Wharton

Wharton County

Updated on: January 12, 2022
Coordinates
29 16' 48" N, 96 13' 12" W (29.28, -96.22)
State
Texas
Region
Central East
County Seat:
Wharton
Year Organized:
1846
Total Square Miles:
1094.37
1,086 square miles (2,810 km2) land
8.2 square miles (21 km2) water
Population:
41968 (2017)
Population: 41,735 est. (2016) 41,280 (2010)
Persons/Square Mile:
38
Wharton County Website
http://www.co.wharton.tx.us/

Contiguous Counties

Austin (N)
Fort Bend (NE)
Brazoria (E)
Matagorda (SE)
Jackson (SW)
Colorado (NW)

County structure

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

Demographics

2018 Population:
41968
25 to 64 Years of Age:
48.15%
65 Years of Age and Older:
17.08%

Economy, 2018

Gross Domestic Product (GDP):
$1.8 B
Labor Force:
21,416
Unemployment Rate:
3.70%

County Contact

PO BOX 69
County Courthouse
Wharton, TX, 77488-0069

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

Wharton County is named for two brothers: William H. and John A. Wharton. Located in southeast Texas’ Coastal Plain, southwest of Houston on US Highway 59. Wharton County has an area of 1,086 square miles, the majority of which is forested and grassland. The county seat of Wharton County is Wharton and is located in the middle of the county at latitude 29°19′ N, longitude 96°06′ W.

Because Wharton is known for producing and exporting high-quality goods like JM Eagle’s PVC pipe, the city is regarded as an excellent area to live and work. Writer Horton Foote, well known for his work on To Kill A Mockingbird and the Orphans Home cycle of plays, is an excellent illustration of this. Contemporary art has long regarded his works as masterpieces. Foote got his start in the business world at Wharton, Pennsylvania, when he was just a kid. There is a wealth of information and history in this location.

Wharton County has several advantages for its residents. Housing options are reasonable, and there is a wide variety of outdoor activities.

Find a house in Wharton that meets your requirements if you’re moving there. Register to vote if you want to get involved in local politics. Check out the websites if you’re interested in learning more about the area.

Climate

The average annual rainfall is 42 inches, making for a humid and subtropical environment. When it’s bright and hot outdoors, the thermometer might soar to a scorching 93 degrees F. The average temperature in the winter is 44°F. The growing season only lasts 268 days a year because of the snowfall. People were permitted to go out and hunt bears, wolves, raccoons, opossums, armadillos, even doves, and geese. Coastal clay, alluvial soil, loam, and sand make up most of Wharton County’s soil composition. Sulfur and oil have both been commercially and industrially recovered from the earth.

Topography

The Colorado River, which runs north-south through the county, separates Wharton and Glen Flora. In the western part of the county, Mustang Creek serves as the principal water supply. It is drained by the San Bernard River and West Bernard Creek to the east. The Blue and Jones tributaries, two of the most significant streams west of Colorado, are only two of many. The Peach and the Caney are two of the many streams east of the river. Ash, pecan, and live oak forests in the northern plains line the riverbanks, which rise majestically over the surrounding terrain. There are several trees in the San Francisco Bay region. This part of the country is awash in prairie and bunchgrass. Oak, mesquite, and mesquite trees are all present. In the top northeastern area of Lissie Grassland, there are a lot of prairie and bunch grasses. The elevation distance ranges from 50 feet to 200 feet.

County History

In Wharton’s story, which opens with breathtaking panoramas of these locales, aboriginal tribes were encouraged to set up camp along streams because of the abundance of water and wildlife. Early settlers were interested in the same types of natural resources when Europeans first set out to see the world. It is said that they are descended from the illustrious and revered De La Salle family. Since Wharton was formed in 1838 by the Republic of Texas, it has had a significant impact in various ways.

The county was named after the two brothers to commemorate them. They rose to prominence during the Texas independence movement. The expanding city’s openness to individuals from all over the world attracted many nationalities and cultures early on. The migration of Brahman cattle from India in the early twentieth century contributed to the development of a lively commercial area as well as the ongoing growth of agriculture.

In the globalized world, Wharton has thrived by embracing new ideas while still respecting the best of the past. Historical sites in Wharton, Texas, are more than just a tourist attraction for those interested in the state’s history. The Wharton County Courthouse, one of Texas’ most beautiful and historic courthouses, is located in historic downtown Wharton. The Plaza Theater, a year-round performing arts center, and the recently rebuilt railroad terminal are noteworthy significant landmarks. It is possible to learn about famous locals like Dan Rather, the TV news anchor, at the Historical Museum of Wharton (one of several municipal museums).

County Offices

Judge Phillip Spenrath’s address to the county judge’s office is 100 S. Fulton Street, Suite 100, Wharton, Texas 77488 and is available via phone at (979) 532-4612.

County Attorney G.A. “Trey” Maffett is available via phone at  (979) 532-2591. The physical address to the office is 100 S. Fulton Street, Suite 105, Wharton, Texas 77488.

Barbara Svatek occupies the County Clerk’s office, and the address to the office is 309 E. Milam St., Suite 700, with the mailing address 69 Wharton, Texas 77488.

Sheriff Shannon Srubar is available via phone at 979-532-1550, and the mailing address to the office is  P.O. Box 726, Wharton, TX 77488.

Places to Visit

Eve Bartlett, a Wharton native, started a museum in the late 1970s. The Museum had to move when the Wharton Jail was demolished in 1984. Wharton residents Marshall and Lillie Johnson, both multimillionaires, have given their foundation property to put up the museum. After merging his home and professional spaces, Johnson built the Museum to hold all of his artifacts. All of the museum’s focus is on the history of Wharton and Texas.

The Wharton County Museum’s collection of antiques and artifacts received a trophy room from Marshall and Lillie Johnson. The room is teeming with creatures from every corner of the globe. The Museum’s grounds also feature the boyhood home of Dan Rather (who was born in Wharton County) and the birthplace of Horton Foote.

Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park

A must-see for visitors of all ages, the Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park is a favorite location for residents because of its central location.

One of the city’s most amazing sensations is listening to the gentle sound of running water while standing in the mist along the Waterwall. Trees of the live oak kind loom above the bustling commercial district in a way that few other places can.

The park’s centerpiece is the Waterwall, a 64-foot-tall sculptural fountain built-in 1985 by SWA Group in the Uptown District. Real estate mogul Gerald D. Hines commissioned the installation of an outdoor fountain adjacent to the Williams Tower in the early 1980s (previously Transco Tower).