Texas

Jefferson

256,526
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Jefferson

Jefferson, Texas, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 1,836. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 256,526.

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

On the ground today, 15 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Engagement at Fort Beauregard (Sabine Pass), First Battle of Sabine Pass (1862), First Battle of Sabine Pass, and 25 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020256,526
2010252,273
2000252,051
1990239,397
1980250,938
1970244,773
1960245,659
1950195,083
1940145,329
1930133,391
192073,120
191038,182
190014,239
18905,857
18803,489
18701,906
18601,995
18501,836
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Jefferson

Military engagements that took place in Jefferson, Texas.

Engagement at Fort Beauregard (Sabine Pass)
1862
First Battle of Sabine Pass (1862)
1862
First Battle of Sabine Pass
1862
Battle of Sabine Pass (First)
1862
Union Capture of Sabine Pass November 1862
1862
Battle of Sabine City — Second Attack 1863
1863
Second Battle of Sabine Pass
1863
Capture of USS Morning Light and Velocity
1863
Battle of Sabine Pass Texas
1863
Battle of Sabine Pass 1863 — Early Republic-era Coast
1863
Sabine Pass Texas Second
1863
Action at Beaumont (1863)
1863
Battle of Sabine Pass (September 1863)
1863
Battle of Sabine Pass (Texas)
1863
Battle of Sabine Pass — Second Union Assault
1864

Historic places in Jefferson

National Register of Historic Places listings in Jefferson, Texas.

Idle Hours
Beaumont
Pompeiian Villa
Port Arthur
Lucas Gusher, Spindletop Oil Field
Beaumont
Woman's Club of Beaumont Clubhouse
Beaumont
Jefferson County Courthouse
Beaumont
Port Arthur-Orange Bridge
Groves
Jefferson Theater
Beaumont
Port Arthur Federated Women's Clubhouse
Port Arthur
Beaumont Commercial District
Beaumont
Beaumont Commercial District (Boundary Increase)
Beaumont
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Other counties in Texas

Explore census history and historic records for more Texas counties.

HaskellHaysHemphillHendersonHidalgoHillHockleyHoodHopkinsHoustonHowardHudspethHuntHutchinsonIrionJackJacksonJasperJeff DavisJim Hogg
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Everything a full report reveals about Jefferson County, Texas

This page charts the census history of Jefferson 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 Jefferson

When does Jefferson first appear in the US census?
Jefferson, Texas first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 1,836.
What is the population of Jefferson?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Jefferson had a recorded population of 256,526.
Were any battles fought in Jefferson?
15 documented military engagements took place in Jefferson, including Engagement at Fort Beauregard (Sabine Pass), First Battle of Sabine Pass (1862), First Battle of Sabine Pass.
How many historic places are in Jefferson?
25 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Jefferson, Texas.
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