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 Hotels › Uvalde Hotels

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.

Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, 2008

Real County courthouse

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).

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

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

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