Instalodge Hotel and Suites Karnes City Nearby

Karnes City is a historic town located in Karnes County, Texas, United States. The population was 7,586 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Karnes County. Karnes City is known as the "Queen City of the Hill Country" for its scenic rolling hills and fertile farmland. It was founded in 1876 by J.M. “Pappy” O’Daniel and his wife, Flora, as a small trading post on the Chisholm Trail. The town quickly grew due to its location at the intersection of several important cattle trails and its strategic location on the Southern Pacific Railroad line between Houston and San Antonio.

Karnes City became the first town in Texas to elect a woman to public office Mrs. Ora Mae Robison was elected mayor. In 1886, Karnes City became home to the first school in Karnes County, and in 1889, it became home to Texas State Normal School (now the University of Texas at Austin). Karnes City became home to Texas A&M University–Kingsville when Kingsville College moved from Hempstead County.

Today, Karnes City is still a busy town with a variety of businesses and services catering to its inhabitants. The downtown area is anchored by several historic buildings, including the county courthouse (built in 1895), the old post office (built in 1898), and J.C. Penney's department store (