Texas

Cameron

421,017
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Cameron

Cameron, Texas, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 8,541. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 421,017.

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

On the ground today, 34 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Fort Texas Bombardment, Mexican-American War Precursor — Battle of Palo Alto 1846, Skirmish at Rancho de Carricitos, and 36 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020421,017
2010406,220
2000335,227
1990260,120
1980209,727
1970140,368
1960151,098
1950125,170
194083,202
193077,540
192036,662
191027,158
190016,095
189014,424
188014,959
187010,999
18606,028
18508,541
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Cameron

Military engagements that took place in Cameron, Texas.

Battle of Fort Texas Bombardment
1846
Mexican-American War Precursor — Battle of Palo Alto 1846
1846
Skirmish at Rancho de Carricitos
1846
Battle of Palo Alto – Artillery Duel Phase
1846
Naval Gunboat Operations on the Rio Grande
1846
Battle of Palo Alto
1846
Skirmish at Boca Chica
1846
Siege of Fort Texas / Fort Brown
1846
Battle of Resaca de la Palma
1846
Siege of Fort Texas (Full Bombardment)
1846
Mexican-American War — Battle of Palo Alto
1846
Battle of Palo Alto (Mexican War 1846)
1846
Battle of Resaca de la Palma – Dragoon Charge
1846
Thornton Affair
1846
Brazos Island Landing
1846
Mexican-American War — Battle of Resaca de la Palma
1846
Battle of Resaca de la Palma (Texas 1846)
1846
Mexican-American War — Battle of Resaca de la Palma 1846
1846
Juan Cortina's First Raid (Brownsville)
1859
Cortina War — First
1859
[Verify — no documented Navy-Comanche combat on Santa Rosa Island, Texas in 1859]
1859
Cortina War — Second
1861
Skirmish at Point Isabel Texas
1863
Capture of Brownsville
1863
Brownsville Texas
1863
Battle of Brownsville (Union Occupation)
1863
Recapture of Brownsville by Rip Ford
1864
Palmetto Ranch
1865
Battle of Palmito Ranch (Last Battle Civil War)
1865
Palmito Ranch Texas
1865
Battle of Palmito Ranch — Final Land Battle
1865
Battle of Palmito Ranch
1865
McNelly's Rangers — Palo Alto Prairie Fight
1875
Battle of Brownsville 1906
1906

Historic places in Cameron

National Register of Historic Places listings in Cameron, Texas.

Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site
Brownsville
Fort Brown
Brownsville
Point Isabel Lighthouse
Port Isabel
Palmito Ranch Battlefield
Brownsville
Cameron County Courthouse
Brownsville
Resaca de la Palma Battlefield
Brownsville
Old Brulay Plantation
Brownsville
Immaculate Conception Church
Brownsville
Browse all Texashistoric sites ›

Other counties in Texas

Explore census history and historic records for more Texas counties.

MadisonMarionMartinMasonMatagordaMaverickMcCullochMcLennanMcMullenMedinaMenardMidlandMilamMillsMitchellMontagueMontgomeryMooreMorrisMotley
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Everything a full report reveals about Cameron County, Texas

This page charts the census history of Cameron County, Texas. 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 Cameron

When does Cameron first appear in the US census?
Cameron, Texas first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 8,541.
What is the population of Cameron?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Cameron had a recorded population of 421,017.
Were any battles fought in Cameron?
34 documented military engagements took place in Cameron, including Battle of Fort Texas Bombardment, Mexican-American War Precursor — Battle of Palo Alto 1846, Skirmish at Rancho de Carricitos.
How many historic places are in Cameron?
36 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Cameron, Texas.
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