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 records show Harlingen’s population was 48,105 on July 1 1990. The city first reached 50,000 residents in 1992. By 2000 the count had risen to 61,015, and it continued to grow to 71,924 in 2020. The latest figure for 2025 is 72,467, the highest year on record. Over the 35‑year span the population increased by 24,362, a change of 51 %.
1992In 1992 the population was 50,787, the first year at or above 50,000.
2000The 2000 Census shows a population of 61,015.
20202020 recorded a population of 71,924.
20252025 is the highest year on record with 72,467 residents.
19901990 is the lowest year on record with 48,105 residents.
figures verified against the data · AI-generated from the figures below — verify against the sources.
48,105
people in 1990
72,467
people in 2025
+51% since 1990
People living in Harlingen, year by year
U.S. Census Bureau estimates as of July 1 each year. Hover a point to see the figure.
Figures Harlingen'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 Harlingen police fell from 287 in 1990 to 167 in 2025, a drop of 120 incidents or 42 %. Property crimes declined from 3,565 in 1990 to 1,660 in 2025, a reduction of 1,905 incidents or 53 %. The violent‑crime rate per 1,000 residents went from 6.0 in 1990 to 2.3 in 2025, while the property‑crime rate fell from 74.1 to 22.9 per 1,000 residents. Sworn officer numbers rose from 81 in 1990 to 141 in 2025, an increase of 60 officers or 74 %. The highest violent‑crime year was 2008 with 455 incidents, and the lowest was 2014 with 146 incidents; the highest property‑crime year was 2004 with 4,997 incidents, and the lowest was 2025 with 1,660 incidents.
2008Violent crimes peaked at 455 incidents, the highest year on record.
2014Violent crimes fell to 146 incidents, the lowest year on record.
2004Property crimes peaked at 4,997 incidents, the highest year on record.
2025Property crimes dropped to 1,660 incidents, the lowest year on record.
2025Sworn officers rose to 141, the highest count in the data set.
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 allocation to Harlingen grew from $21,078,848 in 2013 to $36,734,160 in 2025. Over the 12‑year span the total increase was $15,655,312, or 74 percent. The payments first topped $25 million in 2018. Each subsequent year after 2018 recorded higher amounts, reaching a peak of $36,734,160 in 2025.
20132013 recorded the lowest payment at $21,078,848.
2018In 2018 the payment rose above $25 million for the first time, reaching $25,293,869.
20212021 saw a jump to $29,772,087.
2024The 2024 allocation was $34,441,495.
20252025 was the highest year, with $36,734,160.
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 Harlingen, 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.