Geography of Leon County
Leon County sits at roughly 31.30° N and 96.00° W in the East Texas region of Texas, spanning 1,072 square miles of terrain that includes the landscape characteristic of the area — from open ranchland and farmland to small-town main streets. The county's centroid is near Centerville, and the county shares boundaries with 6 neighboring counties.
Population & demographics
With approximately 16,894 residents across 1,072 square miles, Leon County has a population density of about 15.8 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Centerville
Centerville serves as the seat of government for Leon County. The county courthouse, commissioners court, district clerk, and primary public records are located here. As with all 254 Texas counties, the county seat is the anchor of civic life and the principal address for elections, permits, and court filings.
History & name origin
Leon County was established in 1846 and was named for Disputed: Either Mexican empresario Martín De León, who founded Victoria, Texas; or the león, a local variety of yellow wolf. It was carved from territory previously part of Robertson County.
Leon County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Leon County geography, population, county seat, neighboring counties, and how to use the maps on this page. Every answer is generated from the official U.S. Census data backing this site.
Where is Leon County, Texas located?+
Leon County is located in the East Texas region of Texas at approximately 31.297° N, 95.996° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48289. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Leon County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Leon County in square miles?+
Leon County covers approximately 1,072 square miles of land in the East Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 53rd out of 254 Texas counties. The full bounding box of the county is rendered to scale on the interactive map and matches the U.S. Census TIGER 2023 polygon.
What is the population of Leon County, Texas?+
Leon County has a population of approximately 16,894 residents. With 1,072 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 15.8 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Leon County the 136th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Leon County?+
Centerville is the county seat of Leon County, Texas, which was organized in 1846 and named for Disputed: Either Mexican empresario Martín De León, who founded Victoria, Texas; or the león, a local variety of yellow wolf. Leon County was originally carved out of Robertson County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Leon County are located in Centerville.
Which Texas counties border Leon County?+
Leon County shares borders with Houston, Madison, Anderson, Freestone, Limestone, and Robertson counties. These 6 neighboring counties are highlighted on the schematic boundary map and linked at the bottom of this page so you can quickly compare population, area, and county seats across the East Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Leon County?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Leon County is available from the "Download PDF" button at the top of this page. The printable layout uses authentic U.S. Census TIGER boundary geometry for Leon County, includes a Texas locator inset, and is sized for standard 8.5" × 11" Letter paper. For interactive use, the live Leaflet map on this page supports OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, Esri topographic, and Carto light basemaps with zoom, scale bar, and fullscreen.
What is the FIPS code for Leon County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Leon County is 48289, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 289. This is the same FIPS code used by the U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line files, the American Community Survey, and most federal datasets that key on county.