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Leon County, Texas

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

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]

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.
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.
Coordinates: 31°18′N 96°00′W / 31.3°N 96°W / 31.3; -96
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1846
Named forMartín de León
SeatCenterville
Largest cityBuffalo
Area
 • Total1,081 sq mi (2,800 km2)
 • Land1,073 sq mi (2,780 km2)
 • Water7.5 sq mi (19 km2)  0.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total15,719
 • Density15/sq mi (5.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district17th
Websitewww.co.leon.tx.us
Rural Leon High School is located off U.S. Highway 79.

History

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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

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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

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

Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18501,946—
18606,781248.5%
18706,523−3.8%
188012,81796.5%
189013,8418.0%
190018,07230.6%
191016,583−8.2%
192018,28610.3%
193019,8988.8%
194017,733−10.9%
195012,024−32.2%
19609,951−17.2%
19708,738−12.2%
19809,5949.8%
199012,66532.0%
200015,33521.1%
201016,8019.6%
202015,719−6.4%
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

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Cities

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Towns

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Census-designated place

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Unincorporated communities

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Ghost town

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Politics

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Leon County is so heavily Republican that in 2014 none of the statewide GOP nominees fell below 87 percent of the votes cast.[12]

United States presidential election results for Leon County, Texas[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
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%

See also

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References

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  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. ^ https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1677/images/32241_1220701439_2090-00286 (Paywalled) [user-generated source]
  12. ^ "2014 General Election, Leon County". Texas Secretary of State. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  13. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
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31°18′N 96°00′W / 31.30°N 96.00°W / 31.30; -96.00

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