LEO, TEXAS

Cooke County, Central Texas North

20 Miles SW of Gainesville the county seat
Near the Wise County Line
Population: 20 (2000)

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Storm Cellar
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2015

History in a Pecan Shell

A Doctor Stamper is said to have named the community - after it's reputation for being a ferocious place. (Leo being a reference to Lion). The community was granted a post office in 1894 although the place had been settled before the Civil War.

But sadly, no roads crossed near Leo, making growth unlikely, bordering on impossible. Whatever transpired in Leo was kept to the Leonites and as late as 1990 the population was just 80 residents. If you thought having 80 people was a handicap toward prosperity, the 2000 census counted a mere 20 people.

Photographer's Note:
"Kind of out of the way. Nothing there but nearby bypassed bridge." - Barclay Gibson, April 2015

The Bypassed Bridge
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2015
More Texas Bridges

Leo Sign
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2015
More Texas Signs

Postcard cancelled with 1907 Leo, TX postmark
Courtesy The John J. Germann Collection

Postcard with the cancelled postmark
Courtesy The John J. Germann Collection

Cooke County 1940s Map showing Leo (near Wise County line)
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

Cooke County 1907 postal map showing the circle denoting Leo (near Wise & Denton County line)
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

Take a road trip

Leo, Texas Nearby Towns:
Gainesville the county seat

See Cooke County | Wise County | Denton County

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