Leon Countyis acountyin theU.S. stateofTexas.As of the2020 census,its population was 15,719.[1]Itscounty seatisCenterville.[2]
Leon County | |
---|---|
Coordinates:31°18′N96°00′W/ 31.3°N 96°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Texas |
Founded | 1846 |
Named for | 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 |
History
editThe legislature of theRepublic of Texasauthorized Leon County in 1846 from part ofRobertson County,and named it in honor ofMartín de León,the founder ofVictoria, Texas.However, local tradition holds that it is named for a yellowwolfof the region commonly called theleón(Spanishfor lion). The county was organized that same year, with its first county seat atLeona.In 1851, the county seat was moved toCenterville,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
editAccording to theU.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
editAdditionally,State Highway OSRruns 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
editCensus | 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] |
Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[9] | Pop 2010[7] | Pop 2020[8] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whitealone (NH) | 12,366 | 13,078 | 11,659 | 80.64% | 77.84% | 74.17% |
Black or African Americanalone (NH) | 1,583 | 1,181 | 921 | 10.32% | 7.03% | 5.86% |
Native AmericanorAlaska Nativealone (NH) | 45 | 57 | 54 | 0.29% | 0.34% | 0.34% |
Asianalone (NH) | 23 | 75 | 111 | 0.15% | 0.45% | 0.71% |
Pacific Islanderalone (NH) | 1 | 2 | 6 | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.04% |
Other Racealone (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 thecensus[10]of 2000, 15,335 people, 6,189 households, and 4,511 families were residing in the county. Thepopulation densitywas 14 people/sq mi (5.4 people/km2). The 8,299 housing units averaged 8 units per square mile (3.1 units/km2). Theracial makeupof 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. Theper capita incomefor the county was $17,599. About 12.60% of families and 15.60% of the population were below thepoverty line,including 21.20% of those under age 18 and 14.30% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
editCities
edit- Buffalo
- Centerville(county seat)
- Jewett
- Leona
- Marquez
Towns
edit- Normangee(small part inMadison County)
- Oakwood(small part inFreestone County)
Census-designated place
editUnincorporated communities
editGhost town
editPolitics
editLeon County is so heavilyRepublicanthat in 2014 none of the statewide GOP nominees fell below 87 percent of the votes cast.[12]
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
editReferences
edit- ^"Leon County, Texas".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedFebruary 23,2021.
- ^"Find a County".National Association of Counties.RetrievedJune 7,2011.
- ^Texas Historical Commission.
- ^"2010 Census Gazetteer Files".United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012.RetrievedMay 3,2015.
- ^"Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades".US Census Bureau.
- ^"Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010"(PDF).Texas Almanac.Archived(PDF)from the original on October 9, 2022.RetrievedMay 3,2015.
- ^ab"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.
- ^ab"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.
- ^"P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Leon County, Texas".United States Census Bureau.
- ^"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedMay 14,2011.
- ^https:// ancestry /imageviewer/collections/1677/images/32241_1220701439_2090-00286(Paywalled)[user-generated source]
- ^"2014 General Election, Leon County".Texas Secretary of State.Archived fromthe originalon November 29, 2014.RetrievedNovember 21,2014.
- ^Leip, David."Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".uselectionatlas.org.RetrievedJuly 26,2018.