Texas

Hays

241,067
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Hays

Hays, Texas, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 387. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 241,067.

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

On the ground today, 59 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020241,067
2010157,107
200097,589
199065,614
198040,594
197027,642
196019,934
195017,840
194015,349
193014,915
192015,920
191015,518
190014,142
189011,352
18807,555
18704,088
18602,126
1850387
Source

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

Historic places in Hays

National Register of Historic Places listings in Hays, Texas.

Michaelis, M.G., Ranch
Kyle
First United Methodist Church
San Marcos
Winters-Wimberley House
Wimberley
Porter, Katherine Anne, House
Kyle
Downtown Buda Historic District
Buda
Pound, Dr. Joseph M. and Sarah, Farmstead
Dripping Springs
Main Building, Southwest Texas Normal School
San Marcos
Farmers Union Gin Company
San Marcos
Kyle City Hall
Kyle
Browse all Texashistoric sites ›

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Everything a full report reveals about Hays County, Texas

This page charts the census history of Hays 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 Hays

When does Hays first appear in the US census?
Hays, Texas first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 387.
What is the population of Hays?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Hays had a recorded population of 241,067.
How many historic places are in Hays?
59 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Hays, Texas.
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