The modern city of Tianshui receives its name from the commandery.
[1] In 2 AD, the commandery had 16 counties: Pingxiang (平襄), Jiequan (街泉), Rongyidao (戎邑道), Wangyuan (望垣), Hanjian (罕幵), Mianzhudao (綿諸道), Ayang (阿陽), Lueyangdao (略陽道), Ji (冀), Yongshi (勇士), Chengji (成紀), Qingshui (清水), Fengjie (奉捷), Long (隴), Huandao (豲道) and Langan (蘭干).
The Eastern Han census in 140 AD documented a population of 130,138 (27,423 households), and the number of counties was 13.
[4] During the Northern Wei, it was split into Tianshui and Hanyang commanderies.
During the Sui and Tang dynasties, Tianshui Commandery was an alternative name for Qin Prefecture.