De Leon, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
De Leon, Texas
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Downtown De Leon, Texas
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Location of De Leon, Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Comanche |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.24 sq mi (5.81 km2) |
| • Land | 2.24 sq mi (5.81 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,270 ft (390 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,258 |
| • Density | 1,008.0/sq mi (388.6/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
76444
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| Area code(s) | 254 |
| FIPS code | 48-19672 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2410304 |
De Leon is a city in Comanche County, Texas. In 2020, about 2,258 people lived there. Many people think it's named after the explorer Ponce de León. But it's actually named after the Leon River. This river flows near the town and into Proctor Lake. The name de León means "of Leon" in Spanish.
Contents
History of De Leon
Early Days and Railroads
De Leon was planned in April 1881. This happened when the Texas Central Railway was building a new train line. The railway was part of the famous Katy Railroad. This line connected towns like Ross and Stamford. The first land lots were sold on July 7, 1881. Robert Morris Elgin, a land agent for the railway, sold them. The town of Elgin, Texas was named after him.
De Leon first became an official town in 1890. But the local government didn't last. So, the town became official again in 1899. John Lambert became the first mayor in 1900.
Growth and the Oil Boom
De Leon's population was less than 1,000 until 1910. Then, a new train line was built from De Leon to Rising Star. This made De Leon a central point for the Katy railway. Many railroad workers and their families moved to the city. By 1910, the population grew to 1,015 people. Today, De Leon still has train service. The old "Peanut Line" is now run by the Fort Worth and Western Railroad.
In 1918, oil was found near De Leon. This led to an "oil boom." Many oil wells were drilled in the area. The town's population quickly grew to over 5,000 people. But the boom didn't last long. By 1920, the population was 3,302. Since World War II, De Leon's population has stayed around 2,500.
Farming and Peanuts
Ranching was very important in Comanche County for a long time. But when the Texas Central Railway arrived in 1881, cotton became the main crop. Farmers from southern states moved to De Leon starting in 1890.
After 1910, a bug called the boll weevil damaged cotton crops. Farmers then started growing small Spanish peanuts. This crop quickly became very popular. In 1913, the De Leon Peanut Company was started. Comanche County became a top peanut-producing area in the U.S. Many peanuts from De Leon went into candy bars like Baby Ruth and Butterfinger. Later, Nabisco bought the De Leon Peanut Company. In recent years, peanut farming has decreased.
Local Festivals and Events
De Leon hosts one of Texas's oldest festivals. It's called the De Leon Peach and Melon Festival. It started in 1914. The festival takes place during the first full week of August. Thousands of people come for the carnival, tractor pulls, and car show. They also enjoy free cold watermelon slices.
A world record was set at this festival! On August 12, 1995, Jason Schayot set the watermelon seed-spitting record. He spat a seed 75 feet 2 inches. This record is in the Guinness Book of World Records.
De Leon also had a special music event. On July 4, 1955, Elvis Presley performed there. It was his only paid show where he sang only gospel music. He followed his friends, the Blackwood Brothers, at a "Battle of Songs" show. The Blackwoods had lost family members in a plane crash. They sang gospel music to remember them. Elvis then sang more gospel songs.
Famous People from De Leon
Several important people are connected to De Leon.
- Ben Barnes was a Texas Speaker of the House. He later became the Lieutenant Governor.
- William White won a Pulitzer Prize in 1955. His book, The Taft Story, was about politician Robert A. Taft.
- Winston Lee Moore, known as Slim Willet, grew up near De Leon. He wrote and sang "Don't Let the Stars Get In Your Eyes."
- Former State Representative Sid Miller was born in De Leon in 1955.
A man named Cyrus Campbell is buried in the De Leon Cemetery. He was a blacksmith. He made the leg irons for Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. This happened after Santa Anna was captured at the Battle of San Jacinto. Campbell's family says he and his three brothers captured Santa Anna.
De Leon's town motto is "Busiest Town, Friendliest People." It reminds people of the calm lifestyle found in some small towns.
Geography
De Leon is located at 32°6′35″N 98°32′19″W / 32.10972°N 98.53861°W. The city covers about 2.1 square miles (5.81 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area.
Climate
De Leon has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has warm temperatures and rain throughout the year. The abbreviation for this climate type is Cfa.
| Climate data for De Leon, Texas | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 50 (10) |
60 (16) |
73 (23) |
83 (28) |
83 (28) |
93 (34) |
97 (36) |
99 (37) |
86 (30) |
79 (26) |
70 (21) |
60 (16) |
78 (26) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 27 (−3) |
28 (−2) |
45 (7) |
52 (11) |
59 (15) |
62 (17) |
67 (19) |
71 (22) |
58 (14) |
49 (9) |
38 (3) |
28 (−2) |
49 (9) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.3 (33) |
2.4 (61) |
2.7 (69) |
2.3 (58) |
4.4 (110) |
4.1 (100) |
2.6 (66) |
2.8 (71) |
2.5 (64) |
3.6 (91) |
1.9 (48) |
1.2 (30) |
32 (810) |
| Source: Weatherbase | |||||||||||||
Population of De Leon
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 364 | — | |
| 1900 | 807 | 121.7% | |
| 1910 | 1,015 | 25.8% | |
| 1920 | 3,302 | 225.3% | |
| 1930 | 1,766 | −46.5% | |
| 1940 | 1,971 | 11.6% | |
| 1950 | 2,241 | 13.7% | |
| 1960 | 2,022 | −9.8% | |
| 1970 | 2,170 | 7.3% | |
| 1980 | 2,478 | 14.2% | |
| 1990 | 2,190 | −11.6% | |
| 2000 | 2,433 | 11.1% | |
| 2010 | 2,246 | −7.7% | |
| 2020 | 2,258 | 0.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 Census Information
In 2020, the U.S. Census counted 2,258 people living in De Leon. There were 990 households and 590 families.
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 1,407 | 62.31% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 14 | 0.62% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 7 | 0.31% |
| Asian (NH) | 1 | 0.04% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 1 | 0.04% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 8 | 0.35% |
| Mixed/multiracial (NH) | 76 | 3.37% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 744 | 32.95% |
| Total | 2,258 |
Education
The De Leon Independent School District serves the city of De Leon. In 2009, a new high school was built after a special vote.
Images for kids
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Old building in downtown De Leon
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Mural in downtown De Leon
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Downtown De Leon
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Old building in downtown De Leon
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Historic train depot in De Leon
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Library
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Historic Anthony Hotel in De Leon
See also
In Spanish: De León para niños
