Geography of Kenedy County
Kenedy County is classic frontier Texas: 1,457 square miles of open land with only about 319 residents, which makes it one of the most thinly settled counties in the state (252nd of 254 by density).
It lies in the Central Texas region at about 26.93° N, 97.73° W and is one of the 25 largest counties in Texas (25th of 254). The county fronts the Gulf of Mexico or its bays, so the coastline, wetlands and storm-surge planning are part of everyday life. Kenedy County shares boundaries with 4 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are McAllen (about 59 miles away in a straight line) and Corpus Christi (about 63 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 Kenedy 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 319 residents across 1,457 square miles, Kenedy County has a population density of about 0.2 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Sarita
If you need an official record from Kenedy County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Sarita is where it is kept. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. In a county this sparsely settled, Sarita may be one of only a few incorporated towns.
History & name origin
Kenedy County was established in 1921 and was named for Mifflin Kenedy, an early rancher and land speculator. It was carved from territory previously part of Hidalgo County and Willacy County (Due to a reorganization of Willacy County).
Kenedy County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Kenedy 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 Kenedy County, Texas located?+
Kenedy County is located in the Central Texas region of Texas at approximately 26.930° N, 97.733° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48261. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Kenedy County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Kenedy County in square miles?+
Kenedy County covers approximately 1,457 square miles of land in the Central Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 25th 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 Kenedy County, Texas?+
Kenedy County has a population of approximately 319 residents. With 1,457 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 0.2 people per square mile, which is sparsely populated for a Texas county. That makes Kenedy County the 252nd most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Kenedy County?+
Sarita is the county seat of Kenedy County, Texas, which was organized in 1921 and named for Mifflin Kenedy, an early rancher and land speculator. Kenedy County was originally carved out of Hidalgo County and Willacy County (Due to a reorganization of Willacy County). County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Kenedy County are located in Sarita.
Which Texas counties border Kenedy County?+
Kenedy County shares borders with Kleberg, Hidalgo, Willacy, and Brooks counties. These 4 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 Kenedy County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Kenedy 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 Kenedy 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 Kenedy County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Kenedy County is 48261, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 261. 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.