Karnes County is named for Henry Karnes, who was a soldier during the Texas Revolution.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Wilson County and Gonzales County
E – DeWitt County and Goliad County
S – Bee County and Live Oak County
W – Atascosa County and Wilson County
Created: February 4, 1854 
County Seat:
Helena 1854 – 1893
Karnes City 1893 – present
County Courthouse – Karnes City
Location: 101 North Panna Maria Avenue / West Calvert Avenue
Built: 1894 – 1895
Style: Romanesque Revival
Architect: John McCormack
Contractor: John McCormack and J A Austin
Description: The building faces east and is a two story brown colored brick, stucco and sandstone structure. The building is llocated on landscaped grounds in the center of Karnes City. The east front has a projecting center section with entrance framed with a red sandstone arch and rising to a peaked roof. Red colored sandstone trim runs above and below the windows. On the south side is a semi-circular tower with flat roof. In the interior, the large courtroom is located on the east side of the second story and extends up to the third story with balcony. The building houses the State District Court, Constitutional County Court and County Justice Court. The building was remodeled in 1924. The architect was Henry T Phelps and the contractor was San Antonio Company. An addition was added on the west side. The building is presently being restored during 2016 to 2017. The architect is Fisher Heck Architects of San Antonio and the contractor is M J Boyle General Contractors, Inc. of San Antonio.
Note: The architect and contractor of the present courthouse John McCormack, died before construction was completed.
Note: The 4th Administrative Judicial Region has a main office at San Antonio in Bexar County.
County Administration – Karnes City
Location: 200 West Calvert Avenue / North Davidson Street
Built: 2007 – 2011
Style: Modern
Architect: Syncro Architect Studio of San Antonio
Contractor: HMC West and Lehmann Engineering.
Description: The building faces west and is a one story light red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds on the west side of the courthouse in the center of the city. The west front has a central entrance with north and south sections rising higher with curved roofs. The windows are vertical. The building is named as Offices on the Square.
Old County Courthouse – Helena
Location: Highway 61 / County Road 302
Built: 1873
Style: Federal
Architect: John Jacob Riley
Contractor: Thomas Ruckman and W McNamara
Description: The building faces east and is a two story white colored stone structure. The building is located on spacious grounds in the center of Helena and was the second courthouse. The east front has a two story porch with stairs. The roof is hipped.
History: The county was created in 1854 and Helena was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was a log structure built in 1854. The building was destroyed by fire in 1865. The second courthouse was built in 1873. The county seat was moved to Karnes City in 1893. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1894 to 1895.
County Courthouse – Karnes City
Courthouse after 2018 restoration
County Administration Building – Karnes City
Old County Courthouse – Helena
Photos taken 2009, 2017 and 2019