Kendall

Kendall County

Updated on: December 16, 2021
Coordinates
29° 57' 0" N, 98° 42' 0" W (29.95, -98.7)
State
Texas
Region
Central
County Seat:
Boerne
Year Organized:
1862
Total Square Miles:
663.031
Population:
44026 (2017)
Persons/Square Mile:
66
Kendall County Website
http://www.co.kendall.tx.us/

Contiguous Counties

Gillespie (N)
Blanco (NE)
Comal (SE)
Bexar (S)
Bandera (SW)
Kerr (W)

County structure

Government Type:
County
Authority:
Dillon's Rule
Legislative Body:
Commisioners Court
Size of Legislative Body:
5

Demographics

2018 Population:
44026
25 to 64 Years of Age:
50.15%
65 Years of Age and Older:
19.07%

Economy, 2018

Gross Domestic Product (GDP):
$1.8 B
Labor Force:
21,491
Unemployment Rate:
2.90%

County Contact

201 E San Antonio Ave
County Courthouse
Boerne, TX, 78006-2013

http://www.co.kendall.tx.us

The Gulf of Mexico is roughly 170 miles away from Kendall County, Texas, which is in the heart of the state. Gillespie County borders the county to the North, Bexar County to the South, and Kerr County to the West. Blanco and Comal Counties are both on the East, while Bandera County shares the border on the Southwest. 

The county seat, Boerne city, is located at 29°57′ north latitude and 98°43′ west longitude, which is where the county is located. To get to Boerne from San Antonio, take US Highway 87 west to Farm Road 475. After that, make a right turn back to the starting point. The city of San Antonio is around 30 miles away.  

The county is named after George Wilkins Kendall, a Mexican-American war correspondent, and a journalist.  

Kendall County Geography 

The county center is 11 miles north of Boerne and has a longitude of 98°43′ and a longitude of 29°57′. It covers an area of 663 square miles and rises to an elevation of between 1,000 and 2,000 feet.  

The alkaline soil is ideal for these plants; live oak, juniper, mesquite, and tall grasses. Alluvial Guadalupe River runs across the county’s terrain from west to East while the Blanco River flows through  

Kendall County’s northern portion. South of it, a brook known as Cibolo Creek flows. You can find small creatures like deer and javelina in this area, as well as a plethora of trees.  

Small animals, including birds, fish, and reptiles, can be found in abundance here as well. The county has deposits of dolomite and limestone as well. When it’s 35 degrees in the winter, it can get up to 100 degrees in the summer.  

The average annual rainfall is 32 inches during the growing season, and there are typically 231 days of daylight. “Subtropical subhumid” is the official name for the climate. 

Kendall County Offices 

The county is home to more than a dozen departments that help run it smoothly. Among them is the county judge, Judge Darrel L. Lux. His office is located in Bourne along San Antonio Avenue. You can communicate with him by phone at 830-249-9343 or fax at 830-249-9478. 

The county clerk goes by Darlene Herrin. She has the official mandate of issuing marriage licenses. Her office hours are from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Marriage licenses are issued from 8:00 am to 11:30 am and from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm. For direct communication with her office, you can reach her at 830-249-9343 on phone and 830-249-3472 through fax.  

Kendall County Sheriff’s office is occupied by Ai Auxier, the current head of the department. His office is located in Bourne along Staudt Street. You can reach out to him through telephone at (830) 249-9721, a direct line to the office, or his official dispatch at (830) 249-8645.   

The county assessor currently is James Hudson. The Kendall County Tax Assessor’s Office provides its people with a wide range of services. Vehicle registration renewal, the title of new and used vehicles, and transaction execution for over 35 local dealerships are all available.  

There are several duties it undertakes at the DMV. Re-registration of boats and engines is carried out in this location. The offices can register both new and used boats with them. In addition, the office can help you obtain a passport. The main office is in San Antonio, operating from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm from Monday through Friday. 

Kendall County Financial Transparency 

The county management aims at keeping their residents at par with what is happening in the financial department within its borders. It is a measure to ensure minimal corruption within the elected officials and persons with jurisdiction duties.  

Transparency stars is a program that aims to recognize cities and counties that make essential milestones to increase their financial transparency. It bases its research on economic development, public pensions, traditional finances, contracts and procurement, and debt obligations.  

Kendall county accomplished its first star in April 2019 for its traditional finances. These achievements remain in the government within the coming years.  

You might be wondering how transparency is achieved within such a sophisticated financial program within the government. Here are some ways you are guaranteed to be in the know of your county’s financial proceedings:

  1. Budget

Meetings of the Commissioners Court are identified as “Budget Workshops” and are open to the public. During June, July, and August, several budget workshop sessions are held, where requests are submitted to the court by each elected or appointed official and department head. The County Auditor prepares the proposed budget at the end of the budget workshop.  

Citizens are urged to participate in any budget-making process by attending the workshops, going through the budget, and giving their feedback. 

  1. Debt obligation

The Kendall County government gives information on the debts and loans it intends to have and the reasons for taking them. The information needs to be detailed, incorporating the time taken, the funded project, the time of completion, and when it intends to refund the debts and loans. With that, the residents have a clear view of the timeline the debt taken and how it will be in use, and how much of a tax increase it may force them to have.  

  1. Tax Rate

The government openly discloses the tax rate within a given financial year for a clear overview by the residents. 

  1. Check register

A record of all the expenditures and income held within a financial year is displayed within every budget workshop. This act gives the general public confidence in knowing what their taxes have been used to do.  

  1. Annual Financial Reports

Provided by the county auditor, the reports give an in-depth analysis of finances done within the financial year. The auditor is responsible for compiling income and expenditure from each government department and presenting it to the public.  

Places to Visit 

Kendall County lies in the Texas hill county, which is overly famous for its tranquility and vast lands filled with eye-catching vegetation and topography. During a weekend getaway, here are a few places you might want to visit. 

  • Joshua State Park- It’s a serene environment with activities such as wildlife observation blinds, open-air pavilions, playgrounds, stretches for biking, hiking and walks, and the like.
  • Kreutzberg Canyon Natural Area– Is home to scenic acres along the Guadalupe River, several miles of hiking areas for fun or exercising, wildlife blinds, and historical education.
  • James Kiehl River Bend Park – Contains a monument dedicated to James and other Kendall county servicemen and women, about 1.3 miles of hiking tracks. It also has a birding experience.