Editing Karnes County, Texas

{{Short description|County in Texas, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Karnes County
 | state                = Texas
 | seal                 = 
 | founded              = February 4, 1854
 | seat wl              = Karnes City
 | largest city wl      = Kenedy
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 754
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 748
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 6.0
 | area percentage      = 0.8%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 14710
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | ex image             = Karnes County Texas Courthouse East Elevation 2018.jpg
 | ex image size        = 250
 | ex image cap         = The Karnes County Courthouse in Karnes City
 | web                  = www.co.karnes.tx.us
 | time zone            = Central
 | district             = 15th
 | named for            = [[Henry Karnes]]
}}

'''Karnes County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Texas]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 14,710.<ref>{{Cite web |title=QuickFacts: Karnes County, Texas |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/karnescountytexas/PST045221 |access-date=March 27, 2022 |website=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Karnes City, Texas|Karnes City]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> The county is named for [[Henry Karnes]], a soldier in the [[Texas Revolution]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n171 172]}}</ref> The former [[San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway]] passed through Karnes County in its connection linking [[San Antonio, Texas|San Antonio]] with [[Corpus Christi, Texas|Corpus Christi]].

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|754|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|748|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|6.0|sqmi}} (0.8%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 2, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

===Major highways===
* [[Image:US 181.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 181|U.S. Highway 181]]
* [[Image:Texas 72.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 72|State Highway 72]]
* [[Image:Texas 80.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 80|State Highway 80]]
* [[Image:Texas 123.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 123|State Highway 123]]
* [[Image:Texas 239.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 239|State Highway 239]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Gonzales County, Texas|Gonzales County]] (northeast)
* [[DeWitt County, Texas|DeWitt County]] (east)
* [[Goliad County, Texas|Goliad County]] (southeast)
* [[Bee County, Texas|Bee County]] (south)
* [[Live Oak County, Texas|Live Oak County]] (southwest)
* [[Atascosa County, Texas|Atascosa County]] (west)
* [[Wilson County, Texas|Wilson County]] (northwest)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 2171
|1870= 1705
|1880= 3270
|1890= 3637
|1900= 8681
|1910= 14942
|1920= 19049
|1930= 23316
|1940= 19248
|1950= 17139
|1960= 14995
|1970= 13462
|1980= 13593
|1990= 12455
|2000= 15446
|2010= 14824
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades|publisher=[[US Census Bureau]]|access-date=}}</ref><br />1850–2010<ref>{{cite web|url=http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010|publisher=Texas Almanac|access-date=May 2, 2015}}</ref> 2010–2014<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/48/48255.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=December 18, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018034638/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/48/48255.html|archive-date=October 18, 2011}}</ref>
|2020=14710}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Karnes County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''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.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Karnes County, Texas |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US48255&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Karnes County, Texas |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US48255&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Karnes County, Texas |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US48255&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|6,309
|5,956
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5,388
|40.85%
|40.18%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |36.63%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|1,603
|1,351
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,116
|10.38%
|9.11%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7.59%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|37
|37
|style='background: #ffffe6; |26
|0.24%
|0.25%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.18%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|62
|25
|style='background: #ffffe6; |145
|0.40%
|0.17%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.99%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|2
|2
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1
|0.01%
|0.01%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.01%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|7
|18
|style='background: #ffffe6; |61
|0.05%
|0.12%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.41%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|102
|59
|style='background: #ffffe6; |239
|0.66%
|0.40%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.62%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|7,324
|7,376
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7,734
|47.42%
|49.76%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |52.58%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''15,446'''
|'''14,710'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''14,710'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''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]]<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 15,446 people, 4,454 households, and 3,246 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|21|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 5,479 housing units at an average density of {{convert|7|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|racial makeup]] of the county was 68.55% [[White American|White]], 10.79% [[African American|Black or African American]], 0.68% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.43% [[Asian American]], 0.06% [[Pacific Islander]], 17.23% of other races, and 2.26% of [[Multiracial American|two or more races]]. 47.42% of the population were [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|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 [[Marriage|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==
{{expand section|date=March 2013}}
Around 2008 [[ConocoPhillips]] drilled a well in Karnes County and struck oil, causing an economic boom.<ref>MacCormack, John. "[http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Shale-play-turns-Karnes-County-around-but-not-4303201.php Shale play turns Karnes County around, but not without trouble]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. February 23, 2013. Retrieved on March 2, 2013.</ref>

==Communities==

===Cities===
* [[Falls City, Texas|Falls City]]
* [[Karnes City, Texas|Karnes City]] (county seat)
* [[Kenedy, Texas|Kenedy]]

===Town===
* [[Runge, Texas|Runge]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col}}
* [[Cestohowa, Texas|Cestohowa]]
* [[Choate, Texas|Choate]]
* [[Ecleto, Texas|Ecleto]]
* [[Gillett, Texas|Gillett]]
* [[Hobson, Texas|Hobson]]
* [[Panna Maria, Texas|Panna Maria]]
* [[Pawelekville]]
{{div col end}}

===Ghost towns===
* [[Helena, Texas|Helena]]
* [[Wintergreen, Texas|Wintergreen]]

==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Karnes County, Texas|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=April 11, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|4,001|1,051|23|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|3,968|1,234|51|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|2,965|1,145|88|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,825|1,325|35|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|2,736|1,760|31|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|3,114|1,543|16|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|2,638|1,617|53|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|1,869|2,154|311|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|1,990|1,897|813|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|2,383|2,529|21|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,068|1,802|12|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|2,719|2,284|71|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,675|2,996|47|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,639|1,780|9|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|1,342|2,271|686|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|993|3,178|6|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|1,526|2,556|3|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,764|1,636|17|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,374|1,884|2|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|592|2,198|181|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|692|1,920|244|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|631|2,010|1|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|371|2,067|9|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|186|2,458|6|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|855|1,052|0|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|531|1,727|238|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|484|642|422|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|238|889|9|Texas}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|66|710|53|Texas}}
{{U.S. SenHead|place=Karnes County, Texas|Seat=1|source=<ref>{{cite news |title=2024 Senate Election (Official Returns) |website=Commonwealth of Texas by county |date=November 5, 2024 |access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/texas-senate-results}}</ref>}}
<!-- U.S. SenRow should be {{U.S. SenRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{U.S. SenRow|2024|Republican|3,743|1,175|92|Texas}}
{{U.S. SenFoot}}

==Education==
School districts include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48255_karnes/DC20SD_C48255.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Karnes County, TX|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=February 15, 2024}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48255_karnes/DC20SD_C48255_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
* [[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.<ref>[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code Sec. 130.167. BEE COUNTY COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.] The legislation calls it "Bee County College".</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Texas}}
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Karnes County, Texas]]
* [[List of Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks (Hunt-Martin)#Karnes County|Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Karnes County]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{notelist}}

==External links==
* [https://archive.today/20130411102058/http://www.mysoutex.com/pages/home_karnes The Karnes Countywide newspaper]
* [http://texashistory.unt.edu/permalink/meta-pth-5827:328 Henry Karnes' entry] in Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas hosted by the Portal to Texas History].
* {{Handbook of Texas|id=hck01|name=Karnes County}}
* [http://www.karnestx.com Genealogy in Karnes County, Texas]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Karnes County, Texas
|North     =
|Northeast = [[Gonzales County, Texas|Gonzales County]]
|East      = [[DeWitt County, Texas|DeWitt County]]
|Southeast = [[Goliad County, Texas|Goliad County]]
|South     = [[Bee County, Texas|Bee County]]
|Southwest = [[Live Oak County, Texas|Live Oak County]]
|West      = [[Atascosa County, Texas|Atascosa County]]
|Northwest = [[Wilson County, Texas|Wilson County]]
}}

{{Karnes County, Texas}}
{{Texas counties}}
{{Texas}}

{{coord|28.91|-97.86|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TX_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Karnes County, Texas| ]]
[[Category:1854 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1854]]