# Karnes County, Texas

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

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 754 square miles (1,950 km$^2$), of which 748 square miles (1,940 km$^2$) is land and 6.0 square miles (16 km$^2$) (0.8%) is water.

### Major highways

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

### Adjacent counties

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

## Demographics
### 2020 census

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 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 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 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/km$^2$). There were 5,479 housing units at an average density of 7 units per square mile (2.7/km$^2$). 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

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

## Communities
### Cities

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

### Town

* Runge

### Unincorporated communities

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

### Ghost towns

* Helena
* Wintergreen

## Politics

United States presidential election results for Karnes County, Texas :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | 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% |

## Education

School districts include:
* 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.