De Leon is a city in Comanche County, Texas, in the central part of the state. Its population is about 2,500, spread across roughly 2.2 square miles, giving it the scale and feel of a close-knit agricultural town. De Leon grew as a railroad and farming community, and its history is closely tied to the shifting fortunes of Central Texas agriculture: when the boll weevil devastated cotton production around 1910, local farmers turned to peanuts and fruit, and the De Leon Peanut Company became a fixture of the local economy. While peanut farming has declined in the decades since, that heritage remains central to the town's identity. De Leon's best-known tradition is the De Leon Peach and Melon Festival, which began in 1914 and is among the oldest festivals in Texas. The celebration features a school reunion, free melon slicing, and the crowning of a festival queen, and it has drawn large crowds over the years — a reflection of the town's long commitment to agricultural promotion and community life. The city functions as a small commercial and civic center for the surrounding countryside, with its own independent school district, local businesses, and churches. Residents describe the community as a suburban-rural mix where most people own their homes, and the pace is unhurried. For those seeking an affordable, rooted small-town life in Central Texas, De Leon offers space, tradition, and a strong sense of community. Its appeal lies in the agricultural landscape, the annual festival, and the quiet stability of a town that has maintained its identity through more than a century of change.