Real County, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Real County
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The Real County Courthouse in Leakey, built in 1918 from local limestone, and renovated in 1978
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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 |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| Founded | 1913 |
| Named for | Julius Real |
| Seat | Leakey |
| Largest city | Camp Wood |
| Area | |
| • Total | 700 sq mi (2,000 km2) |
| • Land | 699 sq mi (1,810 km2) |
| • Water | 0.9 sq mi (2 km2) 0.1% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,758 |
| • Density | 3.94/sq mi (1.52/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 21st |
Real County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. It sits on a high area called the Edwards Plateau. In 2020, about 2,758 people lived there. The main town and county seat is Leakey. The county is named after Julius Real (1860–1944), who was a member of the Texas State Senate.
Contents
History of Real County
Real County has a rich history with many interesting events. Long ago, Native American tribes lived here.
Early Settlements and Events
- 1762–1771: The San Lorenzo de la Santa Cruz Mission was built on the Nueces River. It was a place for Franciscans and Spanish soldiers. They wanted to protect the Lipan Apache people from the Comanches. The mission was later left empty in 1771.
- 1856: John and Nancy Leakey were among the first settlers in the Frio Canyon area.
- 1857: The original Camp Wood was started. It was near where the old San Lorenzo mission used to be.
- 1881: The last known Native American raid in southwest Texas happened here. Lipan Apaches attacked a home in the Frio Canyon.
Forming the County
- 1910: Farmers started growing fewer crops. Instead, people began raising more livestock, especially angora goats.
- 1913: On April 3, the Texas state government officially created Real County. It was made from parts of Edwards, Bandera, and Kerr counties. Leakey became the county seat.
- 1920: The town of Camp Wood was founded. It became a railroad stop for moving wood.
- 1924: Famous pilot Charles A. Lindbergh even landed in Real County!
- 1948: A road called Farm to Market Road 337 was finished, making travel easier.
Geography and Landscape
Real County covers a total area of about 700 square miles (1,813 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with only a small amount of water.
Main Roads
These are the most important roads that go through Real County:
U.S. Highway 83
State Highway 41
State Highway 55
Ranch to Market Road 337
Neighboring Counties
Real County shares its borders with these other counties:
- Edwards County (to the west)
- Kerr County (to the northeast)
- Bandera County (to the east)
- Uvalde County (to the south)
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 1,461 | — | |
| 1930 | 2,197 | 50.4% | |
| 1940 | 2,420 | 10.2% | |
| 1950 | 2,479 | 2.4% | |
| 1960 | 2,079 | −16.1% | |
| 1970 | 2,013 | −3.2% | |
| 1980 | 2,469 | 22.7% | |
| 1990 | 2,412 | −2.3% | |
| 2000 | 3,047 | 26.3% | |
| 2010 | 3,309 | 8.6% | |
| 2020 | 2,758 | −16.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850–2010 2010 2020 |
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In 2000, there were 3,047 people living in Real County. The population density was about 4 people per square mile. Most people identified as White, with a smaller percentage identifying as Hispanic or Latino.
About 26.5% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average age of people in the county was 45 years old.
Towns and Communities
Real County has a few towns and one unincorporated community.
Cities
Unincorporated community
Education
Students in Real County attend schools in several different school districts:
- Leakey Independent School District
- Nueces Canyon Consolidated Independent School District
- Utopia Independent School District
- Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District
For college, students can go to Southwest Texas Junior College.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Real para niños
