Florida

Hillsborough

1,459,762
2020 population
1840
first census record
19
census records

About Hillsborough

Hillsborough, Florida, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 452. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 1,459,762.

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

On the ground today, 16 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Safety Harbor Culture Conflict – Tampa Bay, Safety Harbor Culture Warfare — Tampa Bay, Narváez Expedition – Tampa Bay Landing 1528, and 101 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20201,459,762
20101,229,226
2000998,948
1990834,054
1980646,960
1970490,265
1960397,788
1950249,894
1940180,148
1930153,519
192088,257
191078,374
190036,013
189014,941
18805,814
18703,216
18602,981
18502,377
1840452
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Hillsborough

Military engagements that took place in Hillsborough, Florida.

Safety Harbor Culture Conflict – Tampa Bay
1300
Safety Harbor Culture Warfare — Tampa Bay
1400
Narváez Expedition – Tampa Bay Landing 1528
1528
Battle near Fort Brooke — Hillsborough River (1836)
1836
Battle of Fort Alabama (Hillsborough River 1836)
1836
Second Seminole War: Battle near Fort Brooke (Riverhills)
1836
Third Seminole War: Battle at Cypress Creek (1857)
1857
Tampa Confederate Blockade-Running Operations
1862
Battle of Tampa
1862
Battle of Tampa Bay (FL)
1863
Battle of Fort Brooke (Tampa)
1863
Union Capture of Tampa (1863)
1863
Battle of Fort Brooke (Tampa)
1864
Skirmish at Fort Brooke (Tampa) — 1864 Confederate Raid
1864
Battle of Tampa Bay (Spanish-American War Staging)
1898
Tampa Embarkation
1898

Historic places in Hillsborough

National Register of Historic Places listings in Hillsborough, Florida.

Ybor Factory Building
Tampa
El Pasaje
Tampa
Tampa Bay Hotel
Tampa
Circulo Cubano de Tampa (Additional Documentation)
Tampa
Centro Asturiano
Tampa
Federal Building, U.S. Courthouse, Downtown Postal Station
Tampa
Old School House
Tampa
Curtis, William E., House
Tampa
Kress, S.H., and Co. Building
Tampa
Ybor City Historic District
Tampa
Jackson Rooming House
Tampa
Hampton Terrace Historic District
Tampa
Lamb, A.M., House
Ruskin
U.S.S. NARCISSUS (tugboat) Shipwreck
Crystal River
Tampa Theater and Office Building
Tampa
Jackson, Capt. William Parker, House
Tampa
Plant City Union Depot
Plant City
Anderson-Frank House
Tampa
Plant City High School
Plant City
Masonic Temple No. 25
Tampa
Palace of Florence Apartments
Tampa
Seminole Heights Residential District
Tampa
Hutchinson House
Tampa
House at 84 Adalia Avenue
Tampa
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Other counties in Florida

Explore census history and historic records for more Florida counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Hillsborough County, Florida

This page charts the census history of Hillsborough County, Florida. 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 Hillsborough

When does Hillsborough first appear in the US census?
Hillsborough, Florida first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 452.
What is the population of Hillsborough?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Hillsborough had a recorded population of 1,459,762.
Were any battles fought in Hillsborough?
16 documented military engagements took place in Hillsborough, including Safety Harbor Culture Conflict – Tampa Bay, Safety Harbor Culture Warfare — Tampa Bay, Narváez Expedition – Tampa Bay Landing 1528.
How many historic places are in Hillsborough?
101 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Hillsborough, Florida.
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