Demographics of Texas

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2023, Texas was the second largest state in population after California, with a population of 30,503,301, an increase of more than 1.3 million people, or 4.7%, since the 29,145,505 of the 2020 census. ^{[1] [2]} Its apportioned population in 2020 was 29,183,290. ^[3] Since the beginning of the 21st century, the state of Texas has experienced strong population growth. ^{[4] [5]} Texas has many major cities and metropolitan areas, along with many towns and rural areas. Much of the population is concentrated in the major cities of Dallas–Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Houston, McAllen, and El Paso and their corresponding metropolitan areas. The first four aforementioned main urban centers are also referred to as the Texas Triangle megaregion.

Population

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	212,592		—
1860	604,215		184.2%
1870	818,579		35.5%
1880	1,591,749		94.5%
1890	2,235,527		40.4%
1900	3,048,710		36.4%
1910	3,896,542		27.8%
1920	4,663,228		19.7%
1930	5,824,715		24.9%
1940	6,414,824		10.1%
1950	7,711,194		20.2%
1960	9,579,677		24.2%
1970	11,196,730		16.9%
1980	14,229,191		27.1%
1990	16,986,510		19.4%
2000	20,851,820		22.8%
2010	25,145,561		20.6%
2020	29,145,505		15.9%
2023 (est.)	30,503,301		4.7%
1910–2020 census; 2023. [6] [2]

Texas is the second-largest U.S. state in population, after California. ^[7] The state is also the most populous state in the South Central United States, and the most populous state in the South. ^[8] Texas' population growth between 2000 and 2010 represents the highest population increase, by number of people, for any U.S. state during this time period.

At the 2020 United States census it was reported that Texas had a resident population of 29,145,505, ^[1] a 15.9% increase since the 2010 U.S. census. Its apportioned population in 2020 was 29,183,290. ^[3] At the 2010 census, Texas had a population of 25.1 million—an increase of 4.3 million since the year 2000, involving an increase in population in all three subcategories of population growth: natural increase (births minus deaths), net immigration, and net migration. Texas added almost 4 million people between the 2010 and 2020 census'. ^[9]

Increasing by 470,708 people since July 2021, Texas was the largest-gaining state in the nation, reaching a total population of 30,029,572. ^[10] By crossing the 30-million-population threshold, Texas joins California as the only states with a resident population above 30 million as of 2023. Growth in Texas was fueled by gains from all three components: net domestic migration (230,961), net international migration (118,614), and natural increase (118,159). ^[11]

As of 2012, the state had an estimated 4.1 million foreign-born residents, constituting approximately 15% of the state population at the time. ^[12] An estimated 1.7 million people were undocumented immigrants in 2014. ^[13] The undocumented population of Texas decreased to an estimated 1,597,000 at the 2016 American Community Survey. Of the undocumented immigrant population, 960,000 have resided in Texas from less than 5 up to 14 years. An estimated 637,000 lived in Texas from 15 to 19 and 20 years or more. The undocumented immigrant population rebounded to 1,730,000 in 2018. ^[14]

The center of population of Texas is located at 30°54′19″N97°21′56″W / 30.905244°N 97.365594°W / 30.905244; -97.365594 in Bell County, in the town of Holland. ^[8]

Net domestic migration

Year [15]	In-migrants	Out-migrants	Net migration
2010	486,558	411,641	74,917
2011	514,726	404,839	109,887
2012	507,752	402,187	105,565
2013	548,034	409,977	138,057
2014	538,572	435,107	103,465
2015	553,032	445,343	107,689
2016	531,996	444,340	87,656
2017	524,511	467,338	57,173
2018	563,945	462,140	101,805
2019	559,661	453,015	106,646

Race and ethnicity

See also: History of Mexican Americans in Texas, History of African Americans in Texas, History of Chinese Americans in Texas, Hispanics and Latinos in Texas, Czech Texans, and German Texan

Texas – Racial and Ethnic Composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity	Pop 2000 [16]	Pop 2010 [17]	Pop 2020 [18]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	10,933,313	11,397,345	11,584,597	52.43%	45.33%	39.75%
Black or African American alone (NH)	2,364,255	2,886,825	3,444,712	11.34%	11.48%	11.82%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	68,859	80,586	85,425	0.33%	0.32%	0.29%
Asian alone (NH)	554,445	948,426	1,561,518	2.66%	3.77%	5.36%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	10,757	17,920	27,857	0.05%	0.07%	0.10%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	19,958	33,980	113,584	0.10%	0.14%	0.39%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)	230,567	319,558	886,095	1.11%	1.27%	3.04%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	6,669,666	9,460,921	11,441,717	31.99%	37.62%	39.26%
Total	20,851,820	25,145,561	29,145,505	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

Texas racial breakdown of population (1900–2023)

Racial composition	1900 [19]	1910 [19] [20]	1920 [19] [20]	1930 [19] [20]	1940 [19] [20]	1950 [19] [20]	1960 [19] [20]	1970 [19]	1980 [19]	1990 [19]	2000 [21]	2010 [22]	2020 [23]
White	79.6%	82.2%	84.0%	85.3%	85.5%	87.2%	87.4%	86.8%	78.7%	75.2%	71.0%	70.4%	50.1%
Non-Hispanic White	–	–	–	–	74.1%	–	–	71.0%	65.7%	60.6%	52.4%	45.3%	39.7%
Black	20.4%	17.7%	15.9%	14.7%	14.4%	12.7%	12.4%	12.5%	12.0%	11.9%	11.5%	11.9%	12.2%
Hispanic (of any race)	–	7.1%	9.9%	13.8%	11.5%	13.3%	14.8%	16.4%	21.0%	25.5%	32.0%	37.6%	39.3%
Asian	–	–	–	–	–	0.1%	0.1%	0.2%	0.8%	1.9%	2.7%	3.8%	5.4%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander	–	–	–	–	–			–		–	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%
Native	–	–	–	–	–	–	0.1%	0.2%	0.3%	0.4%	0.6%	0.7%	1.0%
Other race	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	0.4%	8.2%	10.6%	11.7%	10.5%	13.6%
Two or more races	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–		–	2.5%	2.7%	17.6%

Ethnic origins in Texas

In 2021, 40.2% of the population was Hispanic and Latino American of any race, 39.3% non-Hispanic white, 11.6% Black or African American, 1.5% American Indian or Alaska Native, 5.1% Asian, 0.2% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, 0.4% some other race, and 3.1% two or more races. ^[24] At the 2020 census, the racial and ethnic composition of the state was 42.5% white (39.7% non-Hispanic white), 11.8% Black or African American, 5.4% Asian, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, 13.6% some other race, 17.6% two or more races, and 39.3% Hispanic and Latin American of any race. ^{[25] [26]}

In 2015 non-Hispanic whites made up 11,505,371 (41.9%) of the population, followed by Black Americans at 3,171,043 (11.5%); other races 1,793,580 (6.5%); and Hispanics and Latinos (of any race) 10,999,120 (40.0%). ^[27] At the 2010 United States census, the racial composition of Texas was the following: ^[28] White American 70.4 percent, (Non-Hispanic whites 45.3 percent), Black or African American 11.8 percent, American Indian 0.7 percent, Asian 3.8 percent (1.0 percent Indian, 0.8 percent Vietnamese, 0.6 percent Chinese, 0.4 percent Filipino, 0.3 percent Korean, 0.1 percent Japanese, 0.6 percent other Asian), Pacific Islander 0.1 percent, some other race 10.5 percent, and two or more races 2.7 percent. In addition, 37.6 percent of the population was Hispanic or Latino (of any race) (31.6 percent Mexican, 0.9 percent Salvadoran, 0.5 percent Puerto Rican, 0.4 percent Honduran, 0.3 percent Guatemalan 0.3 percent Spaniard, 0.2 percent Colombian, 0.2 percent Cuban). ^[29] In 2011, 69.8% of the population of Texas younger than age 1 were minorities (meaning they had at least one parent who was not non-Hispanic white). ^[30]

Welcome sign in Praha

As of 1980 German, Irish, and English Americans have made the three largest European ancestry groups in Texas. ^[31] German Americans made up 11.3 percent of the population and number over 2.7 million members. Irish Americans made up 8.2 percent of the population and number over 1.9 million. There are roughly over 600,000 French Americans, 472,000 Italian Americans, 369,161 Scottish Americans, and 288,610 Polish Americans residing in Texas; these four ethnic groups made up 2.5 percent, 2.0 percent, 1.5 percent, and 1.0 percent of the population respectively. In the 1980 United States census the largest ancestry group reported in Texas was English with 3,083,323 Texans citing they were of English or mostly English ancestry, making them 27 percent of the state at the time. ^[31] Their ancestry primarily goes back to the original thirteen colonies (the census of 1790 gives 48% of the population of English ancestry, together with 12% Scots and Scots-Irish, 4.5% other Irish, and 3% Welsh, for a total of 67.5% British and Irish; 13% were German, Swiss, Dutch, and French Huguenots; 19% were African American), ^[32] thus many of them today identify as "American" in ancestry, though they are of predominantly British stock. ^{[33] [34]} In 2012 there were nearly 200,000 Czech Americans living in Texas, the largest number of any state. ^[35]

El Paso was founded by Spanish settlers in 1659.

Hispanics and Latinos are the second-largest groups in Texas after non-Hispanic European Americans. More than 8.5 million people claim Hispanic or Latin American ethnicity. This group forms over 37 percent of Texas's population. People of Mexican descent alone number over 7.9 million, and made up 31.6 percent of the population. The vast majority of the Hispanic/Latino population in the state is of Mexican descent, the next two largest groups are Salvadorans and Puerto Ricans. There are more than 222,000 Salvadorans and more than 130,000 Puerto Ricans in Texas. Other groups with large numbers in Texas include Hondurans, Guatemalans, Nicaraguans, and Cubans, among others. ^{[36] [37]} The Hispanics in Texas are more likely than in some other states (such as California) to identify as white; according to the 2010 U.S. census, Texas is home to 6,304,207 White Hispanics and 2,594,206 Hispanics of "some other race" (usually mestizo).

African Americans are a racial minority in Texas. Their proportion of the population has declined since the early 20th century after many left the state in the Great Migration. Blacks of both Hispanic and non-Hispanic origin made up 11.5 percent of the population in 2015; blacks of non-Hispanic origin formed 11.3 percent of the populace. African Americans of both Hispanic and non-Hispanic origin numbered at roughly 2.7 million individuals, increasing in 2018 to 3,908,287. ^[38] The majority of the Black and African American population of Texas lives in the Greater Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio metropolitan areas. ^[39]

Native Americans are a smaller minority in the state. Native Americans made up 0.5 percent of Texas's population and number over 118,000 individuals as of 2015. ^[40] Native Americans of non-Hispanic origin made up 0.3 percent of the population and number over 75,000 individuals. Cherokee made up 0.1 percent of the population, and numbered over 19,400. In contrast, only 583 identified as Chippewa.

Asian Americans are a sizable minority group in Texas. Americans of Asian descent formed 4.5 percent of the population in 2015. ^[40] They total more than 1.2 million individuals. Over 200,000 Indian Americans make Texas their home. Texas is also home to more than 187,000 Vietnamese and 136,000 Chinese. In addition to 92,000 Filipinos and 62,000 Koreans, there are 18,000 Japanese Americans living in the state. Lastly, more than 111,000 people are of other Asian ancestry groups, such as Cambodian, Thai, and Hmong. Sugar Land, a city within the Houston metropolitan area, and Plano, within the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area, both have high concentrations of ethnic Chinese and Korean residents. The Houston and Dallas areas, ^{[41] [42] [43] [44]} and to a lesser extent, the Austin metropolitan area, ^[45] all contain substantial Vietnamese communities.

Americans with origins from the Pacific Islands are the smallest minority in Texas. According to the 2019 American Community Survey, only 21,484 Texans are Pacific Islanders. ^[46] The city of Euless, a suburb of Fort Worth, contains a sizable population of Tongan Americans, at nearly 900 people, over one percent of the city's population. Killeen has a sufficient population of Samoans and Guamanian, ^[47] and people of Pacific Islander descent surpass one percent of the city's population.

Multiracial individuals are also a visible minority in Texas. People identifying as multiracial form 2.9 percent of the population, and number over 800,000 people. ^[46] Over 80,000 Texans claim African and European heritage. People of European and American Indian ancestry number over 108,800. People of European and Asian ancestry number over 57,600. People of African and Native American ancestry were even smaller in number at 15,300.

German trek on its way to New Braunfels

German descendants inhabit much of central and southeast-central Texas. Over one-third of Texas residents are of Hispanic origin; while many have recently arrived, some Tejanos have ancestors with multi-generational ties to 18th century Texas. The African American population in Texas is increasing due to the New Great Migration. ^{[48] [49]} In addition to the descendants of the state's former slave population, many African American college graduates have come to the state for work recently in the New Great Migration. ^[48] Since the early 21st century, the Asian population in Texas has grown—primarily in Houston and Dallas. Other communities with a significantly growing Asian American population is in Austin, Corpus Christi, San Antonio, and the Sharyland area next McAllen, Texas. Three federally recognized Native American tribes reside in Texas: the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe, the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe, and the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo. ^[50]

In 2010, 49% of all births were Hispanics; 35% were non-Hispanic whites; 11.5% were non-Hispanic blacks, and 4.3 percent were Asians/Pacific Islanders. ^[51] Based on U.S. Census Bureau data released in February 2011, for the first time in recent history, Texas's non-Hispanic white population is below 50% (45%) and Hispanics grew to 38%. Between 2000 and 2010, the total population growth by 20.6%, but Hispanics and Latin Americans growth by 65%, whereas non-Hispanic whites grew by only 4.2%. ^[52] Texas has the fifth highest rate of teenage births in the nation and a plurality of these are to Hispanics or Latinos. ^[53]

Romani Americans are present in Texas. In Texas, the two main Roma subgroups are Vlax and Romanichal. They mainly live in Houston and Fort Worth, though significant numbers of Romani families live in Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, and El Paso. ^[54]

There is an Italian community in Texas. ^[55]

Birth data

Note: Births in table don't add up, because Hispanics are counted both by their ethnicity and by their race, giving a higher overall number.

Live births by single race/ethnicity of mother

Race	2013 [56]	2014 [57]	2015 [58]	2016 [59]	2017 [60]	2018 [61]	2019 [62]	2020 [63]	2021 [64]	2022 [65]
White:	318,211 (82.1%)	326,480 (81.7%)	327,429 (81.1%)	...	...	...	...	...	...
> Non-Hispanic White	136,608 (35.3%)	140,992 (35.3%)	140,553 (34.8%)	134,262 (33.7%)	127,533 (33.4%)	125,549 (33.2%)	124,678 (33.0%)	120,329 (32.7%)	123,452 (33.0%)	121,868 (31.3%)
Black	49,039 (12.7%)	51,274 (12.4%)	53,144 (13.2%)	48,562 (12.2%)	48,642 (12.6%)	48,144 (12.7%)	47,326 (12.5%)	46,643 (12.7%)	46,371 (12.4%)	47,804 (12.3%)
Asian	18,861 (4.9%)	20,844 (5.2%)	21,775 (5.4%)	20,889 (5.2%)	20,385 (5.3%)	19,850 (5.2%)	19,930 (5.3%)	19,064 (5.2%)	19,424 (5.2%)	20,794 (5.3%)
American Indian	1,229 (0.3%)	1,168 (0.3%)	1,270 (0.3%)	782 (0.2%)	664 (0.2%)	721 (0.2%)	689 (0.2%)	638 (0.2%)	610 (0.2%)	685 (0.2%)
Pacific Islander	...	...	...	498 (0.1%)	510 (0.1%)	487 (0.1%)	566 (0.1%)	543 (0.1%)	571 (0.1%)	579 (0.1%)
Hispanic (of any race)	185,467 (47.9%)	189,462 (47.4%)	191,157 (47.4%)	188,393 (47.3%)	180,216 (47.2%)	179,142 (47.3%)	179,689 (47.6%)	175,940 (47.8%)	177,386 (47.5%)	190,889 (49.0%)
Total Texas	387,340 (100%)	399,766 (100%)	403,618 (100%)	398,047 (100%)	382,050 (100%)	378,624 (100%)	377,599 (100%)	368,190 (100%)	373,594 (100%)	389,741 (100%)

• Since 2016, data for births of White Hispanic origin are not collected, but included in one Hispanic group; persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

Languages

The most common American English accent spoken was Texan English, which is a mix of Southern American English and Western American English dialects. Louisiana Creole language is spoken mostly in Southeast Texas. Chicano English is also widely spoken, as well as African American Vernacular English, and General American English.

Top 10 non-English languages spoken in Texas

Language	Percentage of population (as of 2010) [66]
Spanish	29.21%
Vietnamese	0.75%
Chinese (including Mandarin and Cantonese)	0.56%
German	0.33%
Tagalog	0.29%
French	0.25%
Korean and Urdu (tied)	0.24%
Hindi	0.23%
Arabic	0.21%
Niger-Congo languages of West Africa (Ibo, Kru, and Yoruba)	0.15%

In 2010, 65.80% (14,740,304) of Texas residents age 5 and older spoke English at home as a primary language, while 29.21% (6,543,702) spoke Spanish, 0.75% (168,886) Vietnamese, and Chinese (which includes Cantonese and Mandarin) was spoken as a main language by 0.56% (122,921) of the population over the age of five. ^[66] Other languages spoken include German (including Texas German) by 0.33% (73,137,) Tagalog with 0.29% (73,137) speakers, and French (including Cajun French) was spoken by 0.25% (55,773) of Texans. ^[66] In total, 34.20% (7,660,406) of Texas's population age 5 and older spoke a mother language other than English. ^[66]

The 2019 American Community Survey estimated 64.4% of the population spoke only English, and 35.6% spoke a language other than English. ^[67] Roughly 30% of the total population spoke Spanish. Approximately 50,742 Texans spoke French or a French-creole language. German and other West Germanic languages were spoken by 47,098 residents; Russian, Polish, and other Slavic languages by 27,956; Korean by 31,581; Chinese 22,616; Vietnamese 81,022; Tagalog 43,360; and Arabic by 26,281 Texans. ^[68]

Religion

Religion in Texas (2014) ^[69]

   Protestantism (50%)

   Catholicism (23%)

   Mormonism (1%)

  Other Christians (3%)

   No religion (18%)

   Judaism (1%)

  Other religion (3%)

  No response given/Unknown (1%)

The majority of Texas's population have been and remain predominantly Christian (75.5%). Influenced by Spanish Catholic and American Protestant missionary work. ^{[70] [71]} Texas's large Christian population is also influenced due to its location within the Bible Belt. ^[72] The following largest groups were the irreligious (20%), Judaism (1%), Islam (1%), Buddhism (1%) and Hinduism, and other religions at less than 1 percent each.

Religious affiliation (2020) [73]
Christian			75.5%
Catholic			28%
Protestant			47%
Other Christian			0.5%
Unaffiliated			20%
Jewish			1%
Muslim			1%
Buddhist			1%
Other faiths			5%

The largest Christian denomination as of 2014 has been the Catholic Church, per the Pew Research Center at 23% of the population, though Protestants altogether made up 50% of the Christian population in 2014; ^[74] in another study by the Public Religion Research Institute in 2020, the Catholic Church's membership increased to encompassing 28% of the population identifying with a religious or spiritual belief. ^[71] At the 2020 Association of Religion Data Archives study, there were 5,905,142 Catholics in the state. ^[75] The largest Catholic jurisdictions in Texas are the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston—the first and oldest Latin Church diocese in Texas ^[76] —the dioceses of Dallas, Fort Worth, and the Archdiocese of San Antonio.

Among Protestant Christians, which as a whole declined to 47% of the population in a separate study by the Public Religion Research Institute, predominantly-white Evangelical Protestantism declined to 14% of the Protestant Christian population. Mainline Protestants in contrast made up 15% of Protestant Texas. Hispanic or Latino American-dominated Protestant churches and historically Black or African American Protestantism grew to a collective 13% of the Protestant population.

In contrast, Evangelical Protestants altogether were 31% of the population at the Pew Research Center's 2014 study, and Baptists were the largest Evangelical tradition (14%); ^[74] per the 2014 study, they made up the second largest Mainline Protestant group behind Methodists (4%). Nondenominational and interdenominational Christians were the second largest Evangelical group (7%) followed by Pentecostals (4%). The largest Evangelical Baptists in the state were the Southern Baptist Convention (9%) and independent Baptists (3%). The Assemblies of God made the largest Evangelical Pentecostal denomination in 2014. Among Mainline Protestants, the United Methodist Church was the largest denomination (4%) and the American Baptist Churches USA comprised the second largest Mainline Protestant group (2%).

According to the Pew Research Center in 2014, the largest historically African American Christian denominations were the National Baptist Convention (USA) and the Church of God in Christ. Black Methodists and other Christians made up less than 1 percent each of the Christian demographic. Other Christians made up 1 percent of the total Christian population, and the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox formed less than 1 percent of the statewide Christian populace. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the largest nontrinitarian Christian group in Texas alongside the Jehovah's Witnesses. ^[74]

The Association of Religion Data Archives in 2020 determined Southern Baptists numbered 3,319,962; non-denominational Protestants 2,405,786 (including Christian Churches and Churches of Christ, and the Churches of Christ altogether numbering 2,758,353); and United Methodists 938,399 as the most numerous Protestant groups in the state. ^[75] Baptists altogether (Southern Baptists, American Baptist Associates, American Baptists, Full Gospel Baptists, General Baptists, Free Will Baptists, National Baptists, National Baptists of America, National Missionary Baptists, National Primitive Baptists, and Progressive National Baptists) numbered 3,837,306; Methodists within United Methodism, the AME, AME Zion, CME, and the Free Methodist Church numbered up 1,026,453 Texans.

In 2020, the same study numbered 425,038 Pentecostals spread among the Assemblies of God, Church of God (Cleveland), and Church of God in Christ. Nontrinitarian or Oneness Pentecostals numbered 7,042 among Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, COOLJC, and the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World. Other Christians including the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox numbered 55,329 altogether, and Episcopalians numbered 134,318 although the Anglican Catholic Church, Anglican Church in America, Anglican Church in North America, Anglican Province of America, and Holy Catholic Church Anglican Rite had a collective presence in 114 churches.

Non-Christian faiths accounted for 4% of the religious population in 2014, and 5% in 2020 per the Pew Research Center and Public Religion Research Institute. ^{[74] [71]} Adherents of many other religions reside predominantly in the urban centers of Texas. Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism were tied as the second largest religion as of 2014 and 2020. In 2014, 18% of the state's population were religiously unaffiliated. Of the unaffiliated in 2014, an estimated 2% were atheists and 3% agnostic.

In 1990, the Islamic population was about 140,000 with more recent figures putting the current number of Muslims between 350,000 and 400,000 as of 2012. ^[77] The Association of Religion Data Archives estimated there were 313,209 Muslims as of 2020. ^[75] Texas is the fifth-largest Muslim-populated state in the country. ^[78] The Jewish population was around 128,000 in 2008. ^[79] In 2020, the Jewish population grew to over 176,000. ^[80] According to ARDA's 2020 study, there were 43 Chabad synagogues; 17,513 Conservative Jews; 8,110 Orthodox Jews; and 31,378 Reform Jews. Around 146,000 adherents of religions such as Hinduism and Sikhism lived in Texas as of 2004. ^[81] By 2020, there were 112,153 Hindus and 20 Sikh gurdwaras; 60,882 Texans adhered to Buddhism.

Settlements

See also: List of cities in Texas, List of Texas metropolitan areas, List of cities in Texas by population, and List of United States cities by population

As of 2010, the state has three cities with populations exceeding one million: Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas. ^[82] These three rank among the 10 most populous cities of the United States. As of 2020, six Texas cities had populations greater than 600,000 people. Austin, Fort Worth, and El Paso are among the 20 largest U.S. cities. Texas has four metropolitan areas with populations greater than a million: Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington , Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown , San Antonio–New Braunfels , and Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos . The Dallas–Fort Worth and Houston metropolitan areas numbered about 7.5 million and 7 million residents as of 2019. ^[83]

Largest city in Texas by year [84]
Year(s)	City
1850–1860	Galveston [85]
1860–1870	San Antonio [86]
1870–1890	Galveston [85]
1890–1900	Dallas [84]
1900–1930	San Antonio [86]
1930–present	Houston [87]

Three interstate highways—I-35 to the west (Dallas–Fort Worth to San Antonio, with Austin in between), I-45 to the east (Dallas to Houston), and I-10 to the south (San Antonio to Houston) define the Texas Triangle megaregion. The region of 60,000 square miles (160,000 km²) contains most of the state's largest cities and metropolitan areas as well as 17 million people, nearly 75 percent of Texas's total population. ^[88] Houston and Dallas have been recognized as beta world cities. ^[89] These cities are spread out amongst the state. Texas has 254 counties, which is more than any other state by 95 (Georgia). ^[90]

In contrast to the cities, unincorporated rural settlements known as colonias often lack basic infrastructure and are marked by poverty. ^[91] The office of the Texas Attorney General stated, in 2011, that Texas had about 2,294 colonias and estimates about 500,000 lived in the colonias. Hidalgo County, as of 2011, has the largest number of colonias. ^[92] Texas has the largest number of people of all states, living in colonias. ^[91]

Largest cities or towns in Texas 2021 U.S. Census Bureau Estimate [93]
	Rank	Name	County	Pop.
Houston San Antonio	1	Houston	Harris	2,288,250	Dallas Austin
	2	San Antonio	Bexar	1,451,853
	3	Dallas	Dallas	1,288,457
	4	Austin	Travis	964,177
	5	Fort Worth	Tarrant	935,508
	6	El Paso	El Paso	678,415
	7	Arlington	Tarrant	392,786
	8	Corpus Christi	Nueces	317,773
	9	Plano	Collin	288,253
	10	Lubbock	Lubbock	260,993

See also

• Texas portal

• German Texan
• History of African-Americans in Texas
• History of Mexican-Americans in Texas
• Jewish history in Texas
• History of African Americans in Houston
• History of African Americans in Dallas-Ft. Worth
• History of African Americans in San Antonio
• History of Mexican Americans in Houston
• History of Mexican Americans in Dallas–Fort Worth
• White Americans in Texas

References

1. "Census finds 4 million new Texans, enough for 2 extra US House seats, though we expected more". Dallas News. April 26, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
2. "US Census Quickfacts, Population Estimates, July 1 2023". Census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 26, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
3. "2020 Census Apportionment Results". The United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
4. "Texas Population: Still Growing | Texas Almanac". texasalmanac.com. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
5. Li, Roland; Sumida, Nami (April 27, 2021). "Texas' population grew more than twice as fast as California. Experts say there's still no Golden State exodus". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
6. "Historical Population Change Data (1910–2020)". Census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 29, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
7. "2020 Population and Housing State Data".
8. Population and Population Centers by State: 2010 Archived February 22, 2015, at the Wayback Machine . United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
9. "Texas Added Almost 4 Million People in Last Decade".
10. "Data". Census.gov. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
11. "Growth in U.S. Population Shows Early Indication of Recovery Amid COVID-19 Pandemic".
12. "United States Census Bureau". 2008–2012 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
13. "Pew Research Center". September 23, 2013. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
14. "Profile of the Unauthorized Population – TX". migrationpolicy.org. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
15. "Table 1. State-to-State Migration Flows: 2019. Dataset: 2019 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
16. "P004HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE [73] - Texas". United States Census Bureau .
17. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Texas". United States Census Bureau .
18. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Texas". United States Census Bureau .
19. "Historical Census Statistics on Population Totals By Race, 1790 to 1990, and By Hispanic Origin, 1970 to 1990, For The United States, Regions, Divisions, and States". Census.gov. Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
20. Cobas, José A.; Feagin, Joe R.; Delgado, Daniel J.; Chávez, Maria (December 7, 2018). Latino Peoples in the New America: Racialization and Resistance. Routledge. ISBN   978-0-429-75363-3.
21. "Population of Texas: Census 2010 and 2000 Interactive Map, Demographics, Statistics, Quick Facts". Censusviewer.com. Retrieved April 17, 2021.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
22. 2010 Census Data. "2010 Census Data". Census.gov. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
23. "Race and Ethnicity in the United States: 2010 Census and 2020 Census". United States Census Bureau. August 12, 2021.
24. "Selected Population Profiles - Texas". census.gov. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
25. "Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the United States: 2010 Census and 2020 Census". U.S. Census Bureau. August 12, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
26. "Booming Texas population growth, demographic changes set stage for redistricting battle". Dallas News. August 13, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
27. Estimates of the Population by Age, Sex, and Race/Ethnicity for July 1, 2015 for State of Texas. Texas Demographic Center, U.S. Bureau of the Census State Data Center Program (PDF), July 15, 2015, archived from the original (PDF) on May 4, 2017, retrieved June 8, 2017
28. Data Access and Dissemination Systems (DADS). "American FactFinder—Results". census.gov. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020.
29. "US Census Bureau: Table QT-P10 Hispanic or Latino by Type: 2010". Factfinder2.census.gov. October 5, 2010. Archived from the original on January 25, 2015. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
30. Exner, Rich (June 3, 2012). "Americans under age 1 now mostly minorities, but not in Ohio: Statistical Snapshot". The Plain Dealer .
31. "Ancestry Groups in Texas: 1980" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 24, 2012. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
32. Colin Bonwick, The American Revolution, 1991, p. 254
33. Lieberson, Stanley & Waters, Mary C. (1986). "Ethnic Groups in Flux: The Changing Ethnic Responses of American Whites". Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. 487 (79): 82–86. doi:10.1177/0002716286487001004. S2CID   60711423.
34. Fischer, David Hackett (1989). Albion's Seed: Four British Folkways in America. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 633–639. ISBN   978-0-19-503794-4.
35. "Czech language" (PDF). U.S. English. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
36. "Texas—ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates: 2006–2008". Factfinder.census.gov. Archived from the original on February 11, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2011.
37. "Texas—Selected Social Characteristics in the United States: 2006–2008". Factfinder.census.gov. Archived from the original on February 11, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2011.
38. "American Community Survey 2018 Demographic and Housing Estimates". data.census.gov. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
39. "How the Eastside Became Home to San Antonio's Black Community". San Antonio Report. January 15, 2018. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
40. "American Community Survey 2015 Demographic and Housing Estimates". data.census.gov. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
41. "Vietnamese Community in Houston is Growing". VOA. October 23, 2016. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
42. NPR, John Burnett (November 28, 2018). "Decades After Clashing With The Klan, A Thriving Vietnamese Community In Texas". Houston Public Media. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
43. "Asian Culture and Community: Vietnamese community officially welcomes VietFace TV Texas". Dallas News. December 20, 2012. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
44. "Top 10 metro areas by Vietnamese American population". Pew Research Center's Social & Demographic Trends Project. Archived from the original on February 20, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
45. Nguyen, Tuyet Hue. "Nguyen: Supporting Austin's growing Vietnamese community". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
46. "American Community Survey 2019 Demographic and Housing Estimates". data.census.gov. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
47. "Pacific island cultures come together to spread aloha in Killeen". The Killeen Daily Herald. July 27, 2019. Archived from the original on July 28, 2019. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
48. Frey, William H. (May 2004). The New Great Migration: Black Americans' Return to the South, 1965–2000 (Report). The Brookings Institution. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 28, 2008.
49. "Texas". BlackDemographics.com. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
50. Klos, George (June 15, 2010). "Indians". Handbook of Texas (online ed.). Texas State Historical Association.
51. Castillo, Juan (November 17, 2011). "Hispanics make up nearly half of all Texas births in 2010, U.S. says". Austin American-Statesman . Archived from the original on November 20, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
52. Jervis, Rick (February 23, 2011). "Majority of Texas' population growth is Hispanic". USA Today.
53. "Texas Adolescent Reproductive Health Facts". US Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
54. "Roma [Gypsies]". tshaonline.org.
55. Association, Texas State Historical. "Italians". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
56. Martin, J.A.; Hamilton, B.E.; Osterman, M.J.K.; et al. (2015). "Births: Final Data for 2013" (PDF). National Vital Statistics Reports. 64 (1). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: 1–65. PMID   25603115. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 11, 2017. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
57. Hamilton, B.E.; Martin, J.A.; Osterman, M.J.K.; et al. (2015). "Births: Final Data for 2014" (PDF). National Vital Statistics Reports. 64 (12). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: 1–64. PMID   26727629. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 14, 2017. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
58. Martin, J.A.; Hamilton, B.E.; Osterman, M.J.K.; et al. (2015). "Births: Final Data for 2015" (PDF). National Vital Statistics Reports. 66 (1). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 31, 2017. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
59. Martin, J.A.; Hamilton, B.E.; Osterman, M.J.K.; et al. (2018). "Births: Final Data for 2016" (PDF). National Vital Statistics Reports. 67 (1). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: 1–55. PMID   29775434 . Retrieved March 11, 2021.
60. Martin, J.A.; Hamilton, B.E.; Osterman, M.J.K.; et al. (2018). "Births: Final Data for 2017" (PDF). National Vital Statistics Reports. 67 (8). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: 1–50. PMID   30707672 . Retrieved March 11, 2021.
61. Martin, J.A.; Hamilton, B.E.; Osterman, M.J.K.; et al. (2019). "Births: Final Data for 2018" (PDF). National Vital Statistics Reports. 68 (13). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: 1–47. PMID   32501202 . Retrieved December 21, 2019.
62. "Data" (PDF). www.cdc.gov. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
63. "Data" (PDF). www.cdc.gov. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
64. "Data" (PDF). www.cdc.gov. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
65. "Data" (PDF). www.cdc.gov. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
66. "Texas". Modern Language Association. Archived from the original on August 15, 2013. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
67. "American Community Survey 2019 Languages Spoken at Home Estimates". data.census.gov. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
68. "American Community Survey 2019 Detailed Household Language Estimates". data.census.gov. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
69. "Adults in Texas". Pew Research Center.
70. "TSHA | Religion". www.tshaonline.org. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
71. "American Values Atlas". Public Religion Research Institute. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
72. Bethancourt, Phillip (June 16, 2017). "Rough Country: How Texas Became America's Most Powerful Bible-Belt State". The Gospel Coalition. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
73. Public Religion Research Institute, "American Values Atlas (Texas)"
74. "Religion in America: U.S. Religious Data, Demographics and Statistics: Texas". Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
75. "Maps and data files for 2020 | U.S. Religion Census | Religious Statistics & Demographics". U.S. Religion Census. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
76. "Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston". www.archgh.org. Retrieved March 3, 2022. The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston...… serves 1.7 million-plus Catholics.… is the first and oldest diocese in Texas, established by Pope Pius IX in 1847, when Galveston was named the mother diocese of the Lone Star State.
77. "Texas Online: Muslim growth adds to Texas diversity". Texanonline.net. Archived from the original on March 26, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
78. "Dallas Museum Lands a Rich Trove of Islamic Art". The New York Times. February 4, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
79. Storey, John Woodrow; Kelley; Mary L. (2008). Twentieth-century Texas: a social and cultural history. University of North Texas Press. p. 145.
80. "Jewish Population in the United States by State". www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Archived from the original on October 18, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
81. Lindsey, William D.; Silk, Mark: Religion and public life in the southern crossroads: showdown states , Altamira Press, 2004, p. 48
82. "Table 1: Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places Over 100,000, Ranked by July 1, 2006 Population: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006" (CSV). 2005 Population Estimates. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. June 10, 2008. Retrieved June 10, 2008.^{[ dead link ]}
83. "Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas Totals: 2010–2019". The United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
84. "100 Largest Cities by Decade". U.S. Bureau of the Census. June 15, 1998. Archived from the original on August 21, 2008.
85. McComb, David G. (May 5, 2016) [June 15, 2010]. "Galveston, TX". Handbook of Texas (online ed.). Texas State Historical Association.
86. Fehrenbach, T. R. (March 30, 2017) [June 15, 2010]. "San Antonio, TX". Handbook of Texas (online ed.). Texas State Historical Association.
87. McComb, David G. (February 15, 2017) [June 15, 2010]. "Houston, TX". Handbook of Texas (online ed.). Texas State Historical Association.
88. Neuman, Michael. "The Texas Urban Triangle: Framework for Future Growth". Southwest Region University Transportation Center (SWUTC). Archived from the original on July 5, 2009. Retrieved October 14, 2008.
89. "GaWC – The World According to GaWC 2008". Globalization and World Cities Research Network. Retrieved March 1, 2009.
90. Hellmann, Paul T. (February 14, 2006). "Georgia". Historical Gazetteer of the United States. Routledge. ISBN   978-1135948597 . Retrieved February 16, 2017.
91. Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Office of Community Affairs. "Colonias FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)". Texas Secretary of State. Archived from the original on October 9, 2008. Retrieved October 12, 2008.
92. Grinberg, Emmanuella. "Impoverished border town grows from shacks into community". CNN . July 8, 2011. Retrieved on July 9, 2011.
93. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Texas: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2019 (SUB-IP-EST2019-ANNRES-48)". United States Census Bureau, Population Division. May 21, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2022.

External links

• Kever, Jeannie. "Census finds thousands of Californians flocking to Texas." Houston Chronicle . Tuesday November 15, 2011.
• Hlavaty, Craig. "Texas: The land of Davis, White, and Martinez." (Archive) Houston Chronicle . July 16, 2013.