The Texas Almanac tells us that, as of 2019, there are 1,223 incorporated municipalities in Texas and range in population from 18 in Los Ybanez to 2,325,489 in Houston. Texas has over 4,000 unincorporated communities. In 2024, there are 1225 incorporated Texas cities, which include 971 cities, 231 towns, and 23 villages.
In Texas, cities are defined by the city’s order of incorporation:
- Type A General Law Cities-600 population count for incorporation.
- Type B General Law Cities-201 population count for incorporation.
- Type C General Law Cities.
- The Place System: Any general law city with less than 5,000 in population can adopt the City Manager Form of Government.
The U.S. Census Bureau defines an urban area as a municipality with a population of at least 5,000 people and at least 2,000 housing units. Texas-demographics.com lists Texas Cities by population as of 2024. They range in population from Houston at a population of 2,314,157 to Santa Anna CDP at 3 people.
How Many Counties Are in Texas?
There are 254 counties in Texas. The founders of the Republic of Texas way back in 1836 designed small local governments where no citizen was more than a day’s travel from their county government. We traveled on or beasts of burden pulled us in 1836.
That has significantly changed, but that is how Texas acquired so many counties because Texas’ land mass is so large. This doctrine also resulted in Texas counties leaning to the smaller side in acreage. Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming have much larger counties.
How Many Lakes Are in Texas?
As of 2021, the Texas Almanac includes 200 Texas reservoirs that have over 5,000 acre-feet capacity, and about 6,976 reservoirs in Texas with a normal storage capacity of 10 acre-feet or larger. Around 1913, Texas had four major reservoirs with a total storage capacity of 288,340 acre-feet.
By January 2012, Texas had 188 major reservoirs or those with a normal capacity of 5,000 acre-feet or larger. The devastating floods early Texas settlers faced resulted in destroyed property, livestock, and lives.
The State of Texas, in conjunction with federal legislation in the 1930s and 1940s, began building dams along Texas rivers to create reservoirs that would absorb floodwaters and reduce damage and loss of life.
How Many Major Rivers are in Texas?
We consult the Texas Almanac again, which tells us that there are 11,247 named Texas streams identified in the U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System. Their combined length is about 80,000 miles, and they drain 263,513 square miles within Texas. The major rivers in Texas:
- Brazos: 1,280 miles long
- Canadian: 906 miles long
- Colorado: 865 miles long
- Guadalupe: 409 miles long
- Lavaca: 117 miles long
- Neches: 416 miles long
- Nueces: 315 miles long
- Pecos: 926 miles long
- Red River: 1,360 miles long
- Rio Grande: 1,900 miles long
- Sabine: 380 miles long
- San Antonio: 180 miles long
- Trinity: 550 miles long
How Many National Parks Are in Texas?
Big Bend and Guadalupe Mountains National Park and other protected areas are part of the National Park Service, which includes preserves and historic sites.
- Amistad National Recreation Area
- Big Bend National Park
- Big Thicket National Preserve
- Chamizal National Memorial
- El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail
- El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail
- Fort Davis National Historic Site
- Guadalupe Mountains National Park
- Lake Meredith National Recreation Area
- Padre Island National Seashore
- Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park
- Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River
- San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
How Many State Parks Does Texas Operate?
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) operates 89 state parks, historic sites, and natural areas that cover over 640,000 acres of land. The TPWD divides Texas into seven regions. The Prairies & Lakes region has the most parks and the South Texas Plains region has the least.
TPWD Regions:
- Big Bend Country
- Gulf Coast
- Hill Country
- Panhandle
- Pineywoods
- Prairies and Lakes
- South Texas Plains
The TPWD’s responsibilities include:
- Protecting and managing natural and cultural resources
- Providing opportunities for outdoor recreation
- Teaching about Texas history and natural science
- Helping local communities with planning and matching grants
Author: Kendall Davis
Author: Kendall Davis Company: Lumini Services Kendall currently lives on the shores of Lake Texoma in Texas. She traveled across two-thirds of the U.S. for many years camping at lakes, rivers, and three oceans before motels and hotels if at all possible, and she continuously saw God's presence in nature. Writing for Lakehub allows Kendall to share her experience with God's creations. https://kdavis1836.wixsite.com/luminiwrites
