TexasEscapes.com HOME Welcome to Texas Escapes
A magazine written by Texas
Custom Search
New   |   Texas Towns   |   Ghost Towns   |   Counties   |   Trips   |   Features   |   Columns   |   Architecture   |   Images   |   Archives   |   Site Map

Real County TX
Real County


Texas Towns
A - Z

Uvalde Hotels

LEAKEY, TEXAS

Real County Seat, Texas Hill Country

29°43'31"N 99°45'41"W (29.725243, -99.761463)

Highway 83, FM 337 and FM 336
On the Frio River
35 miles N of Uvalde
64 miles S of Junction
63 miles SW of Kerrville
84 miles SW of Fredericksburg
12 miles W of Vanderpool
90 miles NW of San Antonio
Population: 446 Est. (2018)
425 (2010) 387 (2000) 399 (1990)

Leakey, Texas Area HotelsUvalde Hotels

Leakey, Texas town square street scene
A street on the courthouse square
TE photo

Leakey, Texas Topics:

  • History in a Pecan Shell
  • Leakey Attractions & Nearby Destinations & photo gallery
  • Real County courthouse › next page
  • Leaky Cemetery › next page
  • The Canyon Theatre: Leakey's Last Picture Show › next page
  • The McLaurin Massacre › next page



  • History in a Pecan Shell

    The abundant water of the area drew many Indian tribes and the entire area was one of the last strongholds of Lipan Apaches and Comanches who were not happy about being displaced.

    After the arrival of the first Anglo-settlers the first industry established was the same as Bandera, Kerrville and other riverfront towns - shingle manufacturing.

    Shingle production and lumbering of the abundant Cypress trees was the major economic force until ranching and the raising of Angora goats replaced those activities. Tourism increased as roads improved.



    A timeline of significant events in Leakey

    1856: John and Nancy Leakey with a handfull of others settled near the site at springs that were to be named Leakey Springs.
    1883: The post office from the town of Floral moved to the settlement and opened in the Leakey store
    1884: Leakey became county seat of Edwards County and remained until 1891 when it moved to Rocksprings.
    1904: The population was just over 300 persons
    1913: Real County was organized and Leakey became the county seat. See Real County Courthouse
    1926: The population was only 150 people
    1951: Leakey gets around to incorporating
    1956: Leakey's population reaches its zenith of 762 people.



    1917 Real County courthouse, Leakey Texas
    Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, 2008
    Real County courthouse



    Tombstone in Leakey Cemetery,  Texas
    Leaky Cemetery

    FM 337 as you enter Leakey from the East.

    It contains the graves of the town founders.

    It is perhaps a little ironic that the first interments in the cemetery were the last to be killed by Indians (in Real County).



    McLaurin  massacre site , Leakey Texas
    Photo courtesy Linda Kirkpatrick
    The McLaurin Massacre
    by Linda-Kirkpatrick

    Traveling Tent Show crossing river , old photo  1936
    Fording a low-water crossing in 1936
    Vintage photo courtesy Lloyd & Jackie Shultz

    Canyon Theatre Leakey Texas
    Photo courtesy Linda Kirkpatrick
    The Canyon Theatre:
    Leakey's Last Picture Show



    More Leakey Attractions & Nearby Destinations:

  • Real County Courthouse

  • Leaky Cemetery

  • Rio Frio, & Rio Frio Landmark Oak
    A few miles south on FM 1120

  • Lost Maples State Natural Area

  • Garner State Park

  • Vanderpool, Texas


    Frio Canyon Chamber of Commerce
    P.O. Box 743 Leakey, TX 78873
    830-232-5222.


    Leakey, Texas Area Hotels:
    Uvalde Hotels | Kerrville Hotels | Junction Hotels



  • Leakey Texas Chronicles
  • The McLaurin Massacre

  • The Canyon Theatre: Leakey's Last Picture Show

  • Featured Column

    "Somewhere in the West"
    by Linda Kirkpatrick, Hometown Cowboy-Poet



    Leakey Texas Forum

  • Leakey founders
    I am one of many Leakeys in the UK, and stumbled upon your history of Leakey in Real County, Texas. I was interested to read that the founders, John and Nancy Leakey are interred in the Leakey cemetery and were the last to be killed by Red Indians in Real County. I wondered if you know anything about the origins of the founders. Do you know where they came from and can you direct me to any websites to help? - Chris Leakey, June 03, 2004



  • Take a road trip

    Leakey, Texas Nearby Towns:
    Vanderpool | Uvalde | Junction | Kerrville |
    Fredericksburg | San Antonio
    See Real County | Texas Hill Country

    Book Hotel Here:
    Uvalde Hotels | More Hotels

    Texas Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact us.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     


    Texas Towns A - Z Texas Regions:
    Gulf Texas Gulf Coast East East Texas North Central Texas North Central Woutn Central Texas South Panhandle Texas Panhandle
    South South Texas Hill Texas Hill Country West West Texas Ghost Texas Ghost Towns counties Texas Counties

    Texas Escapes Online Magazine »   Archive Issues » Home »
    TEXAS TOWNS & COUNTIES TEXAS LANDMARKS & IMAGES TEXAS HISTORY & CULTURE TEXAS OUTDOORS MORE
    Texas Counties
    Texas Towns A-Z
    Texas Ghost Towns

    TEXAS REGIONS:
    Central Texas North
    Central Texas South
    Texas Gulf Coast
    Texas Panhandle
    Texas Hill Country
    East Texas
    South Texas
    West Texas

    Courthouses
    Jails
    Churches
    Schoolhouses
    Bridges
    Theaters
    Depots
    Rooms with a Past
    Monuments
    Statues

    Gas Stations
    Post Offices
    Museums
    Water Towers
    Grain Elevators
    Lodges
    Stores
    Banks

    Vintage Photos
    Historic Trees
    Cemeteries
    Old Neon
    Ghost Signs
    Signs
    Murals
    Gargoyles
    Pitted Dates
    Cornerstones
    Then & Now

    Columns: History/Opinion
    Texas History
    Small Town Sagas
    Black History
    WWII
    Texas Centennial
    Ghosts
    People
    Animals
    Food
    Music
    Art

    Books
    Texas Railroads

    Texas Trips
    Texas Drives
    Texas State Parks
    Texas Rivers
    Texas Lakes
    Texas Forts
    Texas Trails
    Texas Maps
    USA
    MEXICO
    HOTELS

    Site Map
    About Us
    Privacy Statement
    Disclaimer
    Contributors
    Staff
    Contact Us

     
    Website Content Copyright Texas Escapes LLC. All Rights Reserved