Defunct Counties

At least thirty-two counties that were established by Texas law no longer exist.

Buchanan, 1858, became Stephens in 1861.
Cass was renamed Davis in 1861 but became Cass again in 1871.
Encinal was absorbed by Webb.
Original Dawson abolished and absorbed by Kinney in 1866.
Navasota became Brazos in 1842.
Greer County became five Oklahoma Counties in 1906.
Handbook of Texas Online


Buchanan County

Buchanan County was created in January 1858 from Bosque County. It was named for President James Buchanan. In 1861, the name changed to Stephens County.
Handbook of Texas Online

Buchel County

Buchel County, along with Foley, & Jeff Davis County were formed out of Presidio County on 15 March 1887. In March of 1889, a legislative act passed attaching the county to Brewster County. Buchel County was abolished in 1897.
Handbook of Texas Online

Cibilo County

Wilson County was renamed Cibolo in 1869 but was named Wilson again in 1874.
Handbook of Texas Online

Davis County

Cass County was renamed Davis in honor of Jefferson Davis in 1861 but reverted to Cass in May, 1871.
Handbook of Texas Online

Dawson County

Created 1 February 1858 from Bexar Land District and redistributed in 1866 to Kinney and Uvalde counties.
Handbook of Texas Online

Encinal County

Established early 1856 & was to have the town of Encinal as it's county seat. However the area never organized & was incorporated into Webb County in mid March 1899
Handbook of Texas Online

Foley County

Created in March 1887 out of Presidio County.
Handbook of Texas Online

Greer County

1860-1896 from Indian Territory
County Seat: Mangum
Historical Greer County
Handbook of Texas Online

Harrisburg County

Established in 1836. In 1839 the name was changed to Harris County.
Handbook of Texas Online

La Baca County

Early January 1842, the Sixth Congress passed a joint resolution to organize this county. On 12 January 1842, President Sam Houston vetoed the resolution. Halletsville would have been the county seat.
Handbook of Texas Online

Miller County

1820 through 1836
Created April 1820 by Arkansas Territory, named for James Miller (governor of Arkansas) included most of what is now Miller County, Arkansas, & Texas counties of Bowie, Cass, Delta, Fannin, Franklin, Hopkins, Hunt, Lamar, Morris, Red River, & Titus.
Current Arkansas site
Handbook of Texas Online
Created January 1841 from Washington & Robertson Counties, the name changed to Brazos County in 1842.
Handbook of Texas Online

Neches County

Established for judicial purposes on 29 January 1841. It would have included what is now Orange County, Jasper & Newton counties. Madison would have been the county seat.
Handbook of Texas Online

Paschal County

Established for judicial purposes on 28 January 1841. Included the future counties of Cass, Franklin, Hopkins, Marion, Morris, & Titus counties. The county seat was to be named Dangerfield.
Handbook of Texas Online

Spring Creek County

Established for judicial purposes on 21 January 1841 and included parts of the future Grimes, Harris, & Montgomery counties. The county was named for the creek that ran through the center of it. The county seat was to be named Greenville.
Handbook of Texas Online

Waco County

Established for judicial purposes on 29 January 1842 and included the now Falls County. Viesca was named the county seat.
Handbook of Texas Online

Wegefarth County

One of 5 counties authorized by the legislature in 1873, but never organized.
Handbook of Texas Online