Leon County, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leon County
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The Leon County Courthouse in Centerville was originally built of slate brick in 1887. Two previous structures have occupied the current site.
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![]() Location within the U.S. state of Texas
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![]() Texas's location within the U.S. |
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Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
Founded | 1846 |
Named for | Martín de León |
Seat | Centerville |
Largest city | Buffalo |
Area | |
• Total | 1,081 sq mi (2,800 km2) |
• Land | 1,073 sq mi (2,780 km2) |
• Water | 7.5 sq mi (19 km2) 0.7% |
Population
(2020)
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• Total | 15,719 |
• Density | 14.541/sq mi (5.6144/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Congressional districts | 8th, 17th |
Leon County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 15,719. Its county seat is Centerville.
Contents
History
The legislature of the Republic of Texas authorized Leon County in 1846 from part of Robertson County, and named it in honor of Martín De León, the founder of Victoria, Texas. However, local tradition holds that it is named for a yellow wolf of the region commonly called the león ("lion" in Spanish). The county was organized that same year with its first county seat at Leona. In 1851 the county seat was moved to Centerville since Leona was in the far southern part of the county.
The 1886 Leon County Courthouse was designed by architect George Edwin Dickey of Houston, incorporating remnants of an earlier 1858 courthouse that was destroyed by fire. The courthouse was rededicated on July 1, 2007 following a full restoration to a 1909 date.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,081 square miles (2,800 km2), of which 1,073 square miles (2,780 km2) is land and 7.5 square miles (19 km2) (0.7%) is water.
Major highways
Interstate 45
U.S. Highway 79
State Highway 7
State Highway 75
State Highway 164
Additionally, State Highway OSR runs along the south and southwest county line of Leon County where it borders with Madison County.
Adjacent counties
- Freestone County (north)
- Anderson County (northeast)
- Houston County (east)
- Madison County (south)
- Robertson County (west)
- Limestone County (northwest)
Demographics
Historical population | |||
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Census | Pop. | %± | |
1850 | 1,946 | — | |
1860 | 6,781 | 248.5% | |
1870 | 6,523 | −3.8% | |
1880 | 12,817 | 96.5% | |
1890 | 13,841 | 8.0% | |
1900 | 18,072 | 30.6% | |
1910 | 16,583 | −8.2% | |
1920 | 18,286 | 10.3% | |
1930 | 19,898 | 8.8% | |
1940 | 17,733 | −10.9% | |
1950 | 12,024 | −32.2% | |
1960 | 9,951 | −17.2% | |
1970 | 8,738 | −12.2% | |
1980 | 9,594 | 9.8% | |
1990 | 12,665 | 32.0% | |
2000 | 15,335 | 21.1% | |
2010 | 16,801 | 9.6% | |
2020 | 15,719 | −6.4% | |
U.S. Decennial Census 1850–2010 2010 2020 |
2020 census
Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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White alone (NH) | 13,078 | 11,659 | 77.84% | 74.17% |
Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,181 | 921 | 7.03% | 5.86% |
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 57 | 54 | 0.34% | 0.34% |
Asian alone (NH) | 75 | 111 | 0.45% | 0.71% |
Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 2 | 6 | 0.01% | 0.04% |
Some Other Race alone (NH) | 1 | 47 | 0.01% | 0.30% |
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 147 | 475 | 0.87% | 3.02% |
Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2,260 | 2,446 | 13.45% | 15.56% |
Total | 16,801 | 15,719 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
Communities
Cities and towns
- Buffalo
- Centerville (county seat)
- Jewett
- Leona
- Marquez
Towns
- Normangee (small part in Madison County)
- Oakwood (small part in Freestone County)
Census-designated place
Unincorporated communities
Ghost towns
- Egypt
- Eunice
- Robbins
See also
In Spanish: Condado de León para niños
![]() | Jim Plunkett |
![]() | Sammis Reyes |
Carlos Arroyo |
![]() | Trevor Ariza |