North Texas County Map

About North Texas County Map

Explore the county map of North Texas region showing all the counties, county boundaries, state boundary, and international boundaries.

Counties of North Texas

County	County Seat	Status in North Texas	2025 Population Estimate	2026 Projected Population	Major Cities / Towns	Key Characteristics & Economy
Collin County	McKinney	Core MSA	1,152,000	1,185,000–1,205,000	Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Allen, Prosper	Fastest-growing county in Texas; tech corridor (Toyota HQ, Capital One), top-rated schools, affluent suburbs
Dallas County	Dallas	Core MSA	2,650,000	2,680,000–2,710,000	Dallas, Irving, Garland, Grand Prairie, Mesquite	Largest county by population; financial center, DFW Airport, arts district
Denton County	Denton	Core MSA	1,005,000	1,040,000–1,065,000	Denton, Lewisville, Flower Mound, The Colony, Corinth	Very fast growth; University of North Texas, lakes, master-planned communities
Ellis County	Waxahachie	Core MSA	195,000	202,000–210,000	Waxahachie, Midlothian, Red Oak, Ennis	Growing southern suburb; historic downtown Waxahachie, affordable housing
Hunt County	Greenville	Core MSA	103,000	105,000–108,000	Greenville, Commerce	Rural/suburban mix; Texas A&M University–Commerce
Johnson County	Cleburne	Core MSA	180,000	185,000–190,000	Burleson, Cleburne, Joshua	Southern commuter area; growing residential development
Kaufman County	Kaufman	Core MSA	155,000	162,000–168,000	Forney, Terrell, Kaufman	Rapid eastern growth; affordable housing near Dallas
Parker County	Weatherford	Core MSA	155,000	160,000–165,000	Weatherford, Aledo	Rural charm, Hill Country feel, growing commuter communities
Rockwall County	Rockwall	Core MSA	135,000	142,000–148,000	Rockwall, Heath, Fate	Smallest but fastest-growing county by percentage; Lake Ray Hubbard
Tarrant County	Fort Worth	Core MSA	2,150,000	2,190,000–2,230,000	Fort Worth, Arlington, Hurst, Euless, Bedford	Second-largest county; aviation hub, cultural district, TCU
Wise County	Decatur	Core MSA	72,000	75,000–78,000	Decatur, Bridgeport	Rural northern edge; growing commuter communities
Grayson County	Sherman	Peripheral / Extended North Texas	140,000	143,000–147,000	Sherman, Denison	Lake Texoma, growing influence from DFW
Hood County	Granbury	Peripheral / Extended North Texas	65,000	67,000–69,000	Granbury	Lake Granbury, retirement destination
Somervell County	Glen Rose	Peripheral / Extended North Texas	9,500	9,800–10,200	Glen Rose	Dinosaur Valley State Park, small rural county

Counties of North Texas

Fast movement happens here, in North Texas, where growth leaps ahead like a sprinter crossing the finish line. Around Dallas, Fort Worth, and Arlington, life hums with purpose, shaped by busy roads and big plans taking shape daily. Eleven surrounding counties tie together the threads of work, community, and identity that hold this place steady. By now, in 2026, close to eight and a half million residents call the area home, placing it at number four among major urban centers nationwide. That number climbs higher each year, earning it a spot among the most rapidly expanding metropolitan regions across the U.S.

The Core Counties of the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex

Eleven counties make up the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area, known as the Dallas–Fort Worth MSA. Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, and Wise are part of this grouping. Around the central core sit the two major cities - Dallas, Fort Worth - with terrain bending outward toward shared borders. From north's edge at Oklahoma line, extent drops southward through scattered settlements beyond Dallas proper. Urban density climbs highest in Dallas and Tarrant counties, where development has been heaviest. Nearby Collin, Denton, and Rockwall areas now hold top spots for population rise - spurred less by chance, more by where homes and offices spread following decades of economic buildup, especially in tech hubs, banking sectors, and supply chain networks.

Fastest-Growing Counties

Fast movement characterizes Collin County, where cities like Plano, Frisco, and McKinney expand quickly. With a forecasted 2025 population near 1.15 million, growth shows no signs of slowing down. Nearby Denton County - housing areas such as Denton, Lewisville, and Flower Mound - keeps pace with its own momentum. Rockwall County stands apart, being the smallest but seeing the highest percentage increase in population across Texas. Growth in Kaufman and Ellis counties has picked up speed lately, driven by lower housing costs and fresh infrastructure additions drawing residents outward from central Dallas.

Economy and Population Trends

North Texas keeps its economy wide open, tough yet adaptable. Finance rules downtown Dallas, while air travel punches above with American Airlines and DFW International Airport nearby. Tech hubs light up Plano and Frisco, not far from hospitals stretching services thin. Moving stuff around matters too, along with making things modern - robots included - in factories humming far beyond city limits. From 2020 to 2025 alone, over one hundred thousand people arrived every twelve months. That kind of influx shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Around $78,000 to $82,000 marks median household income throughout the metropolitan region, based on 2025 figures. Notably, Collin County frequently appears near the top of lists tracking the country's most affluent counties.

Key Cities and Landmarks

A region shaped by wide roads and steady growth finds its center through two urban cores - Dallas, drawing close to 1.3 million people, while Fort Worth gathers roughly 980,000 within its reach. Surrounding them, cities like Plano hold nearly 290,000 residents, though places such as Frisco now count over 230,000, followed by McKinney with around 220. Just west of Dallas, Irving claims about 255,000, whereas Arlington reaches toward 400,000 in total population. Even Denton, smaller but rising, sits near 160,000. Culture hides in the Dallas Arts District, where old buildings face each other under wide skies. The sound of cattle drives echoes through Fort Worth’s Stockyards every afternoon. Sports fans know AT&T Stadium well - it belongs to the Cowboys, Texas’s beloved football team. A domed stadium for concerts and games sits nearby, built on heavier soil than expected. Plane traffic never stops at DFW Airport, which ranks among the world's most active. Homes in tidy neighborhoods with named centers - the kind with clubhouses and roundabouts - mark much of what people live near daily.