What Year Is King of the Hill Set In?

King of the Hill is generally considered to be set during the years it originally aired, from 1997 to 2010.

Understanding the Show's Timeline

While many animated sitcoms often operate on a floating timeline where characters don't age significantly, King of the Hill largely aligns its contemporary setting with its broadcast period. The primary consensus is that the show's events unfold concurrently with the years it was on the air.

Character Ages and Consistency

Despite the show's long run, specific character ages often remained inconsistent, supporting the idea of a flexible, rather than strictly linear, progression of time. For example:

• Bobby Hill, who is 11 years old when the series begins, only ages to 13 by the end of the show's 13-year run.
• Luanne Platter ages from 19 to 21 over the course of the series.

These instances suggest that while the overall setting matches the airing years, the characters themselves don't always age precisely year-for-year with the real world.

Historical Context

Flashbacks within the series provide glimpses into the characters' pasts, firmly placing their earlier lives in specific eras. Notably, Hank Hill's high school years are clearly depicted as taking place in the early 1970s. This establishes a foundational timeline for the characters' histories, even as their present-day experiences float within the show's broadcast window.

General Setting Period

The table below summarizes the commonly accepted setting period for King of the Hill: