Karnes County, Texas

County in Texas, United States

County in Texas

Karnes County

County

The Karnes County Courthouse in Karnes City

Location within the U.S. state of Texas

Texas's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 28°55′N 97°52′W﻿ / ﻿28.91°N 97.86°W﻿ / 28.91; -97.86
Country|  United States
State|  Texas
Founded| February 4, 1854
Named after| Henry Karnes
Seat| Karnes City
Largest city| Kenedy
Area

• Total

| 754 sq mi (1,950 km2)
• Land| 748 sq mi (1,940 km2)
• Water| 6.0 sq mi (16 km2)  0.8%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 14,710
• Density| 20/sq mi (7.5/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 15th
Website| www.co.karnes.tx.us

Karnes County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,710.[1] Its county seat is Karnes City.[2] The county is named for Henry Karnes, a soldier in the Texas Revolution.[3] The former San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway passed through Karnes County in its connection linking San Antonio with Corpus Christi.

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 754 square miles (1,950 km2), of which 748 square miles (1,940 km2) is land and 6.0 square miles (16 km2) (0.8%) is water.[4]

### Major highways

[edit]

* U.S. Highway 181
* State Highway 72
* State Highway 80
* State Highway 123
* State Highway 239

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Gonzales County (northeast)
* DeWitt County (east)
* Goliad County (southeast)
* Bee County (south)
* Live Oak County (southwest)
* Atascosa County (west)
* Wilson County (northwest)

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1860| 2,171| | —
1870| 1,705| | −21.5%
1880| 3,270| | 91.8%
1890| 3,637| | 11.2%
1900| 8,681| | 138.7%
1910| 14,942| | 72.1%
1920| 19,049| | 27.5%
1930| 23,316| | 22.4%
1940| 19,248| | −17.4%
1950| 17,139| | −11.0%
1960| 14,995| | −12.5%
1970| 13,462| | −10.2%
1980| 13,593| | 1.0%
1990| 12,455| | −8.4%
2000| 15,446| | 24.0%
2010| 14,824| | −4.0%
2020| 14,710| | −0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1850–2010[6] 2010–2014[7]

### 2020 census

[edit]

Karnes County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race. Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[8] | Pop 2010[9] | Pop 2020[10] | % 2000  | % 2010  | % 2020

|
|
|
|
|
|

White alone (NH)  | 6,309  | 5,956  | 5,388  | 40.85%  | 40.18%  | 36.63%
Black or African American alone (NH)  | 1,603  | 1,351  | 1,116  | 10.38%  | 9.11%  | 7.59%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)  | 37  | 37  | 26  | 0.24%  | 0.25%  | 0.18%
Asian alone (NH)  | 62  | 25  | 145  | 0.40%  | 0.17%  | 0.99%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)  | 2  | 2  | 1  | 0.01%  | 0.01%  | 0.01%
Other race alone (NH)  | 7  | 18  | 61  | 0.05%  | 0.12%  | 0.41%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)  | 102  | 59  | 239  | 0.66%  | 0.40%  | 1.62%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)  | 7,324  | 7,376  | 7,734  | 47.42%  | 49.76%  | 52.58%
Total | 15,446 | 14,710 | 14,710 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 14,710 people, 4,552 households, and 3,156 families residing in the county.

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 15,446 people, 4,454 households, and 3,246 families residing in the county. The population density was 21 people per square mile (8.1 people/km2). There were 5,479 housing units at an average density of 7 units per square mile (2.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 68.55% White, 10.79% Black or African American, 0.68% Native American, 0.43% Asian American, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 17.23% of other races, and 2.26% of two or more races. 47.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino American of any race.

There were 4,454 households, out of which 34.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.60% were married couples living together, 13.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.10% were non-families. 24.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.80% under the age of 18, 11.50% from 18 to 24, 34.20% from 25 to 44, 18.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 146.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 162.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,526, and the median income for a family was $30,565. Males had a median income of $27,260 versus $19,367 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,603. About 18.50% of families and 21.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.10% of those under age 18 and 20.50% of those age 65 or over.

## Economy

[edit]

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (March 2013)

|

Around 2008 ConocoPhillips drilled a well in Karnes County and struck oil, causing an economic boom.[12]

## Communities

[edit]

### Cities

[edit]

* Falls City
* Karnes City (county seat)
* Kenedy

### Town

[edit]

* Runge

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Cestohowa
* Choate
* Ecleto
* Gillett
* Hobson
* Panna Maria
* Pawelekville

### Ghost towns

[edit]

* Helena
* Wintergreen

## Politics

[edit]

United States presidential election results for Karnes County, Texas[13] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 4,001  | 78.84% | 1,051  | 20.71%  | 23  | 0.45%
2020 | 3,968  | 75.54% | 1,234  | 23.49%  | 51  | 0.97%
2016 | 2,965  | 70.63% | 1,145  | 27.27%  | 88  | 2.10%
2012 | 2,825  | 67.50% | 1,325  | 31.66%  | 35  | 0.84%
2008 | 2,736  | 60.44% | 1,760  | 38.88%  | 31  | 0.68%
2004 | 3,114  | 66.64% | 1,543  | 33.02%  | 16  | 0.34%
2000 | 2,638  | 61.23% | 1,617  | 37.53%  | 53  | 1.23%
1996 | 1,869  | 43.12%  | 2,154  | 49.70% | 311  | 7.18%
1992 | 1,990  | 42.34% | 1,897  | 40.36%  | 813  | 17.30%
1988 | 2,383  | 48.31%  | 2,529  | 51.27% | 21  | 0.43%
1984 | 3,068  | 62.84% | 1,802  | 36.91%  | 12  | 0.25%
1980 | 2,719  | 53.59% | 2,284  | 45.01%  | 71  | 1.40%
1976 | 1,675  | 35.50%  | 2,996  | 63.50% | 47  | 1.00%
1972 | 2,639  | 59.60% | 1,780  | 40.20%  | 9  | 0.20%
1968 | 1,342  | 31.22%  | 2,271  | 52.83% | 686  | 15.96%
1964 | 993  | 23.77%  | 3,178  | 76.08% | 6  | 0.14%
1960 | 1,526  | 37.36%  | 2,556  | 62.57% | 3  | 0.07%
1956 | 1,764  | 51.62% | 1,636  | 47.88%  | 17  | 0.50%
1952 | 2,374  | 55.73% | 1,884  | 44.23%  | 2  | 0.05%
1948 | 592  | 19.93%  | 2,198  | 73.98% | 181  | 6.09%
1944 | 692  | 24.23%  | 1,920  | 67.23% | 244  | 8.54%
1940 | 631  | 23.88%  | 2,010  | 76.08% | 1  | 0.04%
1936 | 371  | 15.16%  | 2,067  | 84.47% | 9  | 0.37%
1932 | 186  | 7.02%  | 2,458  | 92.75% | 6  | 0.23%
1928 | 855  | 44.83%  | 1,052  | 55.17% | 0  | 0.00%
1924 | 531  | 21.27%  | 1,727  | 69.19% | 238  | 9.54%
1920 | 484  | 31.27%  | 642  | 41.47% | 422  | 27.26%
1916 | 238  | 20.95%  | 889  | 78.26% | 9  | 0.79%
1912 | 66  | 7.96%  | 710  | 85.65% | 53  | 6.39%
United States Senate election results for Karnes County, Texas1[14] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 3,743  | 74.71% | 1,175  | 23.45%  | 92  | 1.84%

## Education

[edit]

School districts include:[15]

* Falls City Independent School District
* Karnes City Independent School District
* Kenedy Independent School District
* Nixon-Smiley Consolidated Independent School District
* Nordheim Independent School District
* Pawnee Independent School District
* Pettus Independent School District
* Runge Independent School District

Coastal Bend College (formerly Bee County College) is the designated community college for the county.[16]

## See also

[edit]

* Texas portal

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Karnes County, Texas
* Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Karnes County

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "QuickFacts: Karnes County, Texas". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 172.
4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
5. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
6. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
7. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on October 18, 2011. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
8. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Karnes County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
9. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Karnes County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
10. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Karnes County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
12. ^ MacCormack, John. "Shale play turns Karnes County around, but not without trouble." Houston Chronicle. February 23, 2013. Retrieved on March 2, 2013.
13. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
14. ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
15. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Karnes County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 15, 2024. \- Text list
16. ^ Texas Education Code Sec. 130.167. BEE COUNTY COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA. The legislation calls it "Bee County College".

## External links

[edit]

* The Karnes Countywide newspaper
* Henry Karnes' entry in Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas hosted by the Portal to Texas History].
* Karnes County from the Handbook of Texas Online
* Genealogy in Karnes County, Texas

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Karnes County, Texas

| Wilson County |  | Gonzales County

|
|

|  |
Atascosa County |

Karnes County, Texas

| DeWitt County
|  |
Live Oak County | Bee County | Goliad County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Karnes County, Texas, United States

County seat: Karnes City

Cities|

* Falls City
* Karnes City
* Kenedy

Karnes County map

Town|

* Runge

Unincorporated
communities|

* Cestohowa
* Choate
* Ecleto
* Gillett
* Hobson
* Panna Maria
* Pawelekville

Ghost towns|

* Helena
* Wintergreen

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28°55′N 97°52′W﻿ / ﻿28.91°N 97.86°W﻿ / 28.91; -97.86

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