California

Santa Clara

1,936,259
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Santa Clara

Santa Clara, California, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 11,912. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 1,936,259.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Central California Warfare Sites, and 121 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20201,936,259
20101,781,642
20001,682,585
19901,497,577
19801,295,071
19701,064,714
1960642,315
1950290,547
1940174,949
1930145,118
1920100,676
191083,539
190060,216
189048,005
188035,039
187026,246
186011,912
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Santa Clara

Military engagements that took place in Santa Clara, California.

Central California Warfare Sites
1200

Historic places in Santa Clara

National Register of Historic Places listings in Santa Clara, California.

Alviso, Jose Maria, Adobe
Milpitas
Steinbeck, John, House
Monte Sereno
Miller-Melone Ranch
Saratoga
Professorville Historic District
Palo Alto
Hostess House
Palo Alto
Kotani-En Garden
Los Gatos
Young, Earl and Virginia, House
Campbell
Saratoga Foothill Club
Saratoga
Rengstorff, Henry A., House
Mountain View
Forbes Mill Annex
Los Gatos
Le Petit Trianon
Cupertino
Downing, T. B., House
Palo Alto
Palo Alto Stock Farm Horse Barn
Stanford
Shoup, Paul, House
Los Altos
Hotel Sainte Claire
San Jose
Agnews Insane Asylum
Santa Clara
Gilroy Yamato Hot Springs
Gilroy
Griffin, Willard, House and Carriage House
Los Altos
Southern Pacific Depot
San Jose
Leib Carriage House
San Jose
Hayes Mansion
San Jose
Ramona Street Architectural District
Palo Alto
Peralta, Luis Maria, Adobe
San Jose
Old City Hall
Gilroy
Browse all Californiahistoric sites ›

Other counties in California

Explore census history and historic records for more California counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Santa Clara County, California

This page charts the census history of Santa Clara County, California. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Santa Clara

When does Santa Clara first appear in the US census?
Santa Clara, California first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 11,912.
What is the population of Santa Clara?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Santa Clara had a recorded population of 1,936,259.
Were any battles fought in Santa Clara?
1 documented military engagement took place in Santa Clara, including Central California Warfare Sites.
How many historic places are in Santa Clara?
121 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Santa Clara, California.
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