Leon, New York

The area that would become the town was first settled circa 1819. The town of Leon was founded in 1832 from a part of the town of Conewango. The Leon Grange No. 795 and Leon United Methodist Church are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.{{NRISref|2009a}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/listings/20140124.htm|title=National Register of Historic Places Listings|date=January 24, 2014|work=Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 1/13/14 through 1/17/14|publisher=National Park Service}}

Leon's post office, ZIP Code 14751, opened June 20, 1837. It closed on July 24, 2010.{{cite web | url=http://webpmt.usps.gov/pmt009.cfm | title=This service is currently unavailable | USPS }}

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of {{convert|93.8|km2|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|0.07|km2|disp=flip}}, or 0.07%, is water.{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US3600941982| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212151638/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US3600941982| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Leon town, Cattaraugus County, New York| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=October 28, 2014}} The west town line is the border of Chautauqua County.

Conewango Creek, a tributary of the Allegheny River, crosses the northwest part of the town, and Mud Creek flows through the south part of the town.

U.S. Route 62 is a major north-south highway through the western part of the town. County Route 6 intersects the road in the town center.

Leon is south of the town of Dayton and north of the town of Conewango. To the east is the town of New Albion. The west boundary is shared by the town of Cherry Creek in Chautauqua County.

{{US Census population

|1840= 1326

|1850= 1340

|1860= 1399

|1870= 1204

|1880= 1192

|1890= 1194

|1900= 1003

|1910= 859

|1920= 729

|1930= 720

|1940= 755

|1950= 738

|1960= 808

|1970= 878

|1980= 1055

|1990= 1245

|2000= 1380

|2010= 1365

|2020= 1253

|estyear=2021

|estimate=1248

|estref=

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}

}}

As of the 2010 census,{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}} there were 1,380 people, 378 households, and 289 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|38.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 464 housing units at an average density of {{convert|12.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 99.13% White, 0.07% Native American, 0.14% Asian, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.29% of the population.

There were 378 households, out of which 44.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.4% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.3% were non-families. 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.64 and the average family size was 4.30.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 42.3% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 16.9% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,333, and the median income for a family was $32,946. Males had a median income of $25,625 versus $22,266 for females. The per capita income for the town was $10,189. About 26.1% of families and 35.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 50.2% of those under age 18 and 14.7% of those age 65 or over.

An estimated 76% of the population of Leon are members of the Old Order Amish,{{Cite web|url=http://enchantedmountains.com/facts/most-residents-are-amish-town-leon-1289|title=Most Residents are Amish in the Town of Leon|date=February 23, 2010}} a factor in the town's continued population growth since the middle of the 20th century, a rarity in a county where population has otherwise been in general decline.

• Charles N. Daniels, former architect
• Albert T. Fancher, former New York state senator
• Wilbur F. Sanders, former U.S. senator

• Conewango Creek – A stream flowing through the northern part of the town.
• East Leon – A hamlet in the northeast corner of the town on County Road 5.
• Kendall Corners – A location by the eastern town line on County Road 5.
• Leon (or "Leon Center") – The hamlet of Leon, centrally located in the town on County Road 6 and US Route 62.
• Millmans Corners – A location west of Leon village by the east town line on Route 6.
• Meyers Corners – A location at the north town line on Route 62.
• Mud Creek – A stream flowing westward past Leon is a tributary of Conewango Creek. The first settlement was made along Mud Creek.
• Rays Corners – A hamlet near the east town line on County Road 44.
• Thompsonville – A former community in the southeast part of the town.

{{reflist}}

• [http://leonny.org Town of Leon official website]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20190217001128/http://littlevalleyny.com/ Little Valley Area Chamber of Commerce]
• [http://www.rootsweb.com/%7Enycattar/1879history/leon.htm Early history of Leon, NY]

{{Coord|42|17|35|N|79|00|59|W|type:city_region:US-NY|display=title}}

{{Cattaraugus County, New York}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Towns in Cattaraugus County, New York

Category:Towns in New York (state)