California County Map with Cities
Explore county and ZCTA boundaries
Counties: generalized 2025 TIGERweb. ZIP areas: 2020 Census ZCTAs, not USPS delivery ZIP borders. These datasets are different vintages.
Use the load button to fetch the dated Census geometry.
| Geographic feature | GEOID | Land area (km²) |
|---|
Source: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. The service can be unavailable or rate-limited. Do not treat estimates as legal property boundaries.
Explore geography, source year and identifier definitions before using the map.
Explore this historical reference layer and search its county or county-equivalent names and FIPS identifiers. Alphabetical list as contained in the bundled historic dataset. This is not a verified current count. 58 reference entries Source limitations: Geometry from bundled Basemap California Map
County and County-Equivalent Reference List
County / equivalent FIPS (dataset) Alameda 06001 Alpine 06003 Amador 06005 Butte 06007 Calaveras 06009 Colusa 06011 Contra Costa 06013 Del Norte 06015 El Dorado 06017 Fresno 06019 Glenn 06021 Humboldt 06023 Imperial 06025 Inyo 06027 Kern 06029 Kings 06031 Lake 06033 Lassen 06035 Los Angeles 06037 Madera 06039 Marin 06041 Mariposa 06043 Mendocino 06045 Merced 06047 Modoc 06049 Mono 06051 Monterey 06053 Napa 06055 Nevada 06057 Orange 06059 Placer 06061 Plumas 06063 Riverside 06065 Sacramento 06067 San Benito 06069 San Bernardino 06071 San Diego 06073 San Francisco 06075 San Joaquin 06077 San Luis Obispo 06079 San Mateo 06081 Santa Barbara 06083 Santa Clara 06085 Santa Cruz 06087 Shasta 06089 Sierra 06091 Siskiyou 06093 Solano 06095 Sonoma 06097 Stanislaus 06099 Sutter 06101 Tehama 06103 Trinity 06105 Tulare 06107 Tuolumne 06109 Ventura 06111 Yolo 06113 Yuba 06115 UScounties shapefile (EPSG:4269), source vintage not verified. Do not quote its numeric totals as present-day administrative counts. Downloaded SVG files include no legal accuracy warranty.
California GEOID versus ZIP code
California’s state FIPS prefix is 06. A county GEOID includes that state code and a three-digit county identifier; it is not a postal ZIP code. ZIP boundaries are used for mail routing and cannot be treated as equivalent to county administrative boundaries.
For classroom map labeling, compare the bundled county layer with a year-dated US Census county map. Avoid adding population rankings until a compatible published estimate series has been selected and its year is shown.
Understanding the county-equivalent system in California
Some city and county boundaries overlap, while unincorporated areas lie outside municipal limits. County maps must state the record year and jurisdiction definition. County-equivalent units are the level used in many Census datasets; state-level terminology and changes over time can affect counts and boundaries.
Examples of California county GEOIDs
| Legacy reference name | Five-digit GEOID | County part |
|---|---|---|
| Alameda | 06001 |
001 |
| Alpine | 06003 |
003 |
| Amador | 06005 |
005 |
| Butte | 06007 |
007 |
| Calaveras | 06009 |
009 |
| Colusa | 06011 |
011 |
The first two FIPS digits identify the state in this dataset (06); the following three digits identify a county or county-equivalent record. Preserve leading zeros when storing these IDs in spreadsheets, CSV or databases.
How to read and verify the county map
- Start with the state outline and use the on-page search to find a county or full FIPS code.
- Check whether the entry represents a county, parish, borough, census area or independent city.
- Use the source-year label when referencing boundaries or computing statistics.
- For modern population, area or county-seat statistics, join this table to a verified dated government source rather than guessing from the map.
County lists versus postal addresses
A ZIP code, county name and postal city serve different purposes. A mailing address can use a neighboring city’s name, and one ZIP can intersect several counties. Use a point-in-polygon lookup against a properly dated jurisdiction layer when an exact address-to-county answer matters.
Official data to cross-check
The U.S. Census Bureau publishes 2025 Gazetteer county tables with area and representative coordinate fields, and TIGER/Line boundaries. The Gazetteer files do not include population; a separately dated Census or ACS table is required for that value.
How to use the California county GEOID list
Our bundled California reference includes 58 county or county-equivalent names. These are identifiers from a historical/unverified-vintage dataset, not a verified current list of official county populations or boundaries. Use the first two digits to recognize the state FIPS prefix 06.
| County | Five-digit GEOID | County suffix |
|---|---|---|
| Alameda | 06001 | 001 |
| Alpine | 06003 | 003 |
| Amador | 06005 | 005 |
| Butte | 06007 | 007 |
| Calaveras | 06009 | 009 |
| Colusa | 06011 | 011 |
| Contra Costa | 06013 | 013 |
| Del Norte | 06015 | 015 |
| El Dorado | 06017 | 017 |
| Fresno | 06019 | 019 |
| Glenn | 06021 | 021 |
| Humboldt | 06023 | 023 |
| Imperial | 06025 | 025 |
| Inyo | 06027 | 027 |
| Kern | 06029 | 029 |
| Kings | 06031 | 031 |
| Lake | 06033 | 033 |
| Lassen | 06035 | 035 |
| Los Angeles | 06037 | 037 |
| Madera | 06039 | 039 |
| Marin | 06041 | 041 |
| Mariposa | 06043 | 043 |
For publication-grade administrative statistics, join county GEOIDs to a specified release of the US Census geography/ACS tables. County-seat, income and population columns must be separately sourced and labeled by year. A postal ZIP can cross a county line, so county matching from a ZIP alone is not always exact.
Official cross-checks: Census TIGER/Line geographic files · Census ACS data.
10 questions about California
Questions based on search intent and competitor topics; not a verified Google People Also Ask feed.
How many counties or county equivalents are listed for California?
The bundled reference currently contains 58 entries for California. Because the underlying source vintage is not confirmed against the latest Census release, verify the authoritative current count before quoting it.
What is the county FIPS code for California?
California has state-level FIPS prefix 06. A complete county GEOID combines the two-digit state code and a three-digit county code. For example, Alameda has the stored GEOID 06001.
How do I locate a county on the California map?
Use the county-name/FIPS table and consult an authoritative labeled map to match a name to its boundary. A point near a border needs a precise coordinate-based check.
Can I download a blank California county map?
Check the associated printable-map page. County outlines require actual county geometry; an exterior state outline alone does not provide individual county borders.
Does the list include all current county equivalents in California?
The page displays records in the bundled historical reference, not a certified current list. Independent cities and similar county equivalents require careful definition.
Is the California county data from the latest Census year?
No current-vintage certification is claimed for this local dataset. Compare names and GEOIDs against a dated TIGER/Line or Census Gazetteer file.
What is the difference between a county and a ZIP Code in California?
County boundaries are government/statistical administrative areas; ZIP Codes are postal delivery identifiers and often cross counties. ZIP Code Tabulation Areas are Census approximations.
Can I look up a California county by address?
An authoritative geocoding service or Census Geocoder can map an address to an official county. County names alone do not determine the county of every address.
Where do I find county population and land area for California?
Use a named Census population-estimate vintage for people and a Gazetteer/TIGER data year for area. Avoid mixing Census years when calculating density or ranks.
Can I use California county borders for property or legal decisions?
No. The reference is intended for education and general exploration. Property and administrative boundary decisions require current authoritative local records and licensed surveys where appropriate.
Editorial and data status: This is an unpublished reference draft. The information must be checked before the page can be treated as current geographic data or production-ready research.