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.
Property here runs through the Karnes Central Appraisal District and the county tax office — the homestead exemption, the appraisal cap, protests, and any MUD, PID, or special districts all sit at the parcel level. The Karnes County notes below cover the practical details, with the official county directory for the appraisal district and tax office.
Karnes County notes
What to know around Karnes City
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.
Mineral Rights
Karnes County Sits in the Heart of the Eagle Ford Shale
Buy land here and the oil and gas a mile beneath your feet may already belong to someone else — the minerals were often sold off long before the surface.
Water Wells
New Water Wells in Karnes County Need District Approval
Karnes County is part of the Evergreen Underground Water Conservation District, which regulates well drilling and groundwater use.
Hunting
Deer Hunting in Karnes County Has Specific Buck Restrictions
You can take four deer a season in Karnes County, but the antler-restriction rules decide which bucks count.
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.
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
Wilson County
11 local notes · San Antonio / South Central
Goliad County
7 local notes · Gulf Coast / Coastal Bend
Bee County
6 local notes · Gulf Coast / Coastal Bend
DeWitt County
5 local notes · Gulf Coast / Coastal Bend
Atascosa County
11 local notes · San Antonio / South Central
Live Oak County
5 local notes · Gulf Coast / Coastal Bend
Next steps for Karnes City
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Model school and local rates, the homestead exemption, and the appraisal cap.
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Property tax, land, outdoors, vehicles, rules, and history for the county.
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