 | Clarksville | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | Red River, which forms its northern border | 14,314 | 1,050 sq mi (2,719 km²) |
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| Reeves County | 389 | Pecos | 1883 | Pecos County | George Robertson Reeves, a state legislator and colonel in the Confederate army | 13,137 | 2,636 sq mi (6,827 km²) |
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| Refugio County | 391 | Refugio | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | Nuestra Señora del Refugio Mission which was located near the future county | 7,828 | 770 sq mi (1,994 km²) |
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| Roberts County | 393 | Miami | 1876 | Bexar County | Oran Milo Roberts (1879–1883), the seventeenth governor of Texas, and John S. Roberts, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence | 887 | 924 sq mi (2,393 km²) |
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| Robertson County | 395 | Franklin | 1837 | Bexar County, Milam County and Nacogdoches County | Sterling Clack Robertson, a founder of a colony in early Texas | 16,000 | 855 sq mi (2,214 km²) |
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| Rockwall County | 397 | Rockwall | 1873 | Kaufman County | Its county seat of Rockwall as well as a geological wall of rock running under the county | 43,080 | 129 sq mi (334 km²) |
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| Runnels County | 399 | Ballinger | 1858 | Bexar County and Travis County | Hiram Runnels, the ninth governor of Mississippi (1833–1835) and planter in Texas | 11,495 | 1,054 sq mi (2,730 km²) |
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| Rusk County | 401 | Henderson | 1843 | Nacogdoches County | Thomas Jefferson Rusk (1803–1857), a general in the Texas Revolution | 47,372 | 924 sq mi (2,393 km²) |
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| Sabine County | 403 | Hemphill | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | The Sabine River, which forms its eastern border (Sabine is Spanish for "cypress") | 10,469 | 490 sq mi (1,269 km²) |
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| San Augustine County | 405 | San Augustine | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | Saint Augustine of Hippo (354–430) | 8,946 | 528 sq mi (1,368 km²) |
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| 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 | 22,246 | 571 sq mi (1,479 km²) |
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| San Patricio County | 409 | Sinton | 1846 | Refugio County | The Mexican Municipality of San Patricio | 67,138 | 692 sq mi (1,792 km²) |
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| San Saba County | 411 | San Saba | 1856 | Bexar County | The San Saba River | 6,186 | 1,134 sq mi (2,937 km²) |
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| Schleicher County | 413 | Eldorado | 1887 | Crockett County | Gustav Schleicher, an early engineer and legislator in Texas | 2,935 | 1,311 sq mi (3,395 km²) |
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| Scurry County | 415 | Snyder | 1876 | Bexar County | William Read Scurry (1821–1864), a Texas state legislator and Confederate general | 16,361 | 903 sq mi (2,339 km²) |
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| Shackelford County | 417 | Albany | 1874 | Jack County | Jack Shackelford, a soldier of the Texas Revolution | 3,302 | 914 sq mi (2,367 km²) |
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| 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) | 25,224 | 794 sq mi (2,056 km²) |
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| Sherman County | 421 | Stratford | 1876 | Bexar County | Sidney Sherman (1805–1873), a soldier in the Texas Revolution | 3,186 | 923 sq mi (2,391 km²) |
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| Smith County | 423 | Tyler | 1846 | Nacogdoches County | James Smith, a general during the Texas Revolution | 174,706 | 928 sq mi (2,404 km²) |
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| Somervell County | 425 | Glen Rose | 1875 | Hood County | Alexander Somervell, a soldier in the Texas Revolution and leader of the Somervell Expedition | 6,809 | 187 sq mi (484 km²) |
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| Starr County | 427 | Rio Grande City | 1848 | Nueces County | James Harper Starr (1809–1890), a treasurer for the Republic of Texas and Confederate official | 53,597 | 1,223 sq mi (3,168 km²) |
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| 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) | 9,674 | 895 sq mi (2,318 km²) |
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| Sterling County | 431 | Sterling City | 1891 | Tom Green County | W. S. Sterling, an early rancher, buffalo hunter, and Native American fighter | 1,393 | 923 sq mi (2,391 km²) |
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| Stonewall County | 433 | Aspermont | 1876 | Bexar County and Young County | Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (1824–1863), the famous Confederate General | 1,693 | 919 sq mi (2,380 km²) |
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| Sutton County | 435 | Sonora | 1887 | Crockett County | John Schuyler Sutton, a Texas Ranger and soldier in the Texas Revolution and Mexican-American War | 4,077 | 1,454 sq mi (3,766 km²) |
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| Swisher County | 437 | Tulia | 1876 | Bexar County and Young County | James Gibson Swisher, a soldier of the Texas Revolution | 8,378 | 900 sq mi (2,331 km²) |
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| Tarrant County | 439 | Fort Worth | 1849 | Navarro County | Edward H. Tarrant, a general who drove the Native Americans out of the future county | 1,446,219 | 864 sq mi (2,238 km²) |
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| 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 | 126,555 | 916 sq mi (2,372 km²) |
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| Terrell County | 443 | Sanderson | 1905 | Pecos County | Alexander Watkins Terrell, attorney, judge, state legislator, diplomat, and Confederate cavalry officer | 1,081 | 2,358 sq mi (6,107 km²) |
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| Terry County | 445 | Brownfield | 1876 | Bexar County | Benjamin Franklin Terry, a Confederate colonel and commander of Terry's Texas Rangers | 12,761 | 890 sq mi (2,305 km²) |
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| Throckmorton County | 447 | Throckmorton | 1858 | Fannin County | William Edward Throckmorton, an early Collin County settler | 1,850 | 912 sq mi (2,362 km²) |
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| Titus County | 449 | Mount Pleasant | 1846 | Bowie County | Andrew Jackson Titus, a state legislator and planter | 28,118 | 411 sq mi (1,064 km²) |
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| Tom Green County | 451 | San Angelo | 1874 | Bexar County | Thomas Green (1814–1864), a Confederate brigadier general | 104,010 | 1,522 sq mi (3,942 km²) |
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| Travis County | 453 | Austin | 1840 | Bastrop County | William Barret Travis (1809–1831), the commander of the Texan forces at the Alamo | 812,280 | 989 sq mi (2,561 km²) |
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| Trinity County | 455 | Groveton | 1850 | Houston County | The Trinity River | 13,779 | 693 sq mi (1,795 km²) |
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| Tyler County | 457 | Woodville | 1846 | Liberty County | John Tyler, the tenth president of the United States (1841–1845) | 20,871 | 923 sq mi (2,391 km²) |
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| Upshur County | 459 | Gilmer | 1846 | Harrison County | Abel Parker Upshur, the fifteenth secretary of state of the United States (1843–1844) | 35,291 | 588 sq mi (1,523 km²) |
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| Upton County | 461 | Rankin | 1887 | Tom Green County | Brothers John Cunningham Upton and William Felton Upton, both lieutenant colonels in the Confederate army | 3,404 | 1,242 sq mi (3,217 km²) |
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| Uvalde County | 463 | Uvalde | 1850 | Bexar County | The Cañón de Ugalde, a nearby battlefield where Spanish General Juan de Ugalde won a surprise battle against 300 Apaches | 25,926 | 1,557 sq mi (4,033 km²) |
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| Val Verde County | 465 | Del Rio | 1885 | Crockett County, Kinney County and Pecos County | The Civil War Battle of Val Verde(Val Verde is Spanish for "green valley") | 44,856 | 3,171 sq mi (8,213 km²) |
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| Van Zandt County | 467 | Canton | 1848 | Henderson County | Isaac Van Zandt (1813–1847), early Texas settler, attorney, Texas legislator, and diplomat | 48,140 | 849 sq mi (2,199 km²) |
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| Victoria County | 469 | Victoria | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | Guadalupe Victoria, the first president of Mexico (1824–1829) | 84,088 | 883 sq mi (2,287 km²) |
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| Walker County | 471 | Huntsville | 1846 | Montgomery County | Samuel Hamilton Walker (1815–1847), a Texas Ranger and soldier in the Mexican-American War | 61,758 | 788 sq mi (2,041 km²) |
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| 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 | 32,663 | 514 sq mi (1,331 km²) |
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| 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 | 10,909 | 836 sq mi (2,165 km²) |
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| Washington County | 477 | Brenham | 1836 | One of the original 23 counties | George Washington, the first president of the United States (1789–1797) | 30,373 | 609 sq mi (1,577 km²) |
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| 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 | 193,117 | 3,357 sq mi (8,695 km²) |
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| Wharton County | 481 | Wharton | 1846 | Colorado County, Jackson County and Matagorda County | William Harris Wharton (1802–1839) and John Austin Wharton (1828–1865), brothers and leaders in revolutionary Texas | 41,188 | 1,090 sq mi (2,823 km²) |
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| Wheeler County | 483 | Wheeler | 1876 | Bexar County and Young County | Royal Tyler Wheeler, the second Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court | 5,284 | 914 sq mi (2,367 km²) |
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| Wichita County | 485 | Wichita Falls | 1858 | Cooke County | The Wichita Native American tribe | 131,664 | 628 sq mi (1,627 km²) |
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| Wilbarger County | 487 | Vernon | 1858 | Bexar County | Josiah Pugh Wilbarger (1801–1845) and Mathias Wilbarger, brothers and early settlers | 14,676 | 971 sq mi (2,515 km²) |
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| 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 | 20,082 | 597 sq mi (1,546 km²) |
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| Williamson County | 491 | Georgetown | 1848 | Milam County | Robert McAlpin Williamson, a leader and veteran of the Battle of San Jacinto | 249,967 | 1,124 sq mi (2,911 km²) |
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| Wilson County | 493 | Floresville | 1874 | Bexar County, Guadalupe County and Karnes County | James Charles Wilson, a Texas state senator (1851–1853) | 32,408 | 807 sq mi (2,090 km²) |
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| Winkler County | 495 | Kermit | 1887 | Tom Green County | Clinton McKamy Winkler, a judge and Confederate colonel | 7,173 | 841 sq mi (2,178 km²) |
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| Wise County | 497 | Decatur | 1856 | Cooke County | Henry Alexander Wise, the future thirty-eighth governor of Virginia (1856–1860) who supported the annexation of Texas | 48,793 | 905 sq mi (2,344 km²) |
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| Wood County | 499 | Quitman | 1850 | Van Zandt County | George Tyler Wood, the second governor of Texas (1847–1849) | 36,752 | 650 sq mi (1,683 km²) |
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| Yoakum County | 501 | Plains | 1876 | Bexar County | Henderson King Yoakum (1810–1856), soldier, attorney, and Texas historian | 7,322 | 800 sq mi (2,072 km²) |
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| Young County | 503 | Graham | 1856 | Bosque County and Fannin County | William Cocke Young, early Texas settler, attorney, sheriff, and United States Marshal | 17,943 | 922 sq mi (2,388 km²) |
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| Zapata County | 505 | Zapata | 1858 | Starr County and Webb County | Antonio Zapata, a local rancher and rebel against the Mexican government | 12,182 | 997 sq mi (2,582 km²) |
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| 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 | 11,600 | 1,299 sq mi (3,364 km²) |
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[edit] 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 and abolished by legislative act; counties whose territory is no longer considered part of the state.; and counties whose names have been changed.[8]
- Buchel County formed in 1887 from Presidio County. Annexed in 1897 to Brewster County.
- Dawson County (defunct) formed in 1858 in what is now Kinney County and Uvalde County and Abolished in 1866. Not to be confounded with 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. State of Texas, .
- Perdido County discovered in 1824 and misplaced in the upheavals of the 1840's. Perdido was reportedly abolished in 1858 and again in 1871. Records of annexation to Dawson County are also inconclusive.
- Santa Fe County formed in 1848 from lands ceded by Mexico. It included the area of New Mexico east of the Rio Grande. Abolished 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.
[edit] See also
- Analysis of Texas county namesakes
- List of Texas county name etymologies
- List of Texas county seats
- Texas census statistical areas
[edit] References
- Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2007-04-22. - Counties, county seats, county formation, and areas
- US Census Bureau. Geographic Comparison Table. Retrieved on 2007-04-20. - populations
- CountyState.info Texas. Official County Websites. Retrieved on 2007-09-13. - official sites
- ^ How Many Counties are in Your State?. Click and Learn. Retrieved on 2007-04-11.
- ^ TSHA County organization. The Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved on 2007-04-12.
- ^ County government structure. Texas Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2007-04-27.
- ^ County official information. Texas Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2007-04-27.
- ^ FIPS Publish 6-4. National Institute of Standards and Technology. Retrieved on 2007-04-11.
- ^ EPA County FIPS Code Listing. EPA. Retrieved on 2007-04-09.
- ^ Texas Association of Counties facts. Texas Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2007-04-12.
- ^ TSHA Defunct Counties. The Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved on 2007-04-20.
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