Karnes City, Texas
Karnes City is a city in Karnes County, on the South Texas brush country about 51 miles southeast of San Antonio. The surrounding terrain is flat to gently rolling rangeland and farmland. The town sits in the heart of the Eagle Ford Shale, and oil and gas development in the surrounding county has been a major force in the local economy, layered over its older agricultural roots.
Place essentials
Official Census snapshot- Census place type
- City
- July 2025 population
- 3,540
- Change from 2020 base
- -1.5%
- Land area
- 2.3 sq. mi.
- County footprint
- Karnes County
Place type, county footprint, and land area use the Census Bureau's January 1, 2025 geography. Population uses Vintage 2025 estimates through July 1, 2025; change compares that estimate with the April 1, 2020 estimates base. Geography file | Population file
Property here runs through the appraisal district and tax office for Karnes County. The homestead exemption, appraisal cap, protests, and any MUD, PID, or special districts all sit at the parcel level.
Official routes
Use the office for the parcel address; a mailing city is not always the governing city.
County context
What to know around Karnes City
County lines carry much of the property, land, water, and outdoors context around Karnes City.
History
Karnes County Is Home to Panna Maria, Texas's First Polish Settlement
The small community of Panna Maria, founded in 1854, is documented as the first Polish colony in the United States.
Homestead Exemption
How to File a Homestead Exemption in Karnes County
Filing a homestead exemption can lower your property tax bill if the home is your main residence.
History
Helena Was Once the County Seat — Then the Railroad Bypassed It
The original county seat of Karnes County was Helena, a town that declined after the railroad passed it by in 1886.
Nearby
Places near Karnes City
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Next steps for Karnes City
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