Leon County

Leon County, Texas
Leon County is east of Waco on Interstate 45 in the Claypan area of eastern Central Texas. It is bounded on the north by Limestone and Freestone counties, on the east by Anderson and Houston counties, on the south by Madison County, and on the west by Robertson County. Buffalo, located near the Freestone county line, is the largest community. Centerville, the county seat, is near the geographical center of the county at 31°15 north latitude and 96°00' west longitude. Interstate Highway 45, connecting Dallas to Houston, crosses north to south, and U.S. Highway 79 traverses the county east to west. The Union Pacific tracks parallel Highway 79, entering near Marquez and exiting at Oakwood. The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad crosses from Normangee to Jewett, where the two rail lines intersect. Leon County embraces 1,078 square miles of rolling plains. Elevations range from 150 to 500 feet. Most of the county has light-colored soils with loamy or sandy surfaces and mottled, clayey subsoils. In the northwest corner and near the southeastern and southern borders, the soils are light-colored and sandy with mottled, clayey subsoils, and in the east the soils have very dark loamy surfaces and mottled gray, cracking, clayey subsoils. The eastern two-thirds of the county is drained by the Trinity River, which forms the eastern boundary, and the remainder is drained by the Navasota River, the western county line. In addition to the Navasota and Trinity rivers, Leon County is crossed by numerous creeks, including Boggy, Keechi, Clear, Birch, and Upper Keechi. Lake Limestone, shared with neighboring Limestone County, is located in the northwestern corner of Leon County and provides recreational opportunities. Vegetation is typical of the Post Oak Savannah area, with mesquite, oak, elm, and grasses predominating. Other native trees include hickories, sweetgums, and redbuds; pecan trees are also found along streams. Between 1 and 10 percent of the county is considered prime farmland. Natural resources include lignite coal and oil. The climate is subtropical-humid, with mild winters and warm summers. Average temperatures in January range from 37° F to 58° and in July from 72° to 95°. The average annual precipitation is forty inches, and the average annual snowfall is less than one inch. The growing season lasts 270 days a year, with the last freeze in early March and the first freeze in early December.
Adapted from the official Handbook of Texas, a state encyclopedia developed by the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). It is an authoritative source of trusted historical records.
James L. Hailey, Christopher Long | © Texas State Historical Association
Leon County at a Glance
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County Map of Texas
Leon County
- Leon County
Currently Exists
Yes
Place type
Leon County is classified as a County
Altitude Range
150 ft – 630 ft
Places of Leon County
Photos of Leon County and surrounding areas

Leon County, Texas
Map of Leon County, Texas Map Credit: 1920 Texas State Map #10749 Courtesy of the Texas General Land Office, TE Photos via TexasEscapes.

Leon County, Texas
Map of Leon County, Texas. Map Credit: Robert Plocheck.

Centerville, Leon County, Texas
Downtown view of Centerville, the seat of Leon County, Texas. Photograph by Renelibrary. Centerville

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Leon County by the Numbers
Population & Civilian Labor Counts
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Population Counts
Leon County
Pop. | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
17,404 | 2019 | United States Census Bureau |
Civilian Labor Counts
Leon County
People | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
6,064 | 2019 | Texas Workforce Commission |
Per Capita Income
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Per Capita Income (USD) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
$40,388 | 2019 | U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis |
Property Values, Retail Sales, and Wages
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Property Values
Leon County
USD ($) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
3,662,767,360 | 2019 | State Property Tax Board |
Retail Sales
Leon County
USD ($) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
194,097,382 | 2019 | State Comptroller of Public Accounts |
Wages
Leon County
USD ($) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
74,416,233 | 2019 | Texas Workforce Commission |
Unemployment
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Unemployment Percentage | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
8.5 | 2019 | Texas Workforce Commission |
Rainfall
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Rainfall (inches) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
42.3 | 2019 | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
Temperature Ranges
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Min. (January Average, °F) | Max. (July Average, °F) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|---|
34.9 | 93.7 | 2019 | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
Land Area & Total Area
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Land Area
Leon County
Area (square miles) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
1,073.2 | 2019 | United States Census Bureau |
Total Area
Leon County
Area (square miles) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
1,080.6 | 2019 | United States Census Bureau |