List of counties in Texas

Texas is a big state in the United States, and it has more counties than any other state—254 in total! These counties help organize the way people live and work across the state. Even though most people live in areas around Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin, all of Texas’ counties play an important role.

Long ago, when Texas was ruled by Spain and Mexico, it was divided into smaller local areas called municipalities. After Texas became independent in 1836, these became the first Texas counties. Over time, many new counties were created. The most recent organized county is Loving County, which was set up again in 1931 after being dissolved earlier.

Each county in Texas is managed by a group called a commissioners' court. This group includes four commissioners and a county judge. They make decisions about how the county runs and its spending. Some important leaders, like the sheriff and tax collector, are chosen by voters in elections. All these officials work together to provide services for the people living in the county.

List

Texas is divided into 254 counties, which is more than any other state in the United States. Most of these counties are found around the big cities of Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin, where the majority of Texas' people live.

Originally, Texas was divided into smaller areas called municipalities under Spanish and Mexican rule.

Racial / Ethnic Profile of counties in Texas (2020 Census)

Defunct counties

Texas once had more than the current 254 counties. Over time, at least thirty-two of these older counties were dissolved or renamed. These counties disappeared for several reasons: some were never fully organized, some had their lands given to other states, and others simply changed their names.

Examples include:

• Buchel County, which was combined into Brewster County in 1897.
• Greer County, which was ruled to belong to Oklahoma after a court decision in 1896.
• Santa Fe County, Texas, which covered a huge area before it was reduced and partly given to other states in 1850.