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Wharton, Texas
City
Wharton County Courthouse
Wharton County Courthouse
Wharton, Texas is located in Texas
Wharton, Texas
Wharton, Texas
Location in Texas
Wharton, Texas is located in the United States
Wharton, Texas
Wharton, Texas
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Texas
County Wharton
Area
 • Total 8.28 sq mi (21.45 km2)
 • Land 8.24 sq mi (21.36 km2)
 • Water 0.04 sq mi (0.09 km2)
Elevation
102 ft (31 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 8,627
 • Density 1,047.54/sq mi (404.44/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
77488
Area code(s) 979
FIPS code 48-78136
GNIS feature ID 1371316

Wharton is a city in Wharton County, Texas, USA. It's also the main town of Wharton County. It's about 60 miles (97 km) southwest of Houston. In 2020, about 8,627 people lived there. Wharton is located right on the Colorado River. U.S. Highway 59 runs past the west side of the city.

History of Wharton, Texas

Wharton started as part of a mail route in 1838, during the time of the Republic of Texas. The community was named after two brothers, John and William Wharton. They were important leaders in Texas' fight for independence.

The first settlers arrived in 1846. They built a community along the Colorado River, which was originally a plantation area. A post office was set up the next year. Albert Clinton Horton, the first lieutenant governor of Texas, was one of the early settlers.

Land for the town's courthouse square was given by William Kincheloe. It was surveyed by Virgil Stewart and William J. E. Heard. Early settlers came from many southern states like Alabama, Kentucky, and Virginia.

European Jewish immigrants from Germany also arrived in the 1850s. They started businesses and built the Congregation Shearith Israel, a synagogue. Other settlers included people from Switzerland, Germany, Mexico, and the Czech Republic. After the Civil War, descendants of enslaved people also became part of the community.

Early Economy and Growth

The area first grew because of farming. Before the Civil War, plantations used enslaved African Americans for labor. Farmers grew potatoes, cotton, corn, rice, and sugarcane. Businesses also raised cattle and made molasses and sugar.

Over time, Wharton had many industries. These included a cottonseed oil mill, a sugarcane factory, and cotton gins. There was also a milk-processing plant, an ice plant, and other businesses. Today, oil and sulfur production nearby still help the town's economy. In the early 1880s, Wharton had about 200 people.

Railroads and Modernization

In 1881, the New York, Texas and Mexican Railway was the first railroad to reach Wharton. More than ten years later, the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe railroad arrived in 1899. These railroads brought new settlers and helped businesses grow. The population increased to 1,689 by 1900 and 2,346 by 1920. In 1888, the first opera house opened in Wharton.

Wharton became an official city in 1902. Most buildings were made of wood back then. A big fire on December 30, 1902, destroyed many wooden businesses. After the fire, business owners and the city decided to use brick for new buildings. They also built a water system with fire hydrants to prevent future fires.

Community and Education

A free library was started in 1902 by the New Century Club. The city took it over in 1904. In 1935, most of the library's books went to the Wharton Public School. The first public park opened in 1913. The Wharton Chamber of Commerce was formed in 1919.

The city grew the most during the 1930s, even during the Great Depression. The population jumped from 2,261 in 1930 to 4,386 in 1940. The Wharton Little Theatre started in 1932. Wharton County Junior College was established in 1946, offering higher education.

The town's population continued to grow, reaching 5,734 in 1960 and 7,881 in 1970. A community concert series began in the 1960s. By the 1980s, Wharton had many different businesses. These included a large physical therapy service called Health-focus. There was also M. I. Drilling Fluids and the Formosa Plastics Group. The economy also relied on the county government.

In the 1980s, Horton Foote, a famous screenwriter who won an Academy Award, moved back to Wharton. He was born and grew up there. The Wharton County Historical Museum shows exhibits about famous people from Wharton. These include journalist Dan Rather and Medal of Honor winner Roy Benavidez. The museum also has a wildlife collection.

Wharton's population stayed steady at the end of the 20th century. It was 9,033 in 1980, 9,011 in 1990, and 9,237 in 2000. The 2010 census showed a slight decrease to 8,832 people.

Geography of Wharton

According to the United States Census Bureau, Wharton covers about 7.2 square miles (18.6 km2). Only a tiny part of this area is water.

U.S. Route 59 (which will become Interstate 69) passes through the west side of Wharton. To the northeast on US 59 is Rosenberg. To the southwest is El Campo. State Highway 60 also goes through Wharton. It heads south to Bay City and north to East Bernard.

FM 102 starts in Wharton and goes northwest to Eagle Lake. FM 1301 also starts in Wharton and goes southeast to Boling-Iago. The Colorado River flows through Wharton from the northwest. After passing through the city, the river flows more to the south.

Climate in Wharton

The weather in Wharton has hot, humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cool. According to climate experts, Wharton has a humid subtropical climate. This means it gets a lot of rain and has warm temperatures for most of the year.

People in Wharton

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1910 1,505 —
1920 2,346 55.9%
1930 2,691 14.7%
1940 4,386 63.0%
1950 4,450 1.5%
1960 5,734 28.9%
1970 7,881 37.4%
1980 9,033 14.6%
1990 9,011 −0.2%
2000 9,237 2.5%
2010 8,832 −4.4%
2020 8,627 −2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2020, about 8,627 people lived in Wharton. There were 3,293 households and 1,840 families.

In 2000, the city had 9,237 people. The population density was about 1,278 people per square mile. The city's population was made up of different groups:

  • 56.33% White
  • 26.43% African American
  • 0.41% Native American
  • 0.71% Asian
  • 14.18% from other races
  • 1.78% from two or more races
  • About 31.08% of the population were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

Of the households in 2000, 31.5% had children under 18. About 44.2% were married couples. Around 15.7% had a female head of household with no husband. About 35.9% were not families. The average household had 2.51 people, and the average family had 3.21 people.

The median age in the city was 34 years old. About 27.2% of the population was under 18. About 16.2% were 65 or older. The median income for a household was $26,704. For a family, it was $34,543. About 22.2% of the population lived below the poverty line.

Notable People from Wharton

Many interesting people have come from Wharton:

Images for kids

  • Downtown Wharton, TX IMG 1031

    Downtown Wharton

  • Plaza Theater in Wharton, TX IMG 1029

    Plaza Theater

  • Texas and New Orleans Railroad Depot 2015

    Historic railroad depot

  • Wharton TX Monument CSA

    Confederate monument

  • Colorado River of Texas at Wharton IMG 1058

    Colorado River in Wharton

  • Riverfront Park in Wharton, TX IMG 1057

    Riverfront Park

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Wharton (Texas) para niños

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