The legislature of theRepublic of Texas authorized 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 yellowwolf of the region commonly called theleón (Spanish for 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]
According 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]
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.
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 15,719 and a median age of 48.5 years. 21.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 26.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older.[10]
For every 100 females there were 98.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.9 males.[10]
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[12]
There were 6,486 households in the county, of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 54.6% were married-couple households, 17.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[10]
There were 8,895 housing units, of which 27.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 81.4% were owner-occupied and 18.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 16.7%.[10]
As of thecensus[13] of 2000, 15,335 people, 6,189 households, and 4,511 families were residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 14 people/mi2 (5.4 people/km2). The 8,299 housing units averaged 8 units per square mile (3.1 units/km2). Theracial 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. Theper capita income for 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.
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