Texas county FIPS codes
All 254 Texas county FIPS codes with county seats, how the 5-digit code is built, and a free CSV download.
Updated · Data: U.S. Census Bureau · By the CountyFinder editorial desk
FIPS codes are how government datasets, mapping tools and spreadsheets identify a county without spelling mistakes. If you are joining two datasets, filling in a federal form or building a map, this page gives you the list, explains how the code works and covers the common pitfalls.
Key points
- County FIPS = 2-digit state code + 3-digit county code (Texas = 48) [2].
- Texas codes run 001 to 507, odd numbers only, alphabetical [1].
- The FIPS 6-4 standard was withdrawn in 2008 and replaced by INCITS 31; the codes are still called FIPS [3].
- Store codes as text so the leading zero survives (06037, not 6037).
- Free CSV: FIPS, county, seat and population.
- The Census Bureau publishes the official code lists [2].
How a county FIPS code is built
A county FIPS code has five digits. The first two identify the state and the last three the county within it [2]. Harris County is 48201: 48 is Texas, 201 is Harris. Because the state prefix is part of the code, 48201 is unique in the whole country, while the county part (201) alone is not.
The pattern in Texas
Texas county codes are odd numbers from 001 (Anderson) to 507 (Zavala), in alphabetical order of county name [1]. Most Texas county codes follow this order.
FIPS, ANSI, INCITS: one code, several names
The codes were originally published as Federal Information Processing Standard 6-4. NIST withdrew FIPS 6-4 on September 2, 2008 and pointed to INCITS 31 as the replacement standard [3]. The Census Bureau continues to publish the codes on its ANSI and FIPS code pages [2], and most people, datasets and APIs still call them FIPS codes. They are the same numbers.
Common pitfalls
- Lost leading zeros: spreadsheets turn 06037 (Los Angeles County) into 6037. Format the column as text before pasting.
- County code without the state: 201 is Harris in Texas but a different county elsewhere. Always keep all five digits.
- Connecticut: since the Census switch to planning regions, Connecticut's county-level codes are 09110 to 09190, not the old 09001 to 09015 [4][1].
- Independent cities: Virginia's independent cities have their own county-level codes [1].
Download the CSV
The file has one row per county with its FIPS code, name, county seat and ACS 2019-2023 population [1][5]. The underlying data is public domain (Census) and CC0 (Wikidata county seats); reuse it freely. A link back is appreciated.
Download Texas county FIPS codes (CSV)
All 254 Texas county FIPS codes
Honest limits
County seats come from Wikidata (CC0) and are checked against county counts, but a seat can change by local election; the county's own website is authoritative. Codes are stable, yet county changes do happen (Connecticut is the recent example) [4], so use the current Census list for new projects [2].
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, TIGER/Line Shapefiles 2024, county layer (counts and LSAD codes computed by CountyFinder).
- U.S. Census Bureau, ANSI and FIPS codes.
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Replacement standards for withdrawn FIPS geographic codes (FIPS 6-4 withdrawn September 2, 2008; replaced by INCITS 31).
- U.S. Census Bureau, Substantial Changes to Counties and County Equivalent Entities (Connecticut, January 2020 entry).
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-year estimates, table B01003, place and place-within-county (summary level 155).
Method: CountyFinder figures are computed from the files above; see our methodology. This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the FIPS code for Harris County, Texas?
What is the state FIPS code for Texas?
Why do Texas county codes skip even numbers?
Are FIPS codes still used?
Why did my FIPS code lose a zero in Excel?
Can I reuse this list?
Where are other states' codes?
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