Kerr County
- Coordinates
- 30 3' 36" N, 99 21' 0" W (30.06, -99.35)
- State
- Texas
- Region
- Central West
- County Seat:
- Kerrville
- Year Organized:
- 1856
- Total Square Miles:
-
1107.276
1,103 square miles (2,860 km2) land
4.0 square miles (10 km2) water - Population:
-
51720 (2017)
Population: 51,504 est. (2016) 49,625 (2010) - Persons/Square Mile:
- 47
- Kerr County Website
- http://www.co.kerr.tx.us/
Contiguous Counties
Kimble (N)Gillespie (NE)
Kendall (E)
Bandera (S)
Real (SW)
Edwards (W)
Kerr County Offices
Kerr County Town List
County structure
- Government Type:
- County
- Authority:
- Dillon's Rule
- Legislative Body:
- Commisioners Court
- Size of Legislative Body:
- 5
Demographics
- 2018 Population:
- 51720
- 25 to 64 Years of Age:
- 45.09%
- 65 Years of Age and Older:
- 27.70%
Economy, 2018
- Gross Domestic Product (GDP):
- $1.7 B
- Labor Force:
- 21,848
- Unemployment Rate:
- 3.20%
Kerr County is located on the Edward Plateau in Texas State, US. It is the 21st congressional district founded on January 26, 1856. The County was named for James Kerr by Joshua D. Brown. James Kerr was a Kentucky native soldier, doctor, surveyor, politician, Senator in Missouri, and a Republic of Texas congressman.
The center of Kerr County lies at 30º04′ north latitude and 99°20′ west longitude. To the North of Kerr County, you will find Kimble County, Gillespie to the Northeast, Bandera to the South, Real to the Southwest, and Kendal to the East. It is served by the US highways 83 and 87, interstate highway 10, and state highways 16, 27, and 39.
Cities and Towns
Kerrville City
The County’s seat is Kerrville City. Joshua D. Brown was the first settler of Kerrville. He donated the original 4-acre that formed Kerrville and named it after his friend James Kerr. According to the 2010 population census, Kerrville had a population of 22,347. It is best known for its beautiful parks, such as Louise Hays Park, Kerrville-Schreiner Park, and Flat Rock Park.
Ingram
Ingram City is located between Hunt and Kerrville on the banks of the Guadalupe River. It is well known for swimming at the Ingram Dam that the Guadalupe River feeds. The city’s population was 1804 as of the 2010 census.
Center Point
Center Point is the only unincorporated City in Kerr County. As of the 2010 census, its population was 4,260.
Other populated towns in Kerr include Hunt and Mountain Home.
Topography
Kerr County covers an area of 2,867km² with heights from zero to 2000 feet above sea level. Check out the topographical map of Kerr County. Most vegetation cover includes mesquite trees, live oak, shinnery oak, switchgrass, and buffalograss.
In some areas, you will find loamy soils over clayey subsoils and light-colored brown to red soils to the south and east. In the northwest, you will find dark and loamy soils over limestone.
Climate
Kerr County gets 31 inches of rain per year, while the US is 38. It hardly experiences any snow compared to 28 inches in the US. Kerr County enjoys 224 sunny days annually compared to 205 sunny days in the US. On average, you will also find some precipitation in Kerr, 67 days per year.
The summer highs go as high as 92 degrees, and the winter lows as low as 33 degrees.
Kerr is one of the best places to live in Texas, with its annual best places comfort index at 7.9(10=best). April, May, and October are the most comfortable months, while July and August are the least comfortable.
Demographics
According to the US Census 2020, Kerr County’s population was 52,592, up from 49,625 in 2010. 5.2% are persons under 5 years, 18.9% are under 18 years, and 28.1% are 65 years and above. Out of the 52,592, 51.9% are female.
The County’s ethnic makeup comprises 93.8% white, 1.2% Asian, 2% African American, 0.1 Native Hawaiian, and 1.1% American Indian.88.6% of the population 25 years and above between 2015 to 2019 are high school graduates or higher. 27.4% of the population 25 years and above between 2015 and 2019 have attained a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Economy
Sales Taxes
Kerr County collects an additional 0.5% over and above the 6.25% collected by the state of Texas. 6.2% is exclusive of any taxes collected by individual cities. Hunt, Mountain Home, and Center Point do not collect extra taxes; however, Kerrville and Ingram Citys collect a further 2.5% each.
Property taxes
Kerr County’s 2020-21 property tax rate per $100 of assessed value is $ 0.4459.
Unemployment rate
The unemployment rate in Kerr County is 5.8% compared to 6.0% that of the US. The income tax rate is 8.0%, while that of the US is 4.6%. The annual average income is $ 26,108, while the US is $28,555 per year. Kerr County’s median household income is $ 42,930 a year, while that of the US is $53,482 per year.
Economic activities
The main economic activities in the County are fishing, forestry, agriculture, and hunting. However, the biggest employer is the health and social assistance sector.
Offices
County Courthouse
Kerr County Courthouse is located at 700 Main Street, Kerrville, Texas, 78028. The County’s Judge is Hon. Rob Kelly. You can get him through (830)792 2211 or email him through [email protected]. The Court Coordinator is Judy Grinstead. Her contact details are phone number (830)792-2211, email: [email protected].
County Sheriff
The Sheriff’s office is responsible for keeping law and order within the County. The office is located at 400 Clearwater Paseo, Kerrville, Texas 78028 US LL Leitha is the county sheriff, and you can reach him at (830)896-1216.
County Clerk
The court clerk is responsible for receiving, filing, processing, and maintaining court records. The office is located at the Courthouse 700 Mainstreet suite 122. Kerr County court clerk is JD Dowdy. You can email her at [email protected] or call her at (830)729-2255.
Other Kerr County offices include County Surveyor, County Facilities-Maintenance Department, Probation Services, Animal Services, Road and Bridge, Solid Waste Enforcement. Visit the Kerr County website for more information on the County’s offices.
Points of Interest
The Coming King Sculpture Prayer Garden
This sculpture is arguably the most popular all-year-round attraction site in Kerr County. The coming King Sculpture is located at the main entrance of Kerrville City. Established in 2010, it has since received visitors from every state in the US and at least 80 other countries.
The Bending Branch Winery
The Bending Branch Winery is a multiple award-winning winery established in 2009. It sits on a 56-acre land in the scenic Texas Hill Country.
The Stonehenge II
Stonehenge II is located in Ingram. It is a concrete sculpture erected by Al Shepperd with the assistance of Doug Hill in homage to the original Stonehenge monument.
Other attraction sites include River Trail, Louise Hay Park, Kerr Arts and Cultural Center Inc.