Geography of Karnes County
Karnes County is a rural county of 750 square miles and about 15,018 residents, where farms and ranches fill most of the space between Karnes City and its smaller communities.
It lies in the Central Texas region at about 28.91° N, 97.86° W and is 208th in size among Texas's 254 counties. Karnes County shares boundaries with 7 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are San Antonio (about 52 miles away in a straight line) and Victoria (about 53 miles).
Central Texas stretches across the Hill Country, the Blackland Prairie and the Cross Timbers. It includes some of the fastest-growing suburbs in the nation along the I-35 corridor, alongside quiet ranching counties with limestone creeks and live-oak savanna.
For a broader view of how Karnes County fits within the state, download our free Texas map with counties and cities PDF — a printable, high-resolution reference showing all 254 Texas counties labeled with their county seats.
Population & demographics
With approximately 15,018 residents across 750 square miles, Karnes County has a population density of about 20.0 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Karnes City
If you need an official record from Karnes County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Karnes City is where it is kept. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. For many residents, a trip to Karnes City combines county business with groceries, school events and church.
History & name origin
Karnes County was established in 1854 and was named for Henry Karnes (1812–1840), a soldier in the Texas Revolution. It was carved from territory previously part of Bexar County, DeWitt County, Goliad County, Gonzales County and San Patricio County.
Karnes County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Karnes County geography, population, county seat, neighboring counties, and how to use the maps on this page. Figures are sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau; answers are written and reviewed by the Texas County Map team.
Where is Karnes County, Texas located?+
Karnes County is located in the Central Texas region of Texas at approximately 28.906° N, 97.859° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48255. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Karnes County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Karnes County in square miles?+
Karnes County covers approximately 750 square miles of land in the Central Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 208th out of 254 Texas counties. The full bounding box of the county is rendered to scale on the interactive map and matches the U.S. Census TIGER 2023 polygon.
What is the population of Karnes County, Texas?+
Karnes County has a population of approximately 15,018 residents. With 750 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 20.0 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Karnes County the 139th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Karnes County?+
Karnes City is the county seat of Karnes County, Texas, which was organized in 1854 and named for Henry Karnes (1812–1840), a soldier in the Texas Revolution. Karnes County was originally carved out of Bexar County, DeWitt County, Goliad County, Gonzales County and San Patricio County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Karnes County are located in Karnes City.
Which Texas counties border Karnes County?+
Karnes County shares borders with Bee, Goliad, Live Oak, Atascosa, Wilson, DeWitt, and Gonzales counties. These 7 neighboring counties are highlighted on the schematic boundary map and linked at the bottom of this page so you can quickly compare population, area, and county seats across the Central Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Karnes County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Karnes County map on this page to save a letter-size PDF of the county boundary, neighboring counties and incorporated places, drawn from U.S. Census Bureau 2023 boundary files. The "Official TxDOT road map" button downloads the Texas Department of Transportation county road mapbook for Karnes County. Both files are stored on this site and download directly. Our free Texas map with counties and cities PDF shows all 254 counties on one sheet.
What is the FIPS code for Karnes County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Karnes County is 48255, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 255. This is the same FIPS code used by the U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line files, the American Community Survey, and most federal datasets that key on county.