Wharton County, Texas

Wharton County, Texas
Wharton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 41,570. Its county seat is Wharton. 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 , of which is land and (0.8%) is water.
The county is about southeast of Austin.
Adjacent counties
Austin County (north)
Fort Bend County (northeast)
Brazoria County (east)
Matagorda County (southeast)
Jackson County (southwest)
Colorado County (northwest)
Demographics
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 can be of any race.
As of the census of 2000, there were 41,188 people, 14,799 households, and 10,744 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 16,606 housing units at an average density of . 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. 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.
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 1300
Politics
Wharton County is a strongly Republican county in the 21st century.
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
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
External links
Danish Heritage Preservation Society
Wharton County government's website
Wharton County Sheriff's Office
1846 establishments in Texas
Populated places established in 1846
Majority-minority counties in Texas