Wharton County, Texas

Wharton County
County
The Wharton County Courthouse in Wharton
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 29°17′N96°13′W / 29.28°N 96.22°W / 29.28; -96.22
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	1846
Named for	William H. Wharton and John Austin Wharton
Seat	Wharton
Largest city	El Campo
Area
• Total	1,094 sq mi (2,830 km2)
• Land	1,086 sq mi (2,810 km2)
• Water	8.2 sq mi (21 km2)  0.8%
Population  (2020)
• Total	41,570
• Density	38/sq mi (15/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	22nd
Website	www.co.wharton.tx.us

Veterans Memorial with eternal flame (not visible in photo) at Wharton County Courthouse

Memorial to Sheriff Hamilton B. Dickson of Wharton County who served during the 1880s and was killed in an ambush in the line of duty.

Wharton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 41,570. ^[1] Its county seat is Wharton. ^[2] The county was named for brothers William Harris Wharton and John Austin Wharton.

Wharton County comprises the El Campo, TX Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Houston-The Woodlands, TX Combined Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,094 square miles (2,830 km²), of which 1,086 square miles (2,810 km²) is land and 8.2 square miles (21 km²) (0.8%) is water. ^[3]

The county is about 130 miles (210 km) southeast of Austin. ^[4]

Adjacent counties

• Austin County (north)
• Fort Bend County (northeast)
• Brazoria County (east)
• Matagorda County (southeast)
• Jackson County (southwest)
• Colorado County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	1,752		—
1860	3,380		92.9%
1870	3,426		1.4%
1880	4,459		30.2%
1890	7,584		70.1%
1900	16,942		123.4%
1910	21,123		24.7%
1920	24,288		15.0%
1930	29,681		22.2%
1940	36,158		21.8%
1950	36,077		−0.2%
1960	38,152		5.8%
1970	36,729		−3.7%
1980	40,242		9.6%
1990	39,955		−0.7%
2000	41,188		3.1%
2010	41,280		0.2%
2020	41,570		0.7%
U.S. Decennial Census [5] 1850–2010 [6] 2010 [7] 2020 [8]

Wharton County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000 [9]	Pop 2010 [7]	Pop 2020 [8]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	21,832	19,681	18,130	53.01%	47.68%	43.61%
Black or African American alone (NH)	6,060	5,668	5,469	14.71%	13.73%	13.16%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	59	62	69	0.14%	0.15%	0.17%
Asian alone (NH)	113	154	164	0.27%	0.37%	0.39%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	18	2	0	0.04%	0.00%	0.00%
Other race alone (NH)	15	26	104	0.04%	0.06%	0.25%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	203	242	667	0.49%	0.59%	1.60%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	12,888	15,445	16,967	31.29%	37.42%	40.82%
Total	41,188	41,280	41,570	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the census ^[10] of 2000, there were 41,188 people, 14,799 households, and 10,744 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile (15 people/km²). There were 16,606 housing units at an average density of 15 units per square mile (5.8 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 69.01% White, 14.95% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 13.65% from other races, and 1.64% from two or more races. 31.29% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 12.8% were of Czech, 11.0% German and 7.0% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 73.8% spoke English, 24.0% Spanish and 2.0% Czech as their first language.

There were 14,799 households, out of which 35.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.50% were married couples living together, 12.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.40% were non-families. 24.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.70% under the age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 26.50% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 96.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,208, and the median income for a family was $39,919. Males had a median income of $30,480 versus $20,101 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,388. About 13.30% of families and 16.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.50% of those under age 18 and 17.70% of those age 65 or over.

Legacy of slavery

A map commissioned by the United States government in the 1860s, and sold by the Union Army for the benefit of wounded troops, indicates that, based on data from the 1860 national census, 80.9% of the population of Wharton County was enslaved. ^[11] The county then had a total of 3,380 people. This was the highest proportion of slaves in a single county in the state of Texas. Demand related to development of new areas for cultivation had caused the number of slaves overall in the state to triple between 1850 and 1860, from 58,000 to 182,566. ^[12]

Transportation

Airports

El Campo Metropolitan Airport, a general aviation airport, is located in unincorporated Wharton County southwest of El Campo.

Wharton Regional Airport, also a general aviation airport, is located in the extreme southwestern portion of Wharton.

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 59
  • Interstate 69 is currently under construction and will follow the current route of U.S. 59 in most places.
• 
  U.S. Highway 90 Alternate
• State Highway 60
• State Highway 71
• Farm to Market Road 102
• Farm to Market Road 442
• Farm to Market Road 1160
• Farm to Market Road 1301

Politics

Wharton County is a strongly Republican county in the 21st century.

United States presidential election results for Wharton County, Texas ^[13]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	12,439	75.52%	3,910	23.74%	122	0.74%
2020	11,926	71.15%	4,694	28.01%	141	0.84%
2016	10,149	68.89%	4,238	28.77%	345	2.34%
2012	9,750	69.21%	4,235	30.06%	102	0.72%
2008	9,431	65.41%	4,937	34.24%	50	0.35%
2004	9,288	66.16%	4,702	33.49%	49	0.35%
2000	8,455	62.97%	4,838	36.03%	133	0.99%
1996	6,163	50.38%	5,176	42.31%	895	7.32%
1992	5,503	43.00%	4,643	36.28%	2,651	20.72%
1988	6,978	53.71%	5,935	45.69%	78	0.60%
1984	8,495	62.54%	5,072	37.34%	17	0.13%
1980	6,598	55.18%	5,138	42.97%	222	1.86%
1976	4,682	43.99%	5,914	55.56%	48	0.45%
1972	6,271	64.27%	3,481	35.68%	5	0.05%
1968	3,773	37.89%	4,304	43.22%	1,882	18.90%
1964	2,775	30.76%	6,234	69.11%	11	0.12%
1960	3,387	40.04%	5,004	59.16%	67	0.79%
1956	4,714	57.47%	3,439	41.92%	50	0.61%
1952	5,232	56.51%	4,022	43.44%	5	0.05%
1948	1,354	28.90%	2,811	60.00%	520	11.10%
1944	529	10.49%	3,754	74.45%	759	15.05%
1940	760	16.03%	3,976	83.88%	4	0.08%
1936	307	9.15%	3,034	90.43%	14	0.42%
1932	405	10.68%	3,357	88.53%	30	0.79%
1928	1,151	42.69%	1,545	57.31%	0	0.00%
1924	858	28.71%	2,020	67.58%	111	3.71%
1920	852	36.06%	836	35.38%	675	28.57%
1916	351	25.05%	948	67.67%	102	7.28%
1912	109	8.80%	793	64.00%	337	27.20%

Communities

Cities

• East Bernard
• El Campo
• Wharton (county seat)

Census-designated places

• Boling
• Hungerford
• Iago
• Louise

Unincorporated communities

• Bonus
• Burr
• Danevang
• Dinsmore
• Don-Tol
• Egypt
• Elm Grove
• Glen Flora
• Hillje
• Lane City
• Lissie
• Magnet
• Newgulf
• New Taiton
• Pierce
• Sand Ridge
• Spanish Camp

Ghost towns

• Dorman
• Hahn
• Jones Creek
• Mackay
• Nottawa
• Peach Creek
• Plainview
• Preston
• Round Mott
• Sorrelle
• Taiton
• Waterville

See also

• Texas portal

• Congregation Shearith Israel
• List of museums in the Texas Gulf Coast
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Wharton County, Texas
• Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Wharton County
• 20th Century Technology Museum

References

1. "Wharton County, Texas". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved February 23, 2021.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
4. "Texas to carry out second execution of the year." Al Jazeera America . January 27, 2016. Retrieved on January 27, 2016.
5. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
6. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
7. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Wharton County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
8. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Wharton County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
9. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Wharton County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
11. Susan Schulte, "Visualizing Slavery", Blog, New York Times, December 9, 2010, accessed December 10, 2013
12. Susan Schulte, "Visualizing Slavery": "A Map of Slavery Interactive Feature", New York Times, December 10, 2010
13. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved February 21, 2021.

External links

• Danish Heritage Preservation Society
• Wharton County government's website
• Wharton County from the Handbook of Texas Online
• Wharton County Sheriff's Office

29°17′N96°13′W / 29.28°N 96.22°W / 29.28; -96.22