Kenedy

The town of Kenedy occupies a site that once was part of a royal Spanish land grant to Don Carlos Martinez. American settlement in the area began after the Texas War for Independence (1836). Land for a townsite was purchased in 1886 by railroad promoter Mifflin Kenedy, for whom the community was named, and a post office was established the following year. Kenedy's early growth was attributed to its position as a major stop on the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad. Early buildings in Kenedy included a church, store, and cotton gin. By 1906, businesses in the town included newspaper offices, a bank, livery and feed stables, and one of the largest cotton compresses in the state. Incorporated in 1910, Kenedy gained a reputation for gunfighting that earned it the name "Six Shooter Junction." In 1915, hot mineral water was discovered near the depot, and the Hot Wells Hotel and Bath House was a thriving business for nearly 25 years. An alien detention camp was located on the outskirts of town during World War II. Although passenger train service no longer runs through Kenedy, this historic town remains an economic center for the surrounding agricultural area.

Kenedy is a historical marker in Kenedy, Karnes County, dedicated in 1986. It is one of 26 historical markers documented in Karnes County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 45 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 28.8210, -97.8499 near Kenedy. The nearest cataloged historic site is Saint Matthew's Episcopal Church (historical marker), about 0.3 miles away. Others within a short drive include Butler Family Cemetery, Kenedy Alien Detention Camp Cemetery, and First Baptist Church of Karnes City.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5255002922. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.