[3] Leoti was founded in 1885[4] by a company of men from Garden City, Kansas.

Two years later, in 1887, it was involved in the bloodiest county seat fight in the history of the American West.

say hired gunmen—from Leoti, went to the neighboring, rival town of Coronado and left several people dead and wounded.

[5][6] A small town called Farmer City which was located between Coronado and Leoti, was hoped by some to become the county seat—which would end the fighting.

Leoti later won the right to become the county seat and now the two other towns consist mainly of farmland.

[7] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.31 square miles (3.39 km2), all land.

[9] The 2020 United States census counted 1,475 people, 589 households, and 375 families in Leoti.

30.1% of households consisted of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

27.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

The community is served by Leoti–Wichita County USD 467 public school district.