How the city has changed over 35 years: how many people live here, how many police officers there are, how much crime gets reported, and how much money comes in. Every figure comes from the U.S. Census Bureau, the FBI, or the Texas Comptroller — and links to its source. Summaries are AI-generated from those verified figures: check them against the sources.
In 1990 Peñitas had 961 residents, the lowest figure in the record. The population first rose above 1,000 in 1992, reaching 1,071, and crossed the 2,500 mark in 2000 with 2,891 residents. From 2001 to 2019 the count grew each year, moving from 3,026 in 2001 to 4,642 in 2019. In 2020 the population jumped to 6,450, the first year above 5,000. The highest recorded total is 6,549 in 2024, and by 2025 the number was 6,495, a net increase of 5,534 (+576%) since 1990.
19901990 recorded the lowest population of 961 residents.
19921992 was the first year the city had over 1,000 people, with 1,071 residents.
20002000 marked the first time the population reached above 2,500, at 2,891 people.
20202020 was the first year the city topped 5,000 residents, reaching 6,450.
20242024 holds the highest recorded population of 6,549.
figures verified against the data · AI-generated from the figures below — verify against the sources.
961
people in 1990
6,495
people in 2025
+576% since 1990
People living in Peñitas, year by year
U.S. Census Bureau estimates as of July 1 each year. Hover a point to see the figure.
Figures Peñitas's own police department reports to the FBI. A year the department didn't fully report stays blank — never guessed. The per-1,000-residents rates are computed by us: FBI crime counts divided by Census population.
AI summary
From 2001 through 2025 the number of violent crimes reported to Peñitas police stayed at 2 in 2001 and returned to 2 in 2025, a net change of zero. The count rose to a peak of 36 in 2013 before falling back to 2 in 2025. Property crimes grew from 15 in 2001 to 46 in 2025, a net increase of 31 cases, and reached a high of 174 in 2013. The police force grew from 2 sworn officers in 2001 to 11 in 2025, a net gain of 9 officers, with the largest staff level of 18 in 2020. Per 1,000 residents, violent crimes fell from 0.7 to 0.3 while property crimes rose from 5.0 to 7.1.
2013Violent crimes peaked at 36 in 2013, the highest level in the record.
2001Violent crimes were at the lowest recorded level of 2 in 2001.
2013Property crimes reached a high of 174 incidents in 2013.
2002Property crimes were the lowest at 11 incidents in 2002.
2020The police department had its largest sworn staff of 18 officers in 2020.
figures verified against the data · AI-generated from the figures below — verify against the sources.
Sworn police officers
Reported by the department to the FBI (count as of Oct 31). Gaps in the line are years the department didn't report.
· FBI Crime Data Explorer
Violent crimes per 1,000 residents
Computed by us: crimes reported to the FBI ÷ Census population × 1,000. The original counts are in the table below.
Property crimes per 1,000 residents
Burglary, vehicle theft, larceny. Same computation as above.
The state’s sales‑tax payments to Peñitas grew from $655,112 in 2013 to $1,706,581 in 2025. That rise equals a change of $1,051,469, or a 161 % increase. The first payment at or above $1 million occurred in 2020 with $1,098,255. The lowest amount recorded was in 2013, and the highest was in 2025. Over the 12‑year span the city’s tax revenue more than doubled.
20132013 recorded the lowest state sales‑tax payment at $655,112.
20202020 was the first year the payment reached $1,098,255, crossing the $1 million mark.
20252025 had the highest payment, $1,706,581.
2025From 2013 to 2025 the payment grew by $1,051,469, a 161 % increase.
figures verified against the data · AI-generated from the figures below — verify against the sources.
Sales tax paid to the city, by year
Monthly allocation payments from the Texas Comptroller to the City of Peñitas, summed per calendar year. The online public record starts in 2013.
Historical property tax rates and year-by-year city employee counts don't exist in any machine-readable public record reaching back to 1990. When the city or the state publishes them, they'll appear here. We don't show figures we can't link to a source — that's how we work.