By 1957, the North Richland Hills' boundary was within of Smithfield, and by 1960 Smithfield had been annexed to North Richland Hills. In 1960, the population of North Richland Hills was beginning to rise at 8,662 residents, with that number more than doubling to 16,514 by 1970. The city's population continued to grow at a rapid pace with the 1980 census at 30,592 and the 1990 census reflecting 45,895. In 2000 the population was 55,635, rising to 63,343 at the 2010 census.