Which U.S. States Have the Most Counties? A Complete Ranking

Meta Description: Discover which U.S. states have the most counties, see the top 10 ranked, and learn how parishes, boroughs, and independent cities affect the count.

Texas has more counties than any other U.S. state, with 254. Georgia ranks second with 159, followed by Kentucky with 120. But a state’s county count does not tell the whole story: Louisiana uses parishes, Alaska uses boroughs and census areas, and Virginia has independent cities that function separately from counties. Here is how the leading states compare—and what those numbers mean.

Which State Has the Most Counties?

Texas has the most counties in the United States, with 254. Its large number reflects the state’s expansive territory and the way local government developed as Texas was settled and organized. County boundaries also provide a framework for services such as law enforcement, courts, elections, and property records.

Georgia is next with 159 counties. Kentucky ranks third with 120, while Missouri has 114. Those four states are the only ones with more than 110 counties. The figures below count named counties within each state; they do not add separate county-equivalent governments, such as Virginia’s independent cities.

Top 10 States by Number of Counties

Note: The table ranks states by counties, not by all county-equivalent governments. Virginia has 95 counties and 38 independent cities; those cities are separate county equivalents for many statistical and administrative purposes.

Why These States Have So Many Counties

Texas: 254 Counties

Texas has 254 counties, by far the largest total in the country. The state is also exceptionally large, covering a wide range of landscapes and population patterns. County government helps organize public administration across that territory, although the responsibilities and structure of county offices can vary by state law.

Texas’s county count is not simply a measure of population. Counties differ greatly in size and population: a small county and a major urban county each count as one. That means the total reflects historical boundaries and political organization as much as the number of people living in the state.

Georgia: 159 Counties

Georgia’s 159 counties give it the second-highest total. The state’s county map developed over time as settlement expanded and lawmakers created local jurisdictions. Georgia’s counties serve as important units for courts, elections, public records, and other local government functions.

Georgia’s count is high compared with that of many similarly sized states. Like Texas, it illustrates why county totals are shaped by historical decisions rather than by a consistent nationwide formula for how many counties a state should have.

Kentucky and Missouri: More Than 110 Each

Kentucky has 120 counties, and Missouri has 114. Both states have long-established county systems that divide their territory into many local jurisdictions. Missouri has one notable exception to its standard county structure: St. Louis is an independent city, separate from St. Louis County.

St. Louis city is not an additional county. It is a county-equivalent government for certain purposes, so a count of Missouri’s counties remains 114. This distinction matters when comparing simple county totals with federal datasets that include county equivalents.

Kansas, Illinois, North Carolina, Iowa, Tennessee, and Virginia

Kansas has 105 counties, Illinois has 102, North Carolina has 100, and Iowa has 99. Tennessee and Virginia each have 95 counties. These states round out the top 10 when ranked by the number of counties alone.

Virginia’s position needs special attention. In addition to its 95 counties, it has 38 independent cities. These cities are not part of any county and perform many functions associated with county governments. Counting counties alone therefore gives an incomplete picture of Virginia’s local-government geography.

Counties, Parishes, Boroughs, and County Equivalents

“County” is a common term for a level of local government, but not every state uses it for every area. Federal agencies often use the broader category county equivalent to compare geographic units with similar roles. Depending on the location and dataset, county equivalents can include parishes, boroughs, census areas, independent cities, and other entities.

• Louisiana: The state has 64 parishes, which serve a role similar to counties.
• Alaska: It has 19 organized boroughs and an unorganized borough that is divided into census areas for statistical purposes. Alaska does not use counties.
• Virginia: Its 38 independent cities are separate from its 95 counties.
• Maryland, Missouri, and Nevada: Each has an independent city that is separate from the surrounding county or counties.
• District of Columbia: Washington, D.C., is not a state or county, but federal geographic datasets may treat it as a county equivalent.

These distinctions explain why different reference sources can report different totals for “counties in the United States.” One source may count only counties, while another may include every county-equivalent unit in the states, the District of Columbia, or U.S. territories. Readers should check how a dataset defines its geography before comparing totals.

How County Counts Are Used

County boundaries are useful for organizing local administration and reporting information. States and local governments may use counties to structure courts, elections, property records, public safety, public health, and road services. The exact responsibilities are set by state law and can differ substantially from one state to another.

Counties also appear frequently in U.S. statistics. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes population and demographic data by county and county equivalent, while other agencies use these geographic units to report economic, health, and public-service measures. For a reliable comparison, the geographic definition and reference year should be checked alongside the number.

A high county count does not necessarily mean that a state has more local government overall, more residents, or more county officials. Some states give counties broad authority; others place more responsibilities at the state, municipal, or township level. The number is best understood as a measure of how a state’s territory is divided—not as a direct measure of governmental complexity.

Which States Have the Fewest Counties?

At the other end of the spectrum, several states have relatively few counties. Delaware has three, and Hawaii has five. Rhode Island has five counties, although county governments there do not operate like county governments in many other states. Connecticut has eight counties, but it has reorganized its regional government and no longer treats counties as active units of local government in the same way as many states.

Small county totals do not mean residents lack local services. Municipalities, state agencies, regional bodies, and other local institutions may provide services that counties provide elsewhere. The division of responsibilities varies by state, so county counts should not be treated as a complete measure of local administration.

How to Interpret County Rankings

County rankings answer a narrow but useful question: how many county units does each state officially have? They do not explain how large each county is, how many people live there, or what services its government provides. A state with dozens of counties may have jurisdictions that differ dramatically in population and land area.

For accurate comparisons, it helps to separate three ideas:

• County count: The number of entities legally designated as counties in a state.
• County-equivalent count: A broader statistical count that may include parishes, boroughs, independent cities, and similar units.
• County government: The actual local authority and services associated with a county, which vary by state.

For instance, a map or dataset that shows Virginia’s counties and independent cities may display 133 county-equivalent areas, even though Virginia has 95 counties. A ranking that asks which states have the most counties will usually list Virginia at 95; a ranking of county equivalents may count its independent cities separately.

Reliable Sources for County Data

The U.S. Census Bureau’s geographic programs, including its Geography Program and county-level data products, are useful resources for understanding how counties and county equivalents are defined in federal statistics. State government websites and state-level reference materials can help confirm the legal count of counties and explain local terminology.

When using a county ranking, the most useful checks are the source’s definition, the date of the information, and whether county equivalents are included. With those details in view, the central answer is straightforward: Texas leads the nation with 254 counties, followed by Georgia with 159.