Leander, Texas
Encyclopedia
Leander is a city in Williamson
and Travis
counties in the U.S. state
of Texas
. The population was 7,596 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau 2008 estimates the population is now 25,424. The city was established in 1882 on the railroad to Austin
and was named in honor of Leander "Catfish" Brown, a railroad official.
It was near Leander that the Leanderthal Lady
was discovered - a skeleton dating back to the 10,000 to 13,000 years ago, and the site was one of the earliest intact burials found in the United States.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 7.5 square miles (19.3 km²). None of the area is covered with water.
of 2000, there were 7,596 people, 2,522 households, and 2,042 families residing in the city. However, by 2003, that number had nearly doubled to 13,846. In 2000, The population density
was 1,016.2 people per square mile (392.6/km²). There were 2,612 housing units at an average density of 349.4 per square mile (135.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.22% White, 2.91% African American, 0.92% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 6.94% from other races
, and 2.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.94% of the population.
51.7% of households have children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.5% were married couples
living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.0% were non-families. 14.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.33.
In the city the population was spread out with 33.5% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 38.6% from 25 to 44, 15.7% from 45 to 64, and 4.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 102.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $53,504, and the median income for a family was $55,051. Males had a median income of $36,021 versus $27,413 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $20,263. About 2.5% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.
. The northern terminus for the Capital MetroRail
Red Line is located at Leander Station and Park & Ride
, located on U.S. Highway 183 north of Ranch to Market Road 2243
. Leander Station also has access to several express bus lines, and includes a park and ride facility with 600 parking spaces.
. Schools in the district include Leander High School
, Vista Ridge High School
, Cedar Park High School
, Charles Rouse High School
, Vandegrift High School
, Wiley Middle School (Bernice Knox Wiley Middle School), Leander Middle School, Henry Middle School, Running Brushy Middle School, Cedar Park Middle School, Canyon Ridge Middle school, Pleasant Hill Elementary School, Rutledge Elementary School, Whitestone Elementary School, Jim Plain Elementary School, and Block House Creek Elementary School.
that swept through two central neighborhoods, together burning 330 acres
and destroying 26 homes. See 2011 Texas wildfires
.
Williamson County, Texas
Williamson County is a county located on both the Edwards Plateau to the west, consisting of rocky terrain and hills, and Blackland Prairies in the east consising of rich, fertile farming land, The two areas are roughly bisected by Interstate 35...
and Travis
Travis County, Texas
As of 2009, the U.S. census estimates there were 1,026,158 people, 320,766 households, and 183,798 families residing in the county. The population density was 821 people per square mile . There were 335,881 housing units at an average density of 340 per square mile...
counties in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. The population was 7,596 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau 2008 estimates the population is now 25,424. The city was established in 1882 on the railroad to Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
and was named in honor of Leander "Catfish" Brown, a railroad official.
It was near Leander that the Leanderthal Lady
Leanderthal Lady
Leanderthal Lady, discovered in January of 1983, is the name given to the skeletal remains of a prehistoric woman found at the Wilson-Leonard Brushy Creek Site in the city of Cedar Park, Texas, by the Texas Department of Transportation. The remains were also alternatively labeled "Leanne"...
was discovered - a skeleton dating back to the 10,000 to 13,000 years ago, and the site was one of the earliest intact burials found in the United States.
Geography
Leander is located at 30°33′40"N 97°51′37"W (30.561108, -97.860301), about 22 miles northwest of Austin.According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 7.5 square miles (19.3 km²). None of the area is covered with water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 7,596 people, 2,522 households, and 2,042 families residing in the city. However, by 2003, that number had nearly doubled to 13,846. In 2000, The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,016.2 people per square mile (392.6/km²). There were 2,612 housing units at an average density of 349.4 per square mile (135.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.22% White, 2.91% African American, 0.92% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 6.94% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.94% of the population.
51.7% of households have children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.0% were non-families. 14.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.33.
In the city the population was spread out with 33.5% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 38.6% from 25 to 44, 15.7% from 45 to 64, and 4.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 102.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $53,504, and the median income for a family was $55,051. Males had a median income of $36,021 versus $27,413 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $20,263. About 2.5% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
Leander is a jurisdiction member of the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Capital Metro)Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, or Capital Metro, is a public transportation provider located in Austin, Texas. It operates bus, paratransit services and a commuter rail/light rail system known as Capital MetroRail for Austin and several suburbs in Travis and Williamson counties...
. The northern terminus for the Capital MetroRail
Capital MetroRail
Capital MetroRail is a commuter rail system that serves the Greater Austin, Texas, area and which is owned by the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The Red Line, Capital Metro's first and only rail line, connects Downtown Austin with Austin's northern suburbs. The line operates on 32...
Red Line is located at Leander Station and Park & Ride
Leander (Capital MetroRail station)
Leander is a Capital MetroRail commuter rail station and park and ride in Leander, Texas. The park and ride portion of it was built in 2007 and is located on Highway 183 just north of FM 2243 and is the northern terminus of the Red Line...
, located on U.S. Highway 183 north of Ranch to Market Road 2243
Ranch to Market Road 2243
Ranch to Market Road 2243 is a ranch to market road in Williamson County, Texas.-Route description:RM 2243 begins in Leander, at an intersection with . It travels to the east along South Street, crossing the current 183A Toll Road along its current non-controlled-access northern stub...
. Leander Station also has access to several express bus lines, and includes a park and ride facility with 600 parking spaces.
Education
Leander is the center of the Leander Independent School DistrictLeander Independent School District
Leander Independent School District is a school district based in Leander, Texas and covering a total of in Leander, Cedar Park, Jonestown in Williamson County and Northwest Austin in Travis County...
. Schools in the district include Leander High School
Leander High School
Leander is a secondary school in Leander, Texas and part of the Leander Independent School District. It was established in 1899.The school has a freshmen enrollment of 600 students and is accredited by the Texas Education Agency...
, Vista Ridge High School
Vista Ridge High School
Vista Ridge High School is a high school in Cedar Park, Texas. The school was established in 2003 to serve as the 3rd high school in the Leander Independent School District, graduating its Alpha class June 2007. The school was built due to the rapid growth in the area, and continues to grow with...
, Cedar Park High School
Cedar Park High School
Cedar Park High School is a high school in Cedar Park, Texas; it was established in 1998 to serve as the second high school in the Leander Independent School District. The school was built due to the rapid growth in the area....
, Charles Rouse High School
Charles Rouse High School
Rouse High School was established in 2008 by the Leander Independent School District in Leander, Texas to relieve overcrowding in the quickly growing district. It is named after Mr.Charles Rouse a former principal at Leander High School...
, Vandegrift High School
Vandegrift High School
Vandegrift High School is a High School located in Leander Independent School District in Austin, Texas. Its feeder schools are Canyon Ridge Middle School and Four Points Middle School. The school's first year of operation was at adjacent Four Points Middle School, and then transferred to the...
, Wiley Middle School (Bernice Knox Wiley Middle School), Leander Middle School, Henry Middle School, Running Brushy Middle School, Cedar Park Middle School, Canyon Ridge Middle school, Pleasant Hill Elementary School, Rutledge Elementary School, Whitestone Elementary School, Jim Plain Elementary School, and Block House Creek Elementary School.
2011 Wildfires
On August 15 and September 5, 2011, Leander was the scene of two destructive wildfiresWildfire
A wildfire is any uncontrolled fire in combustible vegetation that occurs in the countryside or a wilderness area. Other names such as brush fire, bushfire, forest fire, desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, squirrel fire, vegetation fire, veldfire, and wilkjjofire may be used to describe the same...
that swept through two central neighborhoods, together burning 330 acres
Acre
The acre is a unit of area in a number of different systems, including the imperial and U.S. customary systems. The most commonly used acres today are the international acre and, in the United States, the survey acre. The most common use of the acre is to measure tracts of land.The acre is related...
and destroying 26 homes. See 2011 Texas wildfires
2011 Texas wildfires
The 2011 Texas wildfires are an ongoing series of destructive wildfires in Texas, United States that have occurred in the 2011 fire season. Statistics on the fires have been recorded since the current fire season began November 15, 2010...
.