San Leon, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
San Leon, Texas
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Census-designated place (CDP)
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Location of San Leon, Texas
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 San Leon, Texas
Location in Texas
San Leon, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| County | Galveston |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.2 sq mi (13.4 km2) |
| • Land | 4.9 sq mi (12.6 km2) |
| • Water | 0.3 sq mi (0.7 km2) |
| Elevation | 10 ft (3 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,135 |
| • Density | 1,180/sq mi (457.8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
77539-2492
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| Area code(s) | 281 |
| FIPS code | 48-65564 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1346420 |
San Leon is a community in Galveston County, Texas, United States. It's a special kind of place called a "census-designated place" (CDP). This means it's like a town but doesn't have its own city government. In 2020, about 6,135 people lived there.
Contents
San Leon's Early History
In the early 1800s, the famous pirate Jean Lafitte had a base at Eagle Point, which is now part of San Leon. This spot became a busy place for shipping and trading goods.
The community was first known as Edward's Point. Later, it was called North Galveston. In 1893, a railroad was built through the area. This helped the town grow as a business center.
However, two big hurricanes in 1900 and 1915 caused a lot of damage. The town struggled to fully recover after these storms. In the early 1900s, people tried to make San Leon a resort town, but it didn't become very popular. Since then, the area has grown slowly.
Local Government and Community Efforts
The San Leon Municipal Utility District (MUD) was created in 1965. This group helps manage water and other services for the community.
In 1985, people in San Leon, Bacliff, and Bayview thought about joining together to form a city called Bayshore. This would have given them their own local police and the power to make local rules.
However, the idea was voted down. Many people felt that the area was too small to pay for city services like police and road repairs. San Leon residents often voted against joining a city.
In 1991, San Leon got an improved 9-1-1 system. This system helps emergency calls go to the right people and shows the caller's address automatically. In 2008, Hurricane Ike caused a lot of damage to San Leon.
Around 2000, Bacliff and San Leon formed a group to prepare for possibly becoming a city. They wanted to protect their area after the City of Texas City took over some nearby business areas.
In 2012, an old power plant in the area, called P.H. Robinson, was taken down.
San Leon's Location and Environment
San Leon is located in Galveston County. It covers about 5.2 square miles (13.4 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part covered by water.
San Leon, Bacliff, and Bayview are often called the "Bayshore" area because they are all along the bay.
Over time, the shoreline in San Leon has been affected by erosion. Some parts of Avenue A, a road along the north shore, have been washed away.
In 2019, new maps showed that most of San Leon is at high risk of flooding. These maps help people understand and prepare for possible floods.
People of San Leon
Population Overview
As of the 2020 United States census, 6,135 people lived in San Leon. There were 2,276 households and 1,649 families.
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 3,504 | 57.11% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 109 | 1.78% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 27 | 0.44% |
| Asian (NH) | 164 | 2.67% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 18 | 0.29% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 239 | 3.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 2,074 | 33.81% |
| Total | 6,135 |
Community Life
Many homes in San Leon are used as second homes or summer getaways. People from Houston often travel to San Leon for weekends and holidays.
San Leon, Bayview, and Bacliff together form the largest community in mainland Galveston County that is not officially a city.
In 2008, many Vietnamese families lived in San Leon and Bacliff. They worked in crab, oyster, and shrimp fishing. Many of these families built their own boats over several years.
San Leon's Economy
The main part of San Leon's economy is fishing for oysters and shrimp. Many people who live in San Leon also travel to Houston for work.
Education in San Leon
Students in San Leon go to schools in the Dickinson Independent School District.
San Leon Elementary School opened in 2007. It serves students from kindergarten to fourth grade.
For fifth and sixth grades, students attend Barber Middle School in Dickinson. McAdams Junior High School, also in Dickinson, serves grades 7 and 8. Students then go to Dickinson High School for grades 9 through 12.
Local Services and Infrastructure
The San Leon Water Control and Improvement District (WCID) provides water services to the community. This group was set up in 1965 to manage water and other important services.
The San Leon Post Office was damaged by Hurricane Ike in 2008 and was not rebuilt.
See also
In Spanish: San León (Texas) para niños
