Pawnee is a census-designated place (CDP) in Bee County, Texas, United States. The population was 140 at the 2020 census.

Pawnee is located in northwestern Bee County at 28°38′58″N 98°0′6″W / 28.64944°N 98.00167°W / 28.64944; -98.00167 (28.649307, -98.001649). Texas State Highway 72 runs through the community, leading northeastward 15 miles (24 km) to Kenedy and southwestward 14 miles (23 km) to Interstate 37, near Three Rivers.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 5.3 square miles (13.6 km), all land.

Pawnee is known for its excellent dove, quail, and white tail deer hunting.

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2000	201		—
2010	166		−17.4%
2020	140		−15.7%
U.S. Decennial Census 1850–1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

Pawnee was first listed as a census designated place in the 2000 U.S. Census.

As of the census of 2000, there were 201 people, 75 households, and 54 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 38.5 people per square mile (14.9 people/km). There were 93 housing units at an average density of 17.8 per square mile (6.9/km). The racial makeup of the CDP was 58.21% White, 0.50% African American, 41.29% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 90.05% of the population.

There were 75 households, out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.7% were married couples living together, 1.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.28.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 23.9% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 109.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.6 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $35,500, and the median income for a family was $57,000. Males had a median income of $46,042 versus $37,125 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $21,165. About 17.0% of families and 19.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.7% of those under the age of eighteen and 35.8% of those 65 or over.

Pawnee is served by the Pawnee Independent School District for grades preK-8.

The small town consists of one convenience store, a US post office, an Independent School District, a mechanic service, a natural gas plant, a cabinet maker, a volunteer fire department, an excavation company, a community center, and several churches.

The Pawnee area has gradually been increasing in the exploration and production of natural gas. Just driving around the community and ranches, you can see wells and new rigs going up.

Pawnee has more recently welcomed Almega Cable and Ranch Wireless to the community. Ranch Wireless provides wireless internet and Almega Cable provides Cable internet to the citizens of Pawnee. Almega has also established a computer center for the community to access the internet free of cost. The center is called the Pawnee Community Connect Center.

The small community boasts five churches. The churches are Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Iglesia Bautista Y Manuela, and Church of Christ.

• Handbook of Texas Online article