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Leon County, Texas facts for kids

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Leon County
The Leon County Courthouse in Centerville was originally built of slate brick in 1887. Two previous structures have occupied the current site.
The Leon County Courthouse in Centerville was originally built of slate brick in 1887. Two previous structures have occupied the current site.
Map of Texas highlighting Leon County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Texas
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)
 • 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 High School, Leon County, TX IMG 3030
Rural Leon High School is located off U.S. Highway 79.

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.

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

  • I-45.svg Interstate 45
  • US 79.svg U.S. Highway 79
  • Texas 7.svg State Highway 7
  • Texas 75.svg State Highway 75
  • Texas 164.svg 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

Demographics

Historical population
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

Leon County, Texas - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2010 % 2020
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

Towns

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de León para niños

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