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.

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	1,071 sq mi (2,774 km)
Andrews County	003	Andrews	1876	Bexar County	Richard Andrews (1800–1835), the first Texan soldier to die in the Texas Revolution	18,664	1,501 sq mi (3,888 km)
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	802 sq mi (2,077 km)
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	252 sq mi (653 km)
Archer County	009	Archer City	1858	Fannin County	Branch Tanner Archer, a commissioner for the Republic of Texas	9,029	910 sq mi (2,357 km)
Armstrong County	011	Claude	1876	Bexar County	One of several Texas pioneer families, although it is not certain which one	1,832	914 sq mi (2,367 km)
Atascosa County	013	Jourdanton	1856	Bexar County	The Spanish word for "boggy"	51,784	1,232 sq mi (3,191 km)
Austin County	015	Bellville	1836	One of the original 23 counties	Stephen F. Austin (1793–1836), known as the Father of Texas	31,677	653 sq mi (1,691 km)
Bailey County	017	Muleshoe	1876	Bexar County	Peter James Bailey III, a soldier and defender of the Alamo	6,672	827 sq mi (2,142 km)
Bandera County	019	Bandera	1856	Bexar County	Bandera Pass, named in turn for the Spanish word for "flag"	22,637	792 sq mi (2,051 km)
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	888 sq mi (2,300 km)
Baylor County	023	Seymour	1858	Fannin County	Henry Weidner Baylor, a surgeon in the Texas Rangers during the Mexican–American War	3,463	871 sq mi (2,256 km)
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	880 sq mi (2,279 km)
Bell County	027	Belton	1850	Milam County	Peter Hansborough Bell, the third governor of Texas (1849–1853)	393,193	1,059 sq mi (2,743 km)
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	1,247 sq mi (3,230 km)
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	711 sq mi (1,841 km)
Borden County	033	Gail	1876	Bexar County	Gail Borden, Jr. (1801–1874), businessman, publisher, surveyor, and inventor of condensed milk	572	899 sq mi (2,328 km)
Bosque County	035	Meridian	1854	McLennan County	The Bosque River. (Bosque is Spanish for "wooded")	18,996	989 sq mi (2,561 km)
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	888 sq mi (2,300 km)
Brazoria County	039	Angleton	1836	One of the original 23 counties	Brazoria, Texas, an early port on the Brazos River	398,938	1,387 sq mi (3,592 km)
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	586 sq mi (1,518 km)
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	6,193 sq mi (16,040 km)
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	900 sq mi (2,331 km)
Brooks County	047	Falfurrias	1911	Starr County	James Abijah Brooks, a Texas Ranger and state legislator	6,848	943 sq mi (2,442 km)
Brown County	049	Brownwood	1856	Comanche County and Travis County	Henry Stevenson Brown, a commander at the Battle of Velasco	38,709	944 sq mi (2,445 km)
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	666 sq mi (1,725 km)
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	995 sq mi (2,577 km)
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	546 sq mi (1,414 km)
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	512 sq mi (1,326 km)
Callahan County	059	Baird	1858	Bexar County, Bosque County, and Travis County	James Hughes Callahan, a soldier during the Texas Revolution	14,374	899 sq mi (2,328 km)
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	906 sq mi (2,347 km)
Camp County	063	Pittsburg	1874	Upshur County	John Lafayette Camp (1828–1891), a Texas state senator	13,000	198 sq mi (513 km)
Carson County	065	Panhandle	1876	Bexar County	Samuel Price Carson, the first secretary of state of the Republic of Texas (1836–1838)	5,878	923 sq mi (2,391 km)
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	938 sq mi (2,429 km)
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	898 sq mi (2,326 km)
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	599 sq mi (1,551 km)
Cherokee County	073	Rusk	1846	Nacogdoches County	The Cherokee Native American tribe	52,217	1,052 sq mi (2,725 km)
Childress County	075	Childress	1876	Bexar County	George Campbell Childress (1804–1841), one of the authors of the Texas Declaration of Independence	6,788	710 sq mi (1,839 km)
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	1,098 sq mi (2,844 km)
Cochran County	079	Morton	1876	Bexar County	Robert E. Cochran (1810–1836), a defender of the Alamo	2,509	775 sq mi (2,007 km)
Coke County	081	Robert Lee	1889	Tom Green County	Richard Coke, the 15th governor of Texas (1874–1876)	3,352	899 sq mi (2,328 km)
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	1,273 sq mi (3,297 km)
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	848 sq mi (2,196 km)
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	919 sq mi (2,380 km)
Colorado County	089	Columbus	1836	One of the original 23 counties	The Colorado River of Texas (Colorado is Spanish for "colored")	21,117	963 sq mi (2,494 km)
Comal County	091	New Braunfels	1846	Bexar County	The Comal River. (Comal is Spanish for "basin")	193,928	562 sq mi (1,456 km)
Comanche County	093	Comanche	1856	Bosque County and Coryell County	The Comanche Native American tribe	14,050	938 sq mi (2,429 km)
Concho County	095	Paint Rock	1858	Bexar County	The Concho River. (Concho is Spanish for "shell")	3,297	992 sq mi (2,569 km)
Cooke County	097	Gainesville	1848	Fannin County	William Gordon Cooke, a soldier during the Texas Revolution	43,782	874 sq mi (2,264 km)
Coryell County	099	Gatesville	1854	Bell County	James Coryell, a frontiersman and Texas Ranger who was killed by Native Americans	84,878	1,052 sq mi (2,725 km)
Cottle County	101	Paducah	1876	Fannin County	George Washington Cottle, who died defending the Alamo	1,294	901 sq mi (2,334 km)
Crane County	103	Crane	1887	Tom Green County	William Carey Crane, a president of Baylor University	4,574	786 sq mi (2,036 km)
Crockett County	105	Ozona	1875	Bexar County	David Crockett (1786–1836), the legendary frontiersman who died at the Battle of the Alamo	2,858	2,808 sq mi (7,273 km)
Crosby County	107	Crosbyton	1876	Bexar County	Stephen Crosby, a Texas Land Commissioner	4,917	900 sq mi (2,331 km)
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	3,813 sq mi (9,876 km)
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	1,505 sq mi (3,898 km)
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	880 sq mi (2,279 km)
Dawson County	115	Lamesa	1876	Bexar County	Nicholas Mosby Dawson, a soldier of the Texan Revolution and victim of the Dawson Massacre	12,004	902 sq mi (2,336 km)
Deaf Smith County	117	Hereford	1876	Bexar County	Erastus "Deaf" Smith (1787–1837), a scout during the Texan Revolution	18,347	1,497 sq mi (3,877 km)
Delta County	119	Cooper	1870	Hopkins County and Lamar County	Its triangular shape, much like the Greek letter Delta	5,520	277 sq mi (717 km)
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	888 sq mi (2,300 km)
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	909 sq mi (2,354 km)
Dickens County	125	Dickens	1876	Bexar County	J.A. Dickens, who died at the Battle of the Alamo	1,711	904 sq mi (2,341 km)
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	1,331 sq mi (3,447 km)
Donley County	129	Clarendon	1876	Bexar County	Stockton P. Donley, a frontier lawyer and Texas Supreme Court justice	3,214	930 sq mi (2,409 km)
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	1,793 sq mi (4,644 km)
Eastland County	133	Eastland	1858	Bosque County, Coryell County and Travis County	William Mosby Eastland, a soldier during the Texas Revolution	18,037	926 sq mi (2,398 km)
Ector County	135	Odessa	1887	Tom Green County	Matthew Ector (1822–1879), a Confederate general during the Civil War	164,494	901 sq mi (2,334 km)
Edwards County	137	Rocksprings	1858	Bexar County	Haden Edwards (1771–1849), empresario and filibuster who led the Fredonian Rebellion	1,393	2,120 sq mi (5,491 km)
Ellis County	139	Waxahachie	1849	Navarro County	Richard Ellis (1781–1846), president of the convention that produced the Texas Declaration of Independence	222,829	940 sq mi (2,435 km)
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	1,013 sq mi (2,624 km)
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	1,086 sq mi (2,813 km)
Falls County	145	Marlin	1850	Limestone County and Milam County	The Falls on the Brazos	17,286	769 sq mi (1,992 km)
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	892 sq mi (2,310 km)
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	950 sq mi (2,460 km)
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	901 sq mi (2,334 km)
Floyd County	153	Floydada	1876	Bexar County	Dolphin Ward Floyd, who died defending the Alamo	5,090	992 sq mi (2,569 km)
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	707 sq mi (1,831 km)
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	875 sq mi (2,266 km)
Franklin County	159	Mount Vernon	1875	Titus County	Benjamin Cromwell Franklin (1805–1873), a judge and Texas State Senator	10,735	286 sq mi (741 km)
Freestone County	161	Fairfield	1850	Limestone County	A type of peach grown in the area	20,441	885 sq mi (2,292 km)
Frio County	163	Pearsall	1858	Atascosa County, Bexar County and Uvalde County	The Frio River (Frío is Spanish for "cold")	17,987	1,133 sq mi (2,934 km)
Gaines County	165	Seminole	1876	Bexar County	James Gaines, merchant and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence	22,523	1,502 sq mi (3,890 km)
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	399 sq mi (1,033 km)
Garza County	169	Post	1876	Bexar County	José Antonio de la Garza, pioneering settler and first Mayor of San Antonio	4,517	896 sq mi (2,321 km)
Gillespie County	171	Fredericksburg	1848	Bexar County and Travis County	Robert Addison Gillespie, a merchant, Mexican–American War soldier, and Texas Ranger	27,733	1,061 sq mi (2,748 km)
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	901 sq mi (2,334 km)
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	854 sq mi (2,212 km)
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	1,068 sq mi (2,766 km)
Gray County	179	Pampa	1876	Bexar County	Peter W. Gray (1819–1874), a lawyer, state senator, and soldier in the Civil War	20,916	928 sq mi (2,404 km)
Grayson County	181	Sherman	1846	Fannin County	Peter Wagener Grayson, an attorney general of the Republic of Texas	146,907	934 sq mi (2,419 km)
Gregg County	183	Longview	1873	Upshur County	John Gregg (1828–1864), a Confederate general during the Civil War	126,243	274 sq mi (710 km)
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	794 sq mi (2,056 km)
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	711 sq mi (1,841 km)
Hale County	189	Plainview	1876	Bexar County	John C. Hale, a lieutenant killed in action at the Battle of San Jacinto	31,761	1,005 sq mi (2,603 km)
Hall County	191	Memphis	1876	Bexar County	Warren DeWitt Clinton Hall, a secretary of war for the Republic of Texas (1836)	2,818	903 sq mi (2,339 km)
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	836 sq mi (2,165 km)
Hansford County	195	Spearman	1876	Bexar County	John M. Hansford, a Texas state representative and judge	5,071	920 sq mi (2,383 km)
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	695 sq mi (1,800 km)
Hardin County	199	Kountze	1858	Jefferson County and Liberty County	The Hardin family, earliest settlers of Liberty County	58,261	894 sq mi (2,315 km)
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	1,729 sq mi (4,478 km)
Harrison County	203	Marshall	1839	Shelby County	Jonas Harrison, a lawyer and soldier in the Texas Revolution	70,895	899 sq mi (2,328 km)
Hartley County	205	Channing	1876	Bexar County	Oliver C. and Rufus K. Hartley, brothers and original reporters for the Texas Supreme Court	5,145	1,462 sq mi (3,787 km)
Haskell County	207	Haskell	1858	Fannin County and Milam County	Charles Ready Haskell, Texas revolutionary soldier killed in the Goliad Massacre	5,385	903 sq mi (2,339 km)
Hays County	209	San Marcos	1848	Travis County	John Coffee Hays (1817–1883), a leading Texas Ranger and Mexican–American War officer	280,486	678 sq mi (1,756 km)
Hemphill County	211	Canadian	1876	Bexar County	John Hemphill (1803–1862), U.S. Senator and Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court	3,189	910 sq mi (2,357 km)
Henderson County	213	Athens	1846	Houston County and Nacogdoches County	James Pinckney Henderson, the first governor of Texas (1846–1847)	86,158	874 sq mi (2,264 km)
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	1,569 sq mi (4,064 km)
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	962 sq mi (2,492 km)
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	908 sq mi (2,352 km)
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	422 sq mi (1,093 km)
Hopkins County	223	Sulphur Springs	1846	Lamar County and Nacogdoches County	David Hopkins, an early settler in the future county	38,172	785 sq mi (2,033 km)
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	1,231 sq mi (3,188 km)
Howard County	227	Big Spring	1876	Bexar County	Volney Eskine Howard, U.S. Representative from Texas (1849–1853)	30,554	903 sq mi (2,339 km)
Hudspeth County	229	Sierra Blanca	1917	El Paso County	Claude Benton Hudspeth, a U.S. Congressman (1919–1931), rancher, and newspaper publisher	3,451	4,571 sq mi (11,839 km)
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	841 sq mi (2,178 km)
Hutchinson County	233	Stinnett	1876	Bexar County	Andrew Hutchinson, an early settler and attorney	20,033	887 sq mi (2,297 km)
Irion County	235	Mertzon	1889	Tom Green County	Robert Anderson Irion (1804–1861), a secretary of state in the Republic of Texas	1,549	1,052 sq mi (2,725 km)
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	917 sq mi (2,375 km)
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	830 sq mi (2,150 km)
Jasper County	241	Jasper	1836	One of the original 23 counties	William Jasper (1750–1779), an American Revolutionary War hero	32,694	938 sq mi (2,429 km)
Jeff Davis County	243	Fort Davis	1887	Presidio County	Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States of America (1861–1865)	1,856	2,265 sq mi (5,866 km)
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	904 sq mi (2,341 km)
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	1,136 sq mi (2,942 km)
Jim Wells County	249	Alice	1911	Nueces County	James Babbage Wells Jr., judge and Democratic party boss in southern Texas	38,662	865 sq mi (2,240 km)
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	729 sq mi (1,888 km)
Jones County	253	Anson	1854	Bexar County and Bosque County	Anson Jones, the fifth president of the Republic of Texas (1844–1846)	20,381	931 sq mi (2,411 km)
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	750 sq mi (1,942 km)
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	786 sq mi (2,036 km)
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	662 sq mi (1,715 km)
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	1,457 sq mi (3,774 km)
Kent County	263	Jayton	1876	Bexar County	Andrew Kent, who died at the Battle of the Alamo	734	902 sq mi (2,336 km)
Kerr County	265	Kerrville	1856	Bexar County	James Kerr (1790–1850), an early colonist in Texas and soldier in the Texas Revolution	53,915	1,106 sq mi (2,865 km)
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	1,251 sq mi (3,240 km)
King County	269	Guthrie	1876	Bexar County	William Phillip King, who died at the Battle of the Alamo	217	912 sq mi (2,362 km)
Kinney County	271	Brackettville	1850	Bexar County	Henry Lawrence Kinney, a Texas state senator and unsuccessful land speculator	3,148	1,364 sq mi (3,533 km)
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	871 sq mi (2,256 km)
Knox County	275	Benjamin	1858	Bexar County	Henry Knox, the first secretary of war of the United States (1785–1794)	3,302	854 sq mi (2,212 km)
Lamar County	277	Paris	1840	Red River County	Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar, the third president of the Republic of Texas (1838–1842)	51,127	917 sq mi (2,375 km)
Lamb County	279	Littlefield	1876	Bexar County	George A. Lamb, who died at the Battle of San Jacinto	12,711	1,016 sq mi (2,631 km)
Lampasas County	281	Lampasas	1856	Bell County, Coryell County and Travis County	The Lampasas River (Lampasas is Spanish for "lilies")	23,262	712 sq mi (1,844 km)
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	1,489 sq mi (3,856 km)
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	970 sq mi (2,512 km)
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	629 sq mi (1,629 km)
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	1,072 sq mi (2,776 km)
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	1,160 sq mi (3,004 km)
Limestone County	293	Groesbeck	1846	Robertson County	The limestone deposits in the region	22,250	909 sq mi (2,354 km)
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	932 sq mi (2,414 km)
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	1,036 sq mi (2,683 km)
Llano County	299	Llano	1856	Bexar County, Gillespie County	The Llano River (Llano is Spanish for "plains")	22,875	935 sq mi (2,422 km)
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	673 sq mi (1,743 km)
Lubbock County	303	Lubbock	1876	Bexar County	Thomas Saltus Lubbock (1817–1862), a Texas Ranger and Confederate colonel during the Civil War	320,940	900 sq mi (2,331 km)
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	892 sq mi (2,310 km)
McCulloch County	307	Brady	1856	Bexar County	Benjamin McCulloch (1811–1862), veteran of San Jacinto, Texas Ranger, and Confederate general	7,452	1,069 sq mi (2,769 km)
McLennan County	309	Waco	1850	Limestone County and Milam County	Neil McLennan, an early settler in the future county	268,583	1,042 sq mi (2,699 km)
McMullen County	311	Tilden	1858	Atascosa County, Bexar County and Live Oak County	John McMullen (1832–1883), an Irish-born empresario in Texas	568	1,113 sq mi (2,883 km)
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	470 sq mi (1,217 km)
Marion County	315	Jefferson	1860	Cass County	Francis Marion (1732–1795), American Revolutionary War general	9,571	381 sq mi (987 km)
Martin County	317	Stanton	1876	Bexar County	Wylie Martin, a Texas Revolutionary soldier and legislative representative for the Republic of Texas	5,216	915 sq mi (2,370 km)
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	932 sq mi (2,414 km)
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	1,114 sq mi (2,885 km)
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	1,280 sq mi (3,315 km)
Medina County	325	Hondo	1848	Bexar County	The Medina River, named for Spanish engineer Pedro de Medina	54,797	1,328 sq mi (3,440 km)
Menard County	327	Menard	1858	Bexar County	Michel Branamour Menard, the founder of Galveston, Texas	1,958	902 sq mi (2,336 km)
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	900 sq mi (2,331 km)
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	1,017 sq mi (2,634 km)
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	748 sq mi (1,937 km)
Mitchell County	335	Colorado City	1876	Bexar County	Asa and Eli Mitchell, two early settlers and soldiers in the Texas Revolution	9,075	910 sq mi (2,357 km)
Montague County	337	Montague	1857	Cooke County	Daniel Montague, a state senator and early surveyor in the future county	21,598	931 sq mi (2,411 km)
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	1,044 sq mi (2,704 km)
Moore County	341	Dumas	1876	Bexar County	Edwin Ward Moore (1810–1865), commodore of the Texan Navy	21,190	900 sq mi (2,331 km)
Morris County	343	Daingerfield	1875	Titus County	William Wright Morris, a planter and state legislator	12,066	254 sq mi (658 km)
Motley County	345	Matador	1876	Bexar County	Junius William Mottley, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence	1,020	989 sq mi (2,561 km)
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	947 sq mi (2,453 km)
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	1,071 sq mi (2,774 km)
Newton County	351	Newton	1846	Jasper County	John Newton (1755–1780), a veteran of the Revolutionary War	12,039	933 sq mi (2,416 km)
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	912 sq mi (2,362 km)
Nueces County	355	Corpus Christi	1846	San Patricio County	The Nueces River (Nueces is Spanish for "nuts")	352,289	836 sq mi (2,165 km)
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	918 sq mi (2,378 km)
Oldham County	359	Vega	1876	Bexar County	Williamson Simpson Oldham, a Confederate Senator for Texas	1,783	1,501 sq mi (3,888 km)
Orange County	361	Orange	1852	Jefferson County	An orange grove planted by early settlers at the mouth of the Sabine River	85,722	356 sq mi (922 km)
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	953 sq mi (2,468 km)
Panola County	365	Carthage	1846	Harrison County and Shelby County	A Native American word for cotton.	22,838	801 sq mi (2,075 km)
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	904 sq mi (2,341 km)
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	882 sq mi (2,284 km)
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	4,764 sq mi (12,339 km)
Polk County	373	Livingston	1846	Liberty County	James Knox Polk, the eleventh president of the United States (1845–1849)	54,186	1,057 sq mi (2,738 km)
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	909 sq mi (2,354 km)
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	3,856 sq mi (9,987 km)
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	259 sq mi (671 km)
Randall County	381	Canyon	1876	Bexar County	Horace Randal, a Confederate brigadier general in the Civil War	148,255	914 sq mi (2,367 km)
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	1,175 sq mi (3,043 km)
Real County	385	Leakey	1913	Bandera County, Edwards County and Kerr County	Julius Real, a rancher and state senator	2,854	700 sq mi (1,813 km)
Red River County	387	Clarksville	1836	One of the original 23 counties	The Red River of Texas	11,678	1,050 sq mi (2,719 km)
Reeves County	389	Pecos	1883	Pecos County	George Robertson Reeves, a Texas state representative and colonel in the Confederate army	11,770	2,636 sq mi (6,827 km)
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	770 sq mi (1,994 km)
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	924 sq mi (2,393 km)
Robertson County	395	Franklin	1837	Bexar County, Milam County and Nacogdoches County	Sterling Clack Robertson, an empresario in Mexican Texas	17,267	855 sq mi (2,214 km)
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	149 sq mi (386 km)
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	1,054 sq mi (2,730 km)
Rusk County	401	Henderson	1843	Nacogdoches County	Thomas Jefferson Rusk (1803–1857), a general in the Texas Revolution	53,079	924 sq mi (2,393 km)
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	490 sq mi (1,269 km)
San Augustine County	405	San Augustine	1836	One of the original 23 counties	Presumably Augustine of Hippo (354–430)	7,833	528 sq mi (1,368 km)
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	571 sq mi (1,479 km)
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	692 sq mi (1,792 km)
San Saba County	411	San Saba	1856	Bexar County	The San Saba River, discovered on the Catholic feast of Saint Sabbas	5,845	1,134 sq mi (2,937 km)
Schleicher County	413	Eldorado	1887	Crockett County	Gustav Schleicher, engineer and U.S. Congressman from Texas	2,391	1,311 sq mi (3,395 km)
Scurry County	415	Snyder	1876	Bexar County	William Read Scurry (1821–1864), a Texas state legislator and Confederate general	16,212	903 sq mi (2,339 km)
Shackelford County	417	Albany	1858	Bosque County	Jack Shackelford, a soldier of the Texas Revolution	3,229	914 sq mi (2,367 km)
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	794 sq mi (2,056 km)
Sherman County	421	Stratford	1876	Bexar County	Sidney Sherman (1805–1873), a soldier in the Texas Revolution	2,678	923 sq mi (2,391 km)
Smith County	423	Tyler	1846	Nacogdoches County	James Smith, a general during the Texas Revolution	245,209	928 sq mi (2,404 km)
Somervell County	425	Glen Rose	1875	Hood County	Alexander Somervell, a soldier in the Texas Revolution and leader of the Somervell Expedition	9,888	187 sq mi (484 km)
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	1,223 sq mi (3,168 km)
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	895 sq mi (2,318 km)
Sterling County	431	Sterling City	1891	Tom Green County	W. S. Sterling, an early rancher, buffalo hunter, and Native American fighter	1,397	923 sq mi (2,391 km)
Stonewall County	433	Aspermont	1876	Bexar County	Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (1824–1863), the famous Confederate General	1,218	919 sq mi (2,380 km)
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	1,454 sq mi (3,766 km)
Swisher County	437	Tulia	1876	Bexar County	James Gibson Swisher, a soldier of the Texas Revolution	6,955	900 sq mi (2,331 km)
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	864 sq mi (2,238 km)
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	916 sq mi (2,372 km)
Terrell County	443	Sanderson	1905	Pecos County	Alexander Watkins Terrell, attorney, judge, state legislator, diplomat, and Confederate cavalry officer	687	2,358 sq mi (6,107 km)
Terry County	445	Brownfield	1876	Bexar County	Frank Terry, a Confederate colonel and commander of Terry's Texas Rangers	11,547	890 sq mi (2,305 km)
Throckmorton County	447	Throckmorton	1858	Fannin County	William Edward Throckmorton, an early Collin County settler	1,526	912 sq mi (2,362 km)
Titus County	449	Mount Pleasant	1846	Bowie County	Andrew Jackson Titus, planter and Texas state representative	31,357	411 sq mi (1,064 km)
Tom Green County	451	San Angelo	1874	Bexar County	Thomas Green (1814–1864), a Confederate brigadier general	119,057	1,522 sq mi (3,942 km)
Travis County	453	Austin	1840	Bastrop County	William Barret Travis (1809–1836), the commander of the Texan forces at the Alamo	1,334,961	989 sq mi (2,561 km)
Trinity County	455	Groveton	1850	Houston County	The Trinity River, named for the spiritual concept of the Trinity	14,228	693 sq mi (1,795 km)
Tyler County	457	Woodville	1846	Liberty County	John Tyler, the tenth president of the United States (1841–1845)	20,382	923 sq mi (2,391 km)
Upshur County	459	Gilmer	1846	Harrison County	Abel Parker Upshur, the fifteenth secretary of state of the United States (1843–1844)	43,281	588 sq mi (1,523 km)
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	1,242 sq mi (3,217 km)
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	1,557 sq mi (4,033 km)
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	3,171 sq mi (8,213 km)
Van Zandt County	467	Canton	1848	Henderson County	Isaac Van Zandt (1813–1847), attorney, Texas state representative, and diplomat	64,000	849 sq mi (2,199 km)
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	883 sq mi (2,287 km)
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	788 sq mi (2,041 km)
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	514 sq mi (1,331 km)
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	836 sq mi (2,165 km)
Washington County	477	Brenham	1836	One of the original 23 counties	George Washington, the first president of the United States (1789–1797)	37,007	609 sq mi (1,577 km)
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	3,357 sq mi (8,695 km)
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	1,090 sq mi (2,823 km)
Wheeler County	483	Wheeler	1876	Bexar County	Royal Tyler Wheeler, the second Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court	4,804	914 sq mi (2,367 km)
Wichita County	485	Wichita Falls	1858	Cooke County	The Wichita Native American tribe	130,180	628 sq mi (1,627 km)
Wilbarger County	487	Vernon	1858	Bexar County	Josiah P. (1801–1845) and Mathias Wilbarger, brothers and early settlers; Josiah became a mythical figure for living 11 years after being scalped	12,522	971 sq mi (2,515 km)
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	597 sq mi (1,546 km)
Williamson County	491	Georgetown	1848	Milam County	Robert McAlpin Williamson, a leader and veteran of the Battle of San Jacinto	697,191	1,124 sq mi (2,911 km)
Wilson County	493	Floresville	1860	Bexar County, Guadalupe County and Karnes County	James Charles Wilson, a Texas state senator (1851–1853)	54,183	807 sq mi (2,090 km)
Winkler County	495	Kermit	1887	Tom Green County	Clinton Winkler, an appeals court judge, Texas state representative, and Confederate colonel	7,414	841 sq mi (2,178 km)
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	905 sq mi (2,344 km)
Wood County	499	Quitman	1850	Van Zandt County	George Tyler Wood, the second governor of Texas (1847–1849)	47,921	650 sq mi (1,683 km)
Yoakum County	501	Plains	1876	Bexar County	Henderson King Yoakum (1810–1856), soldier, attorney, and Texas historian	7,468	800 sq mi (2,072 km)
Young County	503	Graham	1856	Bosque County and Fannin County	William Cocke Young, early Texas settler, attorney, sheriff, and United States Marshal	18,124	922 sq mi (2,388 km)
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	997 sq mi (2,582 km)
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	1,299 sq mi (3,364 km)

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.

• Texas census statistical areas
• List of Texas county seat name etymologies
• List of counties in Georgia

• "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on March 13, 2007. Retrieved April 22, 2007. - Counties, county seats, county formation, and areas
• "CountyState.info Texas". Official County Websites. Retrieved September 13, 2007. - official sites
• "Texas County Progress". Official Publication of the County Judges and Commissioners Association. Retrieved July 13, 2017. - official sites
• "Updated List of Texas Cities and Counties By Population in 2019". - Google Doc

• Maps and lists of Texas regions and counties