List of the most populous counties in the United States
A map of the counties and county equivalents of the United States. The 100 most populous counties are highlighted, with counties having more than one million residents in orange and counties having fewer than one million residents in green, based on the results of the April 1, 2020 United States census .
This is a list of the 100 most populous of the 3,144 counties in the United States based on the national decennial US census conducted on April 1, 2020, and vintage Census population estimates for July 1, 2023.[ 1]
Many of the counties on the list include major cities or metropolitan areas in all parts of the United States. Six of the listed counties have consolidated city and county government, namely the City and County of Honolulu , Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee , City and County of Philadelphia , City and County of San Francisco , City of Jacksonville and Duval County , and City and County of Denver .[ 2] [ 3] [ 4] Kings County , Queens County , New York County , Bronx County , and Richmond County are coterminous with the respective boroughs of New York City ; they fall under the jurisdiction of the combined Government of New York City . Independent cities are not counted.
Many of the most populous counties listed are in Southern California, Texas, and New York, and roughly correspond to several of the most populous cities or municipalities in the United States. Counties in the Western United States are typically larger by area and therefore often have higher absolute populations even with comparable population densities.
List
This list includes the most populous US counties sorted according to both the 2020 official enumeration and 2023 vintage population estimates by the United States Census Bureau (USCB).
Rank
County
State
Land area
April 1, 2020 census
July 1, 2023 estimates
Mid-2020 to mid-2023 change
County seat
km2 [ 5]
mi2 [ 6]
absolute
%
1
Los Angeles
California
10,509.87
4,057.88
10,014,009
9,663,345
-350,664
-3.5
Los Angeles
2
Cook
Illinois
2,448.38
945.33
5,275,541
5,087,072
-188,469
-3.6
Chicago
3
Harris
Texas
4,411.99
1,703.48
4,731,145
4,835,125
103,980
2.2
Houston
4
Maricopa
Arizona
23,828.26
9,200.14
4,420,568
4,585,871
165,303
3.7
Phoenix
5
San Diego
California
10,895.12
4,206.63
3,298,634
3,269,973
-28,661
-0.9
San Diego
6
Orange
2,047.56
790.57
3,186,989
3,135,755
-51,234
-1.6
Santa Ana
7
Miami-Dade
Florida
4,915.06
1,897.72
2,701,767
2,686,867
-14,900
-0.6
Miami
8
Dallas
Texas
2,256.60
871.28
2,613,539
2,606,358
-7,181
-0.3
Dallas
9
Kings
New York
183.41
70.82
2,736,074
2,561,225
-174,849
-6.4
Brooklyn , NYC
10
Riverside
California
18,664.70
7,206.48
2,418,185
2,492,442
74,257
4.2
Riverside
11
Clark
Nevada
20,438.71
7,891.43
2,265,461
2,336,573
71,112
3.1
Las Vegas
12
King
Washington
5,479.29
2,115.57
2,269,675
2,271,380
1,705
0.1
Seattle
13
Queens
New York
281.10
108.53
2,405,464
2,252,196
-153,268
-6.8
Queens , NYC
14
San Bernardino
California
51,947.23
20,056.94
2,181,654
2,195,611
13,957
0.6
San Bernardino
15
Tarrant
Texas
2,236.74
863.61
2,110,640
2,182,947
72,307
3.4
Fort Worth
16
Bexar
3,211.12
1,239.82
2,009,324
2,087,679
78,355
3.9
San Antonio
17
Broward
Florida
3,133.33
1,209.79
1,944,375
1,962,531
18,156
0.9
Fort Lauderdale
18
Santa Clara
California
3,341.34
1,290.10
1,936,259
1,877,592
-58,667
-3.0
San Jose
19
Wayne
Michigan
1,585.28
612.08
1,793,561
1,751,169
-42,392
-2.4
Detroit
20
Middlesex
Massachusetts
2,118.14
817.82
1,632,002
1,623,952
-8,050
-0.5
Lowell and Cambridge
21
Alameda
California
1,914.05
739.02
1,682,353
1,622,188
-60,165
-3.6
Oakland
22
New York
New York
59.13
22.83
1,694,251
1,597,451
-96,800
-5.7
Manhattan , NYC
23
Sacramento
California
2,498.42
964.64
1,584,169
1,584,288
119
0.0
Sacramento
24
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
347.32
134.10
1,603,797
1,550,542
-53,255
-3.3
Philadelphia
25
Hillsborough
Florida
2,642.34
1,020.21
1,459,762
1,535,564
75,802
5.2
Tampa
26
Palm Beach
5,100.00
1,970.00
1,492,191
1,533,801
41,610
2.8
West Palm Beach
27
Suffolk
New York
2,362.20
912.05
1,525,920
1,523,170
-2,750
-0.2
Riverhead
28
Orange
Florida
2,339.87
903.43
1,429,908
1,471,416
41,508
2.9
Orlando
29
Nassau
New York
737.41
284.72
1,395,774
1,381,715
-14,059
-1.0
Mineola
30
Bronx
109.03
42.10
1,472,654
1,356,476
-116,178
-7.9
Bronx , NYC
31
Travis
Texas
2,564.61
990.20
1,290,188
1,334,961
44,773
3.5
Austin
32
Franklin
Ohio
1,378.36
532.19
1,323,807
1,326,063
2,256
0.2
Columbus
33
Oakland
Michigan
2,247.24
867.66
1,274,395
1,270,426
-3,969
-0.3
Pontiac
34
Hennepin
Minnesota
1,433.79
553.59
1,281,565
1,258,713
-22,852
-1.8
Minneapolis
35
Cuyahoga
Ohio
1,184.12
457.19
1,264,817
1,233,088
-31,729
-2.5
Cleveland
36
Allegheny
Pennsylvania
1,890.88
730.07
1,250,578
1,224,825
-25,753
-2.1
Pittsburgh
37
Collin
Texas
2,178.76
841.22
1,064,465
1,195,359
130,894
12.3
McKinney
38
Wake
North Carolina
2,163.21
835.22
1,129,410
1,190,275
60,865
5.4
Raleigh
39
Salt Lake
Utah
1,922.50
742.28
1,185,238
1,185,813
575
0.0
Salt Lake City
40
Mecklenburg
North Carolina
1,356.75
523.84
1,115,482
1,163,701
48,219
4.3
Charlotte
41
Contra Costa
California
1,854.27
715.94
1,165,927
1,155,025
-10,902
-0.9
Martinez
42
Fairfax
Virginia
1,012.60
390.97
1,150,309
1,141,878
-8,431
-0.7
Fairfax
43
Fulton
Georgia
1,363.98
526.63
1,066,710
1,079,105
12,395
1.2
Atlanta
44
Pima
Arizona
23,794.31
9,187.04
1,043,433
1,063,162
19,729
1.9
Tucson
45
Montgomery
Maryland
1,272.34
491.25
1,062,061
1,058,474
-3,587
-0.3
Rockville
46
Duval
Florida
1,974.07
762.19
995,567
1,030,822
35,255
3.5
Jacksonville
47
Fresno
California
15,431.13
5,957.99
1,008,654
1,017,162
8,508
0.8
Fresno
48
Denton
Texas
2,275.13
878.43
906,422
1,007,703
101,281
11.2
Denton
49
Westchester
New York
1,114.98
430.50
1,004,457
990,817
-13,640
-1.4
White Plains
50
Honolulu
Hawaii
1,555.92
600.74
1,016,508
989,408
-27,100
-2.7
Honolulu
51
St. Louis
Missouri
1,315.20
507.80
1,004,125
987,059
-17,066
-1.7
Clayton
52
Gwinnett
Georgia
1,114.69
430.38
957,062
983,526
26,464
2.8
Lawrenceville
53
Capitol
Connecticut
2,660.80
1,027.34
976,248
975,328
-920
-0.1
Hartford
54
Marion
Indiana
1,026.41
396.30
977,203
968,460
-8,743
-0.9
Indianapolis
55
Pinellas
Florida
709.14
273.80
959,107
961,596
2,489
0.3
Clearwater
56
Bergen
New Jersey
603.49
233.01
955,732
957,736
2,004
0.2
Hackensack
57
Prince George's
Maryland
1,250.16
482.69
967,201
947,430
-19,771
-2.0
Upper Marlboro
58
Erie
New York
2,700.56
1,042.69
954,236
946,147
-8,089
-0.8
Buffalo
59
Pierce
Washington
4,324.01
1,669.51
921,130
928,696
7,566
0.8
Tacoma
60
DuPage
Illinois
848.22
327.50
932,877
921,213
-11,664
-1.3
Wheaton
61
Fort Bend
Texas
2,292
885
822,779
916,778
93,999
11.4
Richmond
62
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
625.23
241.40
939,489
916,205
-23,284
-2.5
Milwaukee
63
Kern
California
21,061.57
8,131.92
909,235
913,820
4,585
0.5
Bakersfield
64
Shelby
Tennessee
1,976.61
763.17
929,744
910,042
-19,702
-2.1
Memphis
65
Hidalgo
Texas
4,068.52
1,570.87
870,781
898,471
27,690
3.2
Edinburg
66
Macomb
Michigan
1,241.18
479.22
881,217
875,101
-6,116
-0.7
Mount Clemens
67
El Paso
Texas
2,622.86
1,012.69
865,657
869,880
4,223
0.5
El Paso
68
Montgomery
Pennsylvania
1,251.07
483.04
856,553
868,742
12,189
1.4
Norristown
69
Worcester
Massachusetts
3,912.88
1,510.77
862,111
866,866
4,755
0.6
Worcester
70
Middlesex
New Jersey
800.08
308.91
863,162
863,623
461
0.1
New Brunswick
71
Essex
326.89
126.21
863,728
851,117
-12,611
-1.5
Newark
72
Snohomish
Washington
5,406.01
2,087.27
827,957
844,761
16,804
2.0
Everett
73
Baltimore
Maryland
1,549.59
598.30
854,535
844,703
-9,832
-1.2
Towson
74
Lee
Florida
2,031.88
784.51
760,822
834,573
73,751
9.7
Fort Myers
75
Ventura
California
4,773.69
1,843.13
843,843
829,590
-14,253
-1.7
Ventura
76
Hamilton
Ohio
1,051.30
405.91
830,639
827,058
-3,581
-0.4
Cincinnati
77
Polk
Florida
4,660
1,798
725,046
818,330
93,284
12.9
Bartow
78
Essex
Massachusetts
1,275.73
492.56
809,829
810,089
260
0.0
Salem and Lawrence
79
San Francisco
California
121.40
46.87
873,965
808,988
-64,977
-7.4
San Francisco
80
Oklahoma
Oklahoma
1,835.83
708.82
796,292
808,866
12,574
1.6
Oklahoma City
81
San Joaquin
California
3,603.51
1,391.32
779,233
800,965
21,732
2.8
Stockton
82
Multnomah
Oregon
1,117.05
431.30
815,428
789,698
-25,730
-3.2
Portland
83
Cobb
Georgia
879.43
339.55
766,149
776,743
10,594
1.4
Marietta
84
Jefferson
Kentucky
985.27
380.42
782,969
772,144
-10,825
-1.4
Louisville
85
Suffolk
Massachusetts
150.62
58.15
797,936
768,425
-29,511
-3.7
Boston
86
DeKalb
Georgia
693.03
267.58
764,382
762,992
-1,390
-0.2
Decatur
87
Monroe
New York
1,702.15
657.21
759,443
748,482
-10,961
-1.4
Rochester
88
El Paso
Colorado
5,508.39
2,126.80
730,395
744,215
13,820
1.9
Colorado Springs
89
Norfolk
Massachusetts
1,025.91
396.11
725,981
727,473
1,492
0.2
Dedham
90
San Mateo
California
1,161.37
448.41
764,442
726,353
-38,089
-5.0
Redwood City
91
Utah
Utah
5,188.91
2,003.45
659,399
719,174
59,775
9.1
Provo
92
Jackson
Missouri
1,565.55
604.46
717,204
718,560
1,356
0.2
Independence and Kansas City
93
Denver
Colorado
401.36
154.97
715,522
716,577
1,055
0.1
Denver
94
Davidson
Tennessee
1,305.44
504.03
715,884
712,334
-3,550
-0.5
Nashville
95
Montgomery
Texas
2,699.23
1,042.18
620,443
711,354
90,911
14.7
Conroe
96
Lake
Illinois
1,149.10
443.67
714,342
708,760
-5,582
-0.8
Waukegan
97
Hudson
New Jersey
119.63
46.19
724,854
705,472
-19,382
-2.7
Jersey City
98
Will
Illinois
2,167.58
836.91
696,355
700,728
4,373
0.6
Joliet
99
Williamson
Texas
2,889.99
1,115.83
609,017
697,191
88,174
14.5
Georgetown
100
Tulsa
Oklahoma
1,476.86
570.22
669,279
682,868
13,589
2.0
Tulsa
Gallery
Downtown Los Angeles , county seat of
Los Angeles County, California , the most populous county in the United States
Downtown Chicago in
Cook County, Illinois , the second-most populous county in the United States
Downtown Houston in
Harris County, Texas , the third-most populous county in the United States
Phoenix, Arizona , county seat of the
Maricopa County, Arizona , the nation's fourth-most populous county
Downtown
San Diego, California .
San Diego County is the fifth-most populous county in the United States
South Coast Metro district in
Orange County, California ,
the sixth-most populous county in the United States
Downtown Miami in
Miami-Dade County , the largest county in Florida and county seat of the seventh-most populous county in the United States
Uptown, Dallas with
Downtown Dallas on the end, in
Dallas County, Texas , the eighth-most populous county in the United States
Brooklyn in
Kings County, New York , the ninth-most populous county in the United States
Riverside, California , the county seat of
Riverside County, California , the tenth-most populous county in the United States
References
^ "More Counties Saw Population Gains in 2023" . United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2024 .
^ "This Is Your City and County of Honolulu Government" . City and County of Honolulu. Archived from the original on January 20, 2008. Retrieved January 23, 2008 .
^ "City and County Organizational Chart" . City and County of San Francisco. Archived from the original on February 3, 2008. Retrieved January 23, 2008 .
^ "Active Colorado Municipalities as of January 26, 2010" . Colorado Department of Local Affairs. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved January 26, 2010 .
^ GeoHive - the United States of America - US States and Counties Archived April 30, 2012, at the Wayback Machine (attached Excel spreadsheet)
^ The area in square kilometers of the column to the left divided by 2.589988110336 (1.6093442 ).
General Demographics Economy Geography Name origins See also