kids encyclopedia robot

Leander, Texas facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Leander, Texas

Bagdad, Texas
Leander city limit
Leander city limit
Location of Leander, Texas
Location of Leander, Texas
Williamson County Leander.svg
Country United States
State Texas
Counties Williamson, Travis
Incorporated January 21, 1978
Government
 • Type Council-Manager
Area
 • Total 37.70 sq mi (97.65 km2)
 • Land 37.50 sq mi (97.13 km2)
 • Water 0.20 sq mi (0.52 km2)
Elevation
978 ft (298 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 59,202
 • Density 1,160.6/sq mi (448.11/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
78641, 78646
Area code(s) 512 & 737
FIPS code 48-42016
GNIS feature ID 1361023
Website http://www.leandertx.gov/

Leander ( lee-AN-dər) is a city in Williamson and Travis counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 26,521 at the 2010 census, and 59,202 at the 2020 census. A suburb just north of Austin, and part of the Greater Austin metropolitan area, it was the fastest-growing city in the United States between 2018 and 2019.

History

Leander was established in 1882 on land sold by the Austin and Northwestern Railroad Co. to prospective citizens. The town was named in honor of Leander "Catfish" Brown, one of the railroad officials responsible for the completion of the line.

It was near Leander that the Leanderthal Lady, a skeleton dating back 10,000 to 13,000 years, was discovered; the site was one of the earliest intact burials found in the United States.

In August and September 2011, destructive wildfires swept through two central Leander neighborhoods, burning a total of 330 acres (130 ha) and destroying 26 homes.

Geography

Leander is located at 30°33′40″N 97°51′37″W / 30.56111°N 97.86028°W / 30.56111; -97.86028 (30.561108, -97.860301), about 22 miles northwest of Austin.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.5 square miles (19.3 km²). None of the area is covered with water.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Leander is a jurisdiction member of the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Capital Metro). The northern terminus for the Capital MetroRail Red Line is located at Leander Station and Park & Ride designed by McKinney York Architects, located on U.S. Highway 183 north of Ranch to Market Road 2243. Leander Station also has access to several express bus lines, and includes a park and ride facility with 600 parking spaces.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1980 2,179
1990 3,398 55.9%
2000 7,596 123.5%
2010 26,521 249.1%
2020 59,202 123.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,596 people, 2,522 households, and 2,042 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,016.2 people per square mile (392.6/km2). There were 2,612 housing units at an average density of 349.4 per square mile (135.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 86.22% White, 2.91% African American, 0.92% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 6.94% from other races, and 2.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.94% of the population.

51.7% of households had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.5% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.0% were non-families. 14.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.33.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 33.5% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 38.6% from 25 to 44, 15.7% from 45 to 64, and 4.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.

As of 2019, median household income (in 2019 dollars) from 2015–2019 was $101,872. Per capita income in first 12 months of 2021 (in 2019 dollars), 2015–2019 was $36,893, and persons in poverty, was 4.2%.

Education

Leander is the center of the Leander Independent School District. Schools in the district include Leander High School, Vista Ridge High School, Cedar Park High School, Charles Rouse High School, Vandegrift High School, Tom Glenn High School, Wiley Middle School (Bernice Knox Wiley Middle School), Leander Middle School, Danielson Middle School, Henry Middle School, Running Brushy Middle School, Cedar Park Middle School, Canyon Ridge Middle school, Parkside Elementary School, Pleasant Hill Elementary School, Rutledge Elementary School, Whitestone Elementary School, Jim Plain Elementary School, and Block House Creek Elementary School, Winkley Elementary School, Reed Elementary School, Camacho Elementary (S.T.E.M.) school, Bagdad Elementary School and Monta Akin Elementary School.

Notable people

  • Nate Champion, notable in the Johnson County War
  • Dan Janjigian, Olympian, author and management consultant
  • Khiry Shelton, Professional Soccer player, MLS Soccer, Sporting KC Professional Soccer Club
  • Paul Thompson, football player

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Leander (Texas) para niños

kids search engine
Leander, Texas Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.