In this October 1919 article from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the newspaper reported that Arlington’s population had surpassed 5,000 people.

However, this figure was not an ‘official’ count. The Texas Almanac, for instance, lists Arlington’s population as 3,031 in 1920, with the town not officially surpassing 5,000 residents until sometime in the 1940s. The count may be more of an estimate or projection, and may have also included residents from outside the city limits or students from the newly established Grubbs Vocational College.

Furthermore, towns frequently engaged in ‘boosterism’—that is, nudging population figures to attract new residents, businesses, and investments. The article even states that Mayor Rose hired the men to take the census. (That’s not necessarily nefarious. Someone had to hire the men.) Given Arlington’s location along the railroad between Dallas and Fort Worth, though, such an optimistic number would have served as powerful promotion to spur further growth.

“Arlington Now Has 5,091 Population, New Census Shows”
Fort Worth Star-Telegram—October 21, 1919
Newspapers.com

Regardless, the early 1900s were a period of significant growth and change for Arlington and the country. The 1920 Census, the official one, marked the first time more Americans lived in urban rather than rural areas, with towns like Arlington establishing their identity. Following World War II, Arlington’s population increased sharply, with it experiencing a tremendous boom in the 1950s that transformed the city.

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Blog post by Jason S. Sullivan, 10-01-25