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.
The census indicates Brownsville had 115,842 residents in 1990. The count rose over the period, reaching 192,957 in 2025. That represents a change of 77,115 people, or a 67% increase. The year 2025 records the highest population, 192,957. The year 1990 records the lowest population, 115,842.
1994In 1994 the city counted 133,091 residents.
2000The 2000 count was 144,896, a dip from the previous year.
20152015 recorded 181,129 people, slightly lower than 2014.
20252025 shows the highest recorded population of 192,957.
figures verified against the data · AI-generated from the figures below — verify against the sources.
115,842
people in 1990
192,957
people in 2025
+67% since 1990
People living in Brownsville, year by year
U.S. Census Bureau estimates as of July 1 each year. Hover a point to see the figure.
Figures Brownsville'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
Violent crimes reported to Brownsville police increased slightly from 773 in 1990 to 781 in 2025, a net rise of 8 cases (1%). Property crimes dropped sharply, falling from 8,401 in 1990 to 2,954 in 2025, a decrease of 5,447 cases (‑65%). The rate of violent crimes per 1,000 residents fell from 6.7 to 4.0, while property crimes per 1,000 residents fell from 72.5 to 15.3. Sworn police officers grew from 143 in 1990 to 208 in 2025, an increase of 65 officers (45%). The data show a clear reduction in both violent and property crime counts over the 35‑year span despite a modest rise in officer staffing.
19971997 recorded the highest number of violent crimes, 1,271 incidents.
20162016 had the lowest violent‑crime count, with 448 incidents.
20022002 saw the peak of property crimes at 11,979 reports.
20252025 recorded the fewest property crimes, just 2,954 reports.
20142014 had the most sworn officers, 245 in total.
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 Brownsville grew from $33,778,110 in 2013 to $62,753,303 in 2025. That is an increase of $28,975,193, which the data notes as an 86 % rise. The first time the amount reached $50 million was in 2022. The highest payment recorded was in 2025, while the lowest was in 2013. Overall, the figures show a clear upward movement over the 13‑year span.
20132013 recorded the lowest payment at $33,778,110.
20222022 was the first year the payment reached $50 million or more.
20252025 had the highest payment, $62,753,303.
2013From 2013 to 2025 the payment grew by $28,975,193, an 86 % 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 Brownsville, 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.