Karnes County is a county in Texas, United States, on the South Texas Plains between San Antonio and Corpus Christi. It had a population of 14,710 at the 2020 census and covers 754 square miles (1,950 km2), of which 748 square miles (1,940 km2) is land and 6.0 square miles (16 km2) is water, centred near 28°55′N 97°52′W.
Karnes City is the county seat, and its postal code is 78118. The county has four incorporated municipalities (Karnes City, Kenedy, Falls City and Runge) and about a dozen unincorporated communities. It sits in the Central time zone and carries area code 830.
Towns & Villages in Karnes County
Karnes County has 16 named places on record — four incorporated cities and towns and roughly a dozen unincorporated communities and crossroads. The table below lists Type as City for the two largest incorporated places, Town for the smaller incorporated municipality, and Unincorp. for community names with no city government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karnes City | City · seat | 3,111 | 78118 |
| Kenedy | City | 3,473 | 78119 |
| Falls City | City | — | 78113 |
| Runge | Town | — | 78151 |
| Panna Maria | Unincorp. | — | 78144 |
| Cestohowa | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ecleto | Unincorp. | — | 78111 |
| Gillett | Unincorp. | — | 78116 |
| Hobson | Unincorp. | — | 78117 |
| Pawelekville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Choate | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Helena | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Coy City | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Deweesville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| El Oso | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Green | Unincorp. | — | — |
Panna Maria, founded in 1854 by Polish immigrants, is recognized as the oldest continuous Polish settlement in the United States. Texas has no civil-township layer, so places here are grouped by incorporation status rather than township.
ZIP Codes
- 78118 — Karnes City (county seat)
- 78119 — Kenedy
- 78113 — Falls City
- 78151 — Runge
- 78117 — Hobson
- 78116 — Gillett
- 78144 — Panna Maria
- 78111 — Ecleto
Smaller communities such as Cestohowa, Choate, Helena, Coy City, Deweesville, El Oso and Green share the ZIP code of the nearest post-office town rather than having one of their own.
Geography
Karnes County lies on the South Texas Plains, a gently rolling, brush-covered landscape drained by the San Antonio River, which crosses the county’s northern half, and by Escondido and Cibolo creeks. Elevations range from roughly 200 to 500 feet. The county borders Gonzales County to the north, Wilson County to the northeast, DeWitt County to the east, Goliad County to the southeast, Bee County to the south, Live Oak County to the southwest and Atascosa County to the west.
Demographics
Karnes County had a population of 14,710 at the 2020 census, spread across roughly 748 square miles for a density of about 20 people per square mile. Kenedy (3,473) and Karnes City (3,111) are the county’s two largest communities, together holding nearly half its population. Median household income in the county runs well below the Texas median of $75,780, typical of rural South Texas counties reliant on oil-field and agricultural income.
Economy & Local Life
Karnes County’s economy has long rested on ranching, row-crop farming and oil and gas. A 2008 ConocoPhillips discovery well opened the Eagle Ford Shale play, and the county became one of the play’s busiest drilling areas through the 2010s, bringing a housing and traffic boom to Karnes City and Kenedy. Cattle ranching and peanut, corn and grain sorghum farming remain steady year-round employers outside the oil patch.
History
Karnes County was organized on February 4, 1854, and named for Henry Karnes, a soldier of the Texas Revolution. Panna Maria, settled in December 1854 by Polish immigrants from Silesia, holds the distinction of being the oldest continuous Polish settlement in the United States, and its Immaculate Conception Church remains a local landmark. The historic San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway once ran through the county, connecting San Antonio and Corpus Christi and shaping the location of towns such as Kenedy and Runge.
Getting There
U.S. Route 181 and State Highways 72, 80, 123 and 239 cross the county.
- San Antonio — about 55 miles northwest
- Corpus Christi — about 75 miles southeast
- Victoria — about 55 miles east
- Beeville — about 25 miles south
A regional airstrip serves Kenedy without scheduled commercial flights; the nearest commercial airport is San Antonio International Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Karnes County, Texas?
It is in South Texas, roughly midway between San Antonio and Corpus Christi.
What is the population of Karnes County?
14,710 as of the 2020 census.
How big is Karnes County?
754 square miles (1,950 km2), including 6.0 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Karnes County?
Karnes City is the county seat.
How many towns are in Karnes County?
Four incorporated municipalities — Karnes City, Kenedy, Falls City and Runge — plus about a dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Karnes County?
Main ZIP codes include 78118 (Karnes City), 78119 (Kenedy), 78113 (Falls City), 78151 (Runge) and 78144 (Panna Maria).
What is Karnes County known for?
It is known as one of the busiest drilling areas of the Eagle Ford Shale oil boom and for Panna Maria, the oldest continuous Polish settlement in the United States.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.