200px|right|thumb|[[Rural Leon High School is located off U.S. Highway 79.]]
Leon County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 15,719. Its county seat is Centerville.
History
The legislature of the Republic of Texas authorized Leon County in 1846 from part of Robertson County, and named it in honor of Martín de León, the founder of Victoria, Texas. However, local tradition holds that it is named for a yellow wolf of the region commonly called the león (Spanish for lion). The county was organized that same year, with its first county seat at Leona. In 1851, the county seat was moved to Centerville, 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.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which are land and (0.7%) are covered by water.
Major highways
- 20px Interstate 45
- 20px U.S. Highway 79
- 20px State Highway 7
- 20px State Highway 75
- 20px State Highway 164
Additionally, State Highway OSR runs along the south and southwestern county line of Leon County, where it borders with Madison County.
Adjacent counties
- Freestone County (north)
- Anderson County (northeast)
- Houston County (east)
- Madison County (south)
- Robertson County (west)
- Limestone County (northwest)