Leon County, Texas

County in Texas, United States

For the county in Florida, see Leon County, Florida.

County in Texas

Leon County

County

The Leon County Courthouse in Centerville was originally built of slate brick in 1887. Two previous structures have occupied the current site.

Location within the U.S. state of Texas

Texas's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 31°18′N 96°00′W﻿ / ﻿31.3°N 96°W﻿ / 31.3; -96
Country|  United States
State|  Texas
Founded| 1846
Named after| 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| 15/sq mi (5.6/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 17th
Website| www.co.leon.tx.us
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.[1] Its county seat is Centerville.[2]

## History

[edit]

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 (Spanish for lion). 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.[3]

## Geography

[edit]

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) are land and 7.5 square miles (19 km2) (0.7%) are covered by water.[4]

### Major highways

[edit]

* Interstate 45
* U.S. Highway 79
* State Highway 7
* State Highway 75
* State Highway 164

Additionally, State Highway OSR runs along the south and southwestern county line of Leon County, where it borders with Madison County.

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Freestone County (north)
* Anderson County (northeast)
* Houston County (east)
* Madison County (south)
* Robertson County (west)
* Limestone County (northwest)

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

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[5]
1850–2010[6] 2010[7] 2020[8]
Leon County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
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 may be of any race. Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[9] | Pop 2010[7] | Pop 2020[8] | % 2000  | % 2010  | % 2020

|
|
|
|
|
|

White alone (NH)  | 12,366  | 13,078  | 11,659  | 80.64%  | 77.84%  | 74.17%
Black or African American alone (NH)  | 1,583  | 1,181  | 921  | 10.32%  | 7.03%  | 5.86%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)  | 45  | 57  | 54  | 0.29%  | 0.34%  | 0.34%
Asian alone (NH)  | 23  | 75  | 111  | 0.15%  | 0.45%  | 0.71%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)  | 1  | 2  | 6  | 0.01%  | 0.01%  | 0.04%
Other Race alone (NH)  | 12  | 1  | 47  | 0.08%  | 0.01%  | 0.30%
Mixed Race or Multiracial (NH)  | 92  | 147  | 475  | 0.60%  | 0.87%  | 3.02%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)  | 1,213  | 2,260  | 2,446  | 7.91%  | 13.45%  | 15.56%
Total | 15,335 | 16,801 | 15,719 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00%

As of the census[10] of 2000, 15,335 people, 6,189 households, and 4,511 families were residing in the county. The population density was 14 people/sq mi (5.4 people/km2). The 8,299 housing units averaged 8 units per square mile (3.1 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 83.53% White, 10.39% African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 4.50% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. About 7.91% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 6,189 households, 28.20% had children under 18 living with them, 60.20% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.10% were not families. About 24.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.10% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.46, and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the age distribution was 24.3% under 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,981, and for a family was $38,029. Males had a median income of $32,036 versus $19,607 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,599. About 12.60% of families and 15.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.20% of those under age 18 and 14.30% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities

[edit]

### Cities

[edit]

* Buffalo
* Centerville (county seat)
* Jewett
* Leona
* Marquez

### Towns

[edit]

* Normangee (small part in Madison County)
* Oakwood (small part in Freestone County)

### Census-designated place

[edit]

* Hilltop Lakes

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Concord
* Corinth
* Flynn
* Hopewell
* Wealthy

### Ghost town

[edit]

* Egypt

## Politics

[edit]

Leon County is so heavily Republican that in 2014 none of the statewide GOP nominees fell below 87 percent of the votes cast.[11]

United States presidential election results for Leon County, Texas[12] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 7,982  | 87.90% | 1,033  | 11.38%  | 66  | 0.73%
2020 | 7,523  | 86.62% | 1,072  | 12.34%  | 90  | 1.04%
2016 | 6,391  | 85.91% | 909  | 12.22%  | 139  | 1.87%
2012 | 5,814  | 83.53% | 1,062  | 15.26%  | 84  | 1.21%
2008 | 5,566  | 79.05% | 1,418  | 20.14%  | 57  | 0.81%
2004 | 5,023  | 73.88% | 1,754  | 25.80%  | 22  | 0.32%
2000 | 4,362  | 68.95% | 1,893  | 29.92%  | 71  | 1.12%
1996 | 2,839  | 51.01% | 2,217  | 39.83%  | 510  | 9.16%
1992 | 2,212  | 40.16% | 2,042  | 37.07%  | 1,254  | 22.77%
1988 | 2,778  | 54.31% | 2,316  | 45.28%  | 21  | 0.41%
1984 | 3,207  | 63.66% | 1,821  | 36.15%  | 10  | 0.20%
1980 | 1,821  | 44.93%  | 2,190  | 54.03% | 42  | 1.04%
1976 | 1,161  | 35.60%  | 2,085  | 63.94% | 15  | 0.46%
1972 | 1,699  | 66.16% | 863  | 33.61%  | 6  | 0.23%
1968 | 659  | 21.43%  | 1,536  | 49.95% | 880  | 28.62%
1964 | 642  | 21.24%  | 2,373  | 78.52% | 7  | 0.23%
1960 | 868  | 32.34%  | 1,803  | 67.18% | 13  | 0.48%
1956 | 1,079  | 45.99%  | 1,260  | 53.71% | 7  | 0.30%
1952 | 1,266  | 40.66%  | 1,842  | 59.15% | 6  | 0.19%
1948 | 184  | 10.89%  | 1,231  | 72.84% | 275  | 16.27%
1944 | 140  | 7.38%  | 1,569  | 82.67% | 189  | 9.96%
1940 | 252  | 9.69%  | 2,349  | 90.31% | 0  | 0.00%
1936 | 97  | 5.25%  | 1,748  | 94.69% | 1  | 0.05%
1932 | 108  | 5.20%  | 1,958  | 94.32% | 10  | 0.48%
1928 | 543  | 38.59%  | 862  | 61.27% | 2  | 0.14%
1924 | 311  | 12.99%  | 2,004  | 83.71% | 79  | 3.30%
1920 | 220  | 10.58%  | 1,124  | 54.06% | 735  | 35.35%
1916 | 335  | 22.70%  | 979  | 66.33% | 162  | 10.98%
1912 | 191  | 13.93%  | 856  | 62.44% | 324  | 23.63%
United States Senate election results for Leon County, Texas1[13] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 7,734  | 85.84% | 1,115  | 12.38%  | 161  | 1.79%

## See also

[edit]

* Texas portal

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Leon County, Texas
* Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Leon County

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Leon County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ Texas Historical Commission.
4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
5. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
6. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
7. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Leon County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
8. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Leon County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
9. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Leon County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
10. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
11. ^ "2014 General Election, Leon County". Texas Secretary of State. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
12. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
13. ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Leon County government's website
* in Handbook of Texas Online at the University of Texas

Places adjacent to Leon County, Texas

| Limestone County | Freestone County | Anderson County

|
|

|  |
Robertson County |

Leon County, Texas

| Houston County
|  |
| Madison County |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Leon County, Texas, United States

County seat: Centerville

Cities|

* Buffalo
* Centerville
* Jewett
* Leona
* Marquez

Leon County map

Towns|

* Normangee‡
* Oakwood‡

CDP|

* Hilltop Lakes

Other
communities|

* Concord
* Corinth
* Flo
* Flynn
* Hopewell
* Wealthy

Ghost town|

* Egypt

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

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31°18′N 96°00′W﻿ / ﻿31.30°N 96.00°W﻿ / 31.30; -96.00
*[Pop.]: Population
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