Texas

El Paso

865,657
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About El Paso

El Paso, Texas, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 4,051. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 865,657.

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

On the ground today, 7 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Pueblo Revolt – Otermín's Retreat to El Paso 1680, El Paso Salt War — Battle of San Elizario, San Elizario Salt War (El Paso Salt War), and 64 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020865,657
2010800,647
2000679,622
1990591,610
1980479,899
1970359,291
1960314,070
1950194,968
1940131,067
1930131,597
1920101,877
191052,599
190024,886
189015,678
18803,845
18703,671
18604,051
Source

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

Battles & engagements in El Paso

Military engagements that took place in El Paso, Texas.

Pueblo Revolt – Otermín's Retreat to El Paso 1680
1680
El Paso Salt War — Battle of San Elizario
1877
San Elizario Salt War (El Paso Salt War)
1877
El Paso Salt War – Guadalupe Salt Lakes Fight
1877
Victorio War — Hueco Mountains Fight (1880)
1880
Killing of John Wesley Hardin, El Paso TX
1895
Fort Bliss Border Incidents
1916

Historic places in El Paso

National Register of Historic Places listings in El Paso, Texas.

Popular Department Store
El Paso
Ysleta Mission
Ysleta
Hueco Tanks
El Paso
Fort Bliss Main Post Historic District
El Paso
El Paso Natural Gas Company (Blue Flame) Building
El Paso
El Paso High School
El Paso
Hotel Paso del Norte
El Paso
Martin Building
El Paso
Sunset Heights Historic District
El Paso
Magoffin Homestead
El Paso
Bassett, O. T., Tower
El Paso
White House Department Store and Hotel McCoy
El Paso
Women's Club
El Paso
Plaza Hotel
El Paso
El Paso US Courthouse
El Paso
Mills Building
El Paso
Socorro Mission
Socorro
Presidio Chapel of San Elizario
San Elizario
Newberry, J. J., Company
El Paso
Montana Avenue Historic District
El Paso
Fort Bliss National Cemetery
Fort Bliss
Abdou Building
El Paso
Caples, Richard, Building
El Paso
State National Bank
El Paso
Browse all Texashistoric sites ›

Other counties in Texas

Explore census history and historic records for more Texas counties.

HowardHudspethHuntHutchinsonIrionJackJacksonJasperJeff DavisJeffersonJim HoggJim WellsJohnsonJonesKarnesKaufmanKendallKenedyKentKerr
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Everything a full report reveals about El Paso County, Texas

This page charts the census history of El Paso 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 El Paso

When does El Paso first appear in the US census?
El Paso, Texas first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 4,051.
What is the population of El Paso?
At the most recent federal census (2020), El Paso had a recorded population of 865,657.
Were any battles fought in El Paso?
7 documented military engagements took place in El Paso, including Pueblo Revolt – Otermín's Retreat to El Paso 1680, El Paso Salt War — Battle of San Elizario, San Elizario Salt War (El Paso Salt War).
How many historic places are in El Paso?
64 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in El Paso, Texas.
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