Leander

Leander is a city located in Williamson County, Texas, United States. The population was 26,521 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Greater Austin metropolitan area.


The city occupies a total area of 27.9 square miles (72 km2), of which 27.8 square miles (72 km2) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.26 km2) is water.


Leander is located at 30°33′48″N 97°49′56″W (30.563107, -97.832273). The city lies in Central Texas, northwest of Austin and northwest of Georgetown along the Santa Fe Railway line which passes through Williamson County just east of the city limits.


According to the United States Census Bureau, Leander has a total area of 27.9 square miles (72 km2), of which 27.8 square miles (72 km2) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.26 km2) (0.39%) is water.


Leander is within the Austin metropolitan area and Williamson County, which was the 14th-fastest-growing county in the US from 2000 to 2010 according to the US Census Bureau. The city had a population of 26,521 at the 2010 census, representing a growth of 74% from the 19,024 counted in 2000.


As of 2019 the estimated population was 43,515. The median home value in Leander was $287,000 in 2019, and the median household income was $88,788. A great place to visit.


The city is served by the Leander Independent School District and higher education is provided at Austin Community College Cypress Creek Campus. Recreation opportunities are available at Benbrook Ranch Metropolitan Park, Devine Lake Park, and several other smaller parks throughout the city.


Leander's history dates back to 1882 when the town was founded along the International-Great Northern Railroad. The city was named after Leander "Catfish" Brown, one of the railroad's construction engineers. It continued to grow rapidly throughout the late 20th century and into the 21st century as a result of the suburban boom taking place in Greater Austin.


The city's rapid growth has led to challenges with regard to traffic and infrastructure. In 2019, the city completed construction on a $450 million expansion of Highway 183, which included the addition of managed lanes and other improvements. The city is also working on plans to build a commuter rail line connecting to Austin.


Leander is governed by a council-manager form of government. The city council consists of six members elected from single-member districts. The mayor is elected at-large.


 The city manager is the chief executive and administrative officer of the city.


Leander was founded in 1882 by the International-Great Northern Railroad. It was named after Leander "Catfish" Brown, one of the railroad's construction engineers. The original town site was on the east side of Brushy Creek. In 1884, a post office opened in Leander, and the town began to grow rapidly. A new townsite was laid out on the west side of the creek in 1886, and the town's population began to shift there.


In 1890, fire destroyed most of the businesses in downtown Leander. The town was rebuilt, and its population continued to grow. By 1900, Leander had a population of 400 and a bank, two cotton gins, a blacksmith shop, and several other businesses. In 1914, the Leander Independent School District was formed.


The city's population continued to grow rapidly in the 20th century as a result of the suburban boom taking place in Greater Austin. The city's rapid growth has led to challenges with regard to traffic and infrastructure. In 2019, the city completed construction on a $450 million expansion of Highway 183, which included the addition of managed lanes and other improvements. The city is also working on plans to build a commuter rail line connecting to Austin.  You can discover wht they say "Keep Austin Wierd" here.




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