Leakey, Texas | |
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 Real County Courthouse in Leakey | |
 Location of Leakey, Texas | |
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| Coordinates:29°43′31″N99°45′41″W / 29.72528°N 99.76139°W /29.72528; -99.76139 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Real |
| Area | |
• Total | 0.56 sq mi (1.45 km2) |
| • Land | 0.56 sq mi (1.45 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,604 ft (489 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 315 |
• Estimate (2019)[2] | 438 |
| • Density | 780.8/sq mi (301.46/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 78873 |
| Area code | 830 |
| FIPS code | 48-42004[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 2411643[4] |
Leakey (/ˈleɪki/LAY-kee[5]) is a city in and thecounty seat ofReal County, Texas, United States.[6] The population was 315 at the2020 census.
The city is named for John H. Leakey (1824–1900), a pioneer from Tennessee.The Alto FrioBaptist Encampment is located to the southeast of the community.
Archaeological excavations in the Frio Canyon region revealed Paleo-American, Archaic, and Neo-American occupations. Later, several Native American tribes, includingLipan Apache,Comanche, andTonkawa inhabited or traversed the area.[7]
Anglo-American settlement of the area began in 1856 when John Leakey, his wife Nancy, and a few others settled near a spring along the banks of theFrio River. Shingles and lumber were produced from the abundantcypress andcedar trees. In its first few years, the community was a lonely outpost that was subject to frequent Indian raids, which continued until 1882. Growth accelerated after theCivil War as new families arrived.[8] In 1883, A.G. Vogel moved a post office from the community of Floral to Leakey. That same year, theTexas State Legislature createdEdwards County and designated Leakey as the county seat less than a year later.[9] 1883 was also the year that the area's first school was established on land donated by the Leakeys.[10] A new school building was completed in 1890.[9] In 1891, the Edwards County seat was moved from Leakey toRocksprings.[9] During the early 1900s, ranching superseded lumber, cotton cultivation, and corn production in importance to the local economy. The raising of Angora goats was a major component of the ranching industry. In 1902, the school in Leakey had a total enrollment of 102 students.[9] The town's population was estimated to be 318 in 1904.
Real County was created from parts of Edwards,Bandera, andKerr Counties in the spring of 1913, with Leakey as the county seat.[11] In 1919, Real County Judge Ed Kelly established theLeakey Independent School District.[9][10] By the mid-1920s, the population had declined to around 120.[12] A larger school building was completed in 1930. Soon after, several nearby schools, including West Frio, Cypress Creek, Rio Frio, Exile, Stanford, Dry Frio, and Harper were consolidated with Leakey schools.[10]
Leakey was formally incorporated on June 11, 1951.[7] The population fluctuated during the latter half of the 20th century. Leakey was home to 450 people in 1960, 393 in 1970, 468 in 1980, and 399 in 1990. By 2000, there were 387 residents living in Leakey, representing a 3.01% decrease in population since the last census was conducted in 1990.
On March 29, 2017, thirteen senior citizens from the First Baptist Church ofNew Braunfels inComal County who had completed a retreat at Alto Frio were killed when Jack D. Young, the 20-year-old driver of a pickup, crashed into the church minivan onU.S. Highway 83 insideUvalde County near the state park. One person survived the crash in critical condition. The accident was one of the deadliest in memory in the Leakey area.[13] Young told a witness, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry" and said that he had been on hiscell phone at the time of the accident. Jody Kuchler, a welder from Leakey who saw the accident, said that the driver of the church vehicle moved over to try to avoid Young's incoming pickup but was blocked by the guard rail.[14]
Leakey is situated at the intersection ofU.S. Highway 83,RM 336,RM 337, andFM 1120 in southeastern Real County, approximately 35 miles north ofUvalde and 90 miles northwest ofSan Antonio.[12]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2), all land.
The community is in proximity to theGarner State Park, located north ofUvalde.[15]
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. Leakey has ahumid subtropical climate,Cfa on climate maps according to theKöppen climate classification system.[16]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 587 | — | |
| 1970 | 393 | −33.0% | |
| 1980 | 468 | 19.1% | |
| 1990 | 399 | −14.7% | |
| 2000 | 387 | −3.0% | |
| 2010 | 425 | 9.8% | |
| 2020 | 445 | 4.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[17] | |||
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 206 | 65.4% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 6 | 1.9% |
| Native American orAlaska Native (NH) | 1 | 0.32% |
| Asian (NH) | 3 | 0.95% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 3 | 0.95% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 96 | 30.48% |
| Total | 315 |
As of the2020 United States census, there were 455 people (55% of whom are males), 163 households, and 184 housing units in the city. 75% of residents are white and 25% Hispanic/Latino.[21]
As of thecensus[22] of 2010, 425 people, 174 households, and 115 families resided in the city. The population density was 708.3 inhabitants per square mile (273.5/km2). The 237 housing units averaged 395/mi2 (148.1/km2). Theracial makeup of the city was 91.5% White, 0.5% African American, 2.1% Native American, 3.8% from other races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 26.4% of the population.
Of the 174 households, 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were not families. About 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city, the population was distributed as 27.2% under the age of 20, 4.7% from 20 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,125, and for a family was $24,531.
As of the 1970s, much of Leakey's income derived from deer hunters traveling there in the fall and from tourists in the summer.[15]
Public education in the city of Leakey is provided by theLeakey Independent School District.
Children also have the option of attending Ed Brune Charter School.
Municipalities and communities ofReal County, Texas,United States | ||
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| Unincorporated community | ||
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