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 South Padre Island had 1,673 residents. The population grew each year through the early 2000s, reaching 2,533 in 2002, the first year at or above 2,500. The highest count was recorded in 2011 with 2,897 people. After 2011 the numbers fell, dropping to 2,074 in 2020. By 2025 the count was 2,086, giving a net increase of +413 (+25%) from 1990.
19901990 recorded the lowest population of 1,673 residents.
20022002 was the first year the population reached at least 2,500, with 2,533 residents.
20112011 had the highest count, 2,897 people.
20202020 saw the population fall to 2,074.
20252025 ended the series at 2,086 residents.
figures verified against the data · AI-generated from the figures below — verify against the sources.
1,673
people in 1990
2,086
people in 2025
+25% since 1990
People living in South Padre Island, year by year
U.S. Census Bureau estimates as of July 1 each year. Hover a point to see the figure.
Figures South Padre Island'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 the South Padre Island police increased from 26 in 1990 to 33 in 2025, a net change of +7 and a 27 % rise. The highest count of violent crimes was 80 in 2006, while the lowest was 15 in 1997. Property crimes dropped dramatically, falling from 727 cases in 1990 to 226 in 2025, a decline of 501 cases or 69 %. The peak property‑crime year was 1994 with 841 reports, and the lowest was 2025 with 226 reports. The number of sworn officers grew from 16 in 1990 to 28 in 2025, an increase of 12 officers (75 %) with the highest staffing level of 31 in 2013.
2006Violent crimes peaked at 80 reports in 2006.
1997Violent crimes fell to the lowest count of 15 in 1997.
1994Property crimes reached their highest level of 841 reports in 1994.
2025Property crimes hit the lowest level of 226 reports in 2025.
2013Sworn police officers were at their highest count of 31 in 2013.
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.
State sales‑tax payments to the City of South Padre Island grew from $2,863,860 in 2013 to $5,636,183 in 2025, an increase of $2,772,323, or 97% over the period. The lowest amount recorded was $2,863,860 in 2013, and the highest was $5,644,979 in 2023. The city first received at least $5 million in 2021, when the payment reached $5,162,018. After peaking in 2023, the amount fell to $5,231,651 in 2024 before rising again to $5,636,183 in 2025.
2013The payment was $2,863,860, the lowest amount in the record.
2021In 2021 the city received $5,162,018, the first year at or above $5 million.
20232023 recorded the highest payment of $5,644,979.
2025By 2025 the payment reached $5,636,183, $2,772,323 higher than in 2013.
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 South Padre Island, 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.