Texas

Dawson

12,456
2020 population
1860
first census record
16
census records

About Dawson

Dawson, Texas, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 281. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 12,456.

Its recorded population peaked at 19,185 in 1960, and has since declined by roughly 35 percent.

On the ground today, 1 place is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202012,456
201013,833
200014,985
199014,349
198016,184
197016,604
196019,185
195019,113
194015,367
193013,573
19204,309
19102,320
190037
189029
188024
1860281
Source

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

Historic places in Dawson

National Register of Historic Places listings in Dawson, Texas.

Lamesa Farm Workers Community Historic District
Los Ybanez

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Everything a full report reveals about Dawson County, Texas

This page charts the census history of Dawson 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 Dawson

When does Dawson first appear in the US census?
Dawson, Texas first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 281.
What is the population of Dawson?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Dawson had a recorded population of 12,456.
When did Dawson's population peak?
Dawson's recorded population peaked at 19,185 in 1960.
How many historic places are in Dawson?
1 site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Dawson, Texas.
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