Geography of Karnes County
Karnes County sits at roughly 28.91° N and 97.86° W in the Central Texas region of Texas, spanning 750 square miles of terrain that includes the landscape characteristic of the area — from open ranchland and farmland to small-town main streets. The county's centroid is near Karnes City, and the county shares boundaries with 7 neighboring counties.
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
Karnes City serves as the seat of government for Karnes County. The county courthouse, commissioners court, district clerk, and primary public records are located here. As with all 254 Texas counties, the county seat is the anchor of civic life and the principal address for elections, permits, and court filings.
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. Every answer is generated from the official U.S. Census data backing this site.
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?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Karnes County is available from the "Download PDF" button at the top of this page. The printable layout uses authentic U.S. Census TIGER boundary geometry for Karnes County, includes a Texas locator inset, and is sized for standard 8.5" × 11" Letter paper. For interactive use, the live Leaflet map on this page supports OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, Esri topographic, and Carto light basemaps with zoom, scale bar, and fullscreen.
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.