Karnes County

Karnes County, Texas
Karnes County is southeast of San Antonio in the Rio Grande plain region. It is bounded on the north by Wilson County, on the east by Gonzales and DeWitt counties, on the south by Goliad and Bee counties, and on the west by Atascosa and Live Oak counties. The county seat is Karnes City, which is fifty-two miles southeast of San Antonio. Other important communities include Kenedy, Runge, Panna Maria, Helena, Czestochowa, Pawelekville, Falls City, Hobson, Ecleto, Gillett, Coy City, and Lenz. Several major highways serve the county, including U.S. Highway 181, and State highways 72, 80, and 123. Karnes County covers 758 square miles of the Rio Grande plain region. The rolling to hilly land has an elevation range of 180 to 400 feet. The northwestern half of the county has nearly level to undulating terrain with deep soils composed of light-colored loamy surfaces and clayey subsoils. The remainder of the county has light to dark, loamy surfaces over reddish, clayey subsoils with limestone within forty inches of the surface, and gray to black, cracking, clayey soils with a high shrink-swell potential. Vegetation includes grasslands, mesquite, post oak, live oak, pecan, and some brush and cacti. Between 71 and 80 percent of the land in the county is considered prime farmland. The central and southern portions of the county are drained by the San Antonio River, the northern portion by Cibolo and Ecleto creeks. The climate is subtropical humid with warm summers. Temperatures in January range from an average low of 41° F to an average high of 65° and in July range from 74° to 96°. The growing season averages 280 days per year, with the last freeze in late February and the first freeze in early December. Diversified farming of grain sorghum, corn, hay, and vegetables is a major industry. Livestock raising includes beef cattle, dairy cattle, and poultry. Minerals include oil, gas, and uranium.
Adapted from the official Handbook of Texas, a state encyclopedia developed by the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). It is an authoritative source of trusted historical records.
Christopher Long | © Texas State Historical Association
Karnes County at a Glance
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County Map of Texas
Karnes County
- Karnes County
Currently Exists
Yes
Place type
Karnes County is classified as a County
Altitude Range
180 ft – 580 ft
Places of Karnes County
Noteworthy | Place | Type |
---|---|---|
Addingtonville | Town | |
Alamita | Town | |
Appleville | Town | |
Bainville | Town | |
Brackenridge | Town | |
Burnell | Town | |
Carvajal Crossing | Town | |
Castine | Town | |
Cestohowa | Town | |
Choate | Town | |
Cleto | Town | |
Coats City | Town | |
Couch | Town | |
Coy City | Town | |
Daileyville | Town | |
Deweesville | Town | |
Ecleto | Town | |
Ecleto | Town | |
El Oso | Town | |
Elm | Town | |
Falls City | Town | |
Flaccus | Town | |
Gillett | Town | |
Green | Town | |
Harmony | Town | |
Helena | Town | |
Hobson | Town | |
Home Place | Town | |
Home Valley | Town | |
Hortonville | Town | |
Karnes City | Town | |
Kenedy | Town | |
Kenedy | Town | |
Lenz | Town | |
Logco | Town | |
Marcelena | Town | |
Mayo | Town | |
Maysville | Town | |
Mineral Spring | Town | |
Mound Creek | Town | |
New Bremen | Town | |
Nicaragua | Town | |
Nichols | Town | |
Oklahoma | Town | |
Overby | Town | |
Panna Maria | Town | |
Pawelekville | Town | |
Pullin | Town | |
Radford | Town | |
Riddleville | Town | |
Roark | Town | |
Rowena | Town | |
Ruby | Town | |
Runge | Town | |
Seale's Chapel | Town | |
Six Shooter Junction | Town | |
Skiles | Town | |
St. Joe | Town | |
Sulphur Spring | Town | |
Walters | Town | |
Weedy | Town | |
Wintergreen | Town | |
Zunkerville | Town |
Photos of Karnes County and surrounding areas

Karnes County, Texas
The Karnes County Courthouse in Karnes City, the county seat. Photograph by Larry D. Moore.

Karnes County, Texas
Map of Karnes County, Texas. Map Credit: Robert Plocheck.
Karnes City, Texas
Welcome Sign in Karnes City, the seat of Karnes County, Texas. Photograph by Billy Hathorn. Karnes City

Kennedy, Texas
Downtown view of Kenedy, a town located in south central Karnes County, Texas. Photograph by Renelibrary. Kenedy

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Karnes County by the Numbers
Population & Civilian Labor Counts
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Population Counts
Karnes County
Pop. | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
15,601 | 2019 | United States Census Bureau |
Civilian Labor Counts
Karnes County
People | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
7,115 | 2019 | Texas Workforce Commission |
Per Capita Income
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Per Capita Income (USD) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
$49,593 | 2019 | U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis |
Property Values, Retail Sales, and Wages
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Property Values
Karnes County
USD ($) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
8,291,532,840 | 2019 | State Property Tax Board |
Retail Sales
Karnes County
USD ($) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
178,130,690 | 2019 | State Comptroller of Public Accounts |
Wages
Karnes County
USD ($) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
102,250,996 | 2019 | Texas Workforce Commission |
Unemployment
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Unemployment Percentage | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
7.1 | 2019 | Texas Workforce Commission |
Rainfall
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Rainfall (inches) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
30.1 | 2019 | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
Temperature Ranges
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Min. (January Average, °F) | Max. (July Average, °F) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|---|
41.8 | 95.1 | 2019 | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
Land Area & Total Area
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Land Area
Karnes County
Area (square miles) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
747.6 | 2019 | United States Census Bureau |
Total Area
Karnes County
Area (square miles) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
753.6 | 2019 | United States Census Bureau |