5 States with The Most Counties in the US

In this article, we will take a look at the 5 states with the most counties in the US. If you would like to read our discussion on population and county distribution across the country, you can go to the 15 States with The Most Counties in the US.

5. Missouri

Number of Counties: 115

Missouri’s most populous counties include St. Louis, Jackson, and St. Charles, with populations of 0.97 million, 0.71 million, and 0.42 million, respectively. The state has a population density of 87.1 persons per square mile. The state’s biggest city is Kansas City, which has a population of 0.51 million. Meanwhile, the state capital, Jefferson City, lies in Cole County.

4. Kentucky

Number of Counties: 120

Kentucky is dealing with rural flight, although the rural-urban population balance remains relatively equal. However, income disparities favor the urban sectors. The state’s largest city is Louisville, with a population of 0.63 million. Meanwhile, Jefferson County is the most populous county in Kentucky, with 0.76 million residents. Other significant counties include Fayette and Kenton, with populations of 0.32 million and 0.17 million, respectively.

3. Virginia

Number of Counties: 133

Virginia has a population of 8.75 million, with its most populous counties being Fairfax County, with 1.13 million people; Prince William County, with 0.49 million; and Virginia Beach County, with 0.45 million residents. Virginia holds the 14th spot in population density, with 202.6 people per square mile. Richmond serves as the state capital, while Virginia Beach is the state’s most populous city.

2. Georgia

Number of Counties: 159

Georgia is located in the southeastern US. Atlanta is the state’s most populous city, and Fulton County is its most populated county, with over 1 million residents. The number of counties in Georgia has been limited by state constitutional amendments to 159 since 1945, although the state previously had 161 counties. Georgia’s major industries include steel and machine tools, electrical appliances, manganese, copper and gold mining, chemical manufacturing, wood products, and wine.

1. Texas

Number of Counties: 254

Texas, the largest of the 48 contiguous US states, is located in the south-central region, adjacent to the US-Mexico border. The state currently experiences a population growth rate of 1.58% between 2022 and 2023, with an estimated population of 30.98 million. Second only to Alaska in terms of area, Texas has a relatively low population density of around 114 people per square mile. The state has seven counties with populations exceeding one million residents each, with Harris, Dallas, and Tarrant County ranking among the top three. Major cities in Texas include Houston, Dallas, and Austin, with Austin serving as the state capital and located within Travis County.