Editing Leon County, Texas

{{Short description|County in Texas, United States}}
{{for|the county in Florida|Leon County, Florida}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Leon County
 | state                = Texas
 | seal                 = 
 | founded              = 1846
 | seat wl              = Centerville
 | largest city wl      = Buffalo
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 1081
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 1073
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 7.5
 | area percentage      = 0.7
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 15719
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | ex image             = Leon-County-Courthouse.JPG
 | ex image size        = 250
 | ex image cap         = The Leon County Courthouse in Centerville was originally built of slate brick in 1887. Two previous structures have occupied the current site.
 | web                  = www.co.leon.tx.us
 | time zone            = Central
 | district             = 17th
 | named for            = [[Martín de León]]
}}
[[Image:Leon High School, Leon County, TX IMG 3030.JPG|200px|right|thumb|[[Rural]] Leon High School is located off [[U.S. Highway 79]].]]

'''Leon County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Texas]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], its population was 15,719.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Leon County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US48289|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=February 23, 2021}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Centerville, Texas|Centerville]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref>

== History ==
The legislature of the [[Republic of Texas]] authorized Leon County in 1846 from part of [[Robertson County, Texas|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 language|Spanish]] for lion). The county was organized that same year, with its first county seat at [[Leona, Texas|Leona]]. In 1851, the county seat was moved to [[Centerville, Texas|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.<ref>Texas Historical Commission.</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1081|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1073|sqmi}} are land and {{convert|7.5|sqmi}} (0.7%) are covered by water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 3, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

===Major highways===
* [[Image:I-45 (TX).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 45 (Texas)|Interstate 45]]
* [[Image:US 79.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 79 (Texas)|U.S. Highway 79]]
* [[Image:Texas 7.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 7|State Highway 7]]
* [[Image:Texas 75.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 75|State Highway 75]]
* [[Image:Texas 164.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 164|State Highway 164]]

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

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Freestone County, Texas|Freestone County]] (north)
* [[Anderson County, Texas|Anderson County]] (northeast)
* [[Houston County, Texas|Houston County]] (east)
* [[Madison County, Texas|Madison County]] (south)
* [[Robertson County, Texas|Robertson County]] (west)
* [[Limestone County, Texas|Limestone County]] (northwest)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 1946
|1860= 6781
|1870= 6523
|1880= 12817
|1890= 13841
|1900= 18072
|1910= 16583
|1920= 18286
|1930= 19898
|1940= 17733
|1950= 12024
|1960= 9951
|1970= 8738
|1980= 9594
|1990= 12665
|2000= 15335
|2010= 16801
|2020= 15719
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades|publisher=[[US Census Bureau]]|access-date=}}</ref><br />1850–2010<ref>{{cite web|url=http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010|publisher=Texas Almanac|access-date=May 3, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Leon County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''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.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Leon County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=0500000US48289&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Leon County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48289&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Leon County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48289&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|12,366
|13,078
|style='background: #ffffe6; |11,659
|80.64%
|77.84%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |74.17%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|1,583
|1,181
|style='background: #ffffe6; |921
|10.32%
|7.03%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5.86%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|45
|57
|style='background: #ffffe6; |54
|0.29%
|0.34%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.34%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|23
|75
|style='background: #ffffe6; |111
|0.15%
|0.45%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.71%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|1
|2
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6
|0.01%
|0.01%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.04%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other Race]] alone (NH)
|12
|1
|style='background: #ffffe6; |47
|0.08%
|0.01%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.30%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|92
|147
|style='background: #ffffe6; |475
|0.60%
|0.87%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.02%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|1,213
|2,260
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,446
|7.91%
|13.45%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |15.56%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''15,335'''
|'''16,801'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''15,719'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, 15,335 people, 6,189 households, and 4,511 families were residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|14|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people|people|abbr=on}}. The 8,299 housing units averaged {{convert|8|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The [[Race (United States Census)|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 ==

===Cities===
* [[Buffalo, Texas|Buffalo]]
* [[Centerville, Texas|Centerville]] (county seat)
* [[Jewett, Texas|Jewett]]
* [[Leona, Texas|Leona]]
* [[Marquez, Texas|Marquez]]

===Towns===
* [[Normangee, Texas|Normangee]] (small part in [[Madison County, Texas|Madison County]])
* [[Oakwood, Texas|Oakwood]] (small part in [[Freestone County, Texas|Freestone County]])

===Census-designated place===
* [[Hilltop Lakes, Texas|Hilltop Lakes]]

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Concord, Leon County, Texas|Concord]]
* [[Corinth, Leon County, Texas|Corinth]]
* [[Flynn, Texas|Flynn]]
* [[Hopewell, Leon County, Texas|Hopewell]]
* [[Wealthy, Texas|Wealthy]]

===Ghost town===
* [[Egypt, Leon County, Texas|Egypt]]

==Politics==
Leon County is so heavily [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] that in 2014 none of the statewide GOP nominees fell below 87 percent of the votes cast.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://team1.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/nov04_175_county144.htm?x=0&y=492&id=606|title=2014 General Election, Leon County|publisher=[[Texas Secretary of State]]|access-date=November 21, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129110405/https://team1.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/nov04_175_county144.htm?x=0&y=492&id=606|archive-date=November 29, 2014}}</ref>

{{PresHead|place=Leon County, Texas|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=July 26, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|7,982|1,033|66|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|7,523|1,072|90|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|6,391|909|139|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|5,814|1,062|84|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|5,566|1,418|57|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|5,023|1,754|22|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|4,362|1,893|71|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|2,839|2,217|510|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|2,212|2,042|1,254|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|2,778|2,316|21|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,207|1,821|10|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|1,821|2,190|42|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,161|2,085|15|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,699|863|6|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|659|1,536|880|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|642|2,373|7|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|868|1,803|13|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|1,079|1,260|7|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|1,266|1,842|6|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|184|1,231|275|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|140|1,569|189|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|252|2,349|0|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|97|1,748|1|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|108|1,958|10|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|543|862|2|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|311|2,004|79|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|220|1,124|735|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|335|979|162|Texas}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|191|856|324|Texas}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Texas}}
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Leon County, Texas]]
* [[List of Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks (Hunt-Martin)#Leon County|Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Leon County]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.co.leon.tx.us/ Leon County government's website]
* [https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcl07 in ''Handbook of Texas Online''] at the [[University of Texas at Austin|University of Texas]]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Leon County, Texas
|North     = [[Freestone County, Texas|Freestone County]]
|Northeast = [[Anderson County, Texas|Anderson County]]
|East      = [[Houston County, Texas|Houston County]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Madison County, Texas|Madison County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Robertson County, Texas|Robertson County]]
|Northwest = [[Limestone County, Texas|Limestone County]]
}}
{{Leon County, Texas}}
{{Texas counties}}
{{Texas}}
{{authority control}}
{{coord|31.30|-96.00|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TX_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Leon County, Texas| ]]
[[Category:1846 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1846]]