Texas

Galveston

350,682

2020 population

1850

first census record

census records

About Galveston

Galveston, Texas, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 4,529. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 350,682.

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

On the ground today, 13 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them First Battle of Galveston, Battle of Galveston (January 1, 1863), Battle of Bayou City (Galveston Naval Battle), and 84 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census Year	Population	Chart
2020	350,682
2010	291,309
2000	250,158
1990	217,399
1980	195,940
1970	169,812
1960	140,364
1950	113,066
1940	81,173
1930	64,401
1920	53,150
1910	44,479
1900	44,116
1890	31,476
1880	24,121
1870	15,290
1860	8,229
1850	4,529

Source

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

Battles & engagements in Galveston

Military engagements that took place in Galveston, Texas.

First Battle of Galveston

1862

Battle of Galveston (January 1, 1863)

1863

Battle of Bayou City (Galveston Naval Battle)

1863

Galveston Texas 1863

1863

Battle of Galveston Bay — Union Blockade Enforcement

1863

Battle of Galveston (Texas 1863)

1863

Battle of Galveston – Cotton-Clad Attack Detail

1863

Capture of USS Harriet Lane — Battle of Galveston

1863

Battle of Galveston — Confederate Recapture

1863

Texas Surrender and Final Confederate Collapse

1865

Surrender of Galveston May 1865

1865

Juneteenth – Emancipation in Texas

1865

Juneteenth Proclamation Galveston June 1865

1865

Historic places in Galveston

National Register of Historic Places listings in Galveston, Texas.

Broadway Cemetery Historic District

Galveston

Old Galveston Customhouse

East End Historic District

Galveston

Beissner, Henry, House

Galveston

Menard, Michel B., House

Galveston

USS HATTERAS (41GV68)

Galveston

Williams, Samuel May, House

Texas Heroes Monument

Strand Historic District, The

Galveston

Willis-Moody Mansion

Galveston

Ashbel Smith Building

Galveston

Bishop's Palace

Galveston

Browse all Texashistoric sites ›

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Everything a full report reveals about Galveston County, Texas

This page charts the census history of Galveston 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 Galveston

When does Galveston first appear in the US census?

Galveston, Texas first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 4,529.

What is the population of Galveston?

At the most recent federal census (2020), Galveston had a recorded population of 350,682.

Were any battles fought in Galveston?

13 documented military engagements took place in Galveston, including First Battle of Galveston, Battle of Galveston (January 1, 1863), Battle of Bayou City (Galveston Naval Battle).

How many historic places are in Galveston?

84 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Galveston, Texas.

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