Wharton County is a county in Texas, United States, about 130 miles southeast of Austin and roughly 60 miles southwest of downtown Houston. It had a population of 41,570 at the 2020 census, and it covers 1,094 square miles (2,830 km2), of which 1,086 square miles is land and 8.2 square miles is water, centred near 29°17′N 96°13′W.
Wharton is the county seat, and its postal code is 77488. The county has three incorporated cities plus several unincorporated communities and census-designated places. Wharton County sits in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Wharton County
El Campo is the largest city in the county; Wharton, the seat, sits on the Colorado River near the county’s centre. Most of the remaining places are small farm and rail communities scattered across the Coastal Prairie.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Campo | City | 12,350 | 77437 |
| Wharton | City · seat | 8,627 | 77488 |
| East Bernard | City | 2,218 | 77435 |
| Boling | CDP | — | — |
| Louise | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Egypt | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Iago | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lane City | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Newgulf | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pierce | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Danevang | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Glen Flora | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hungerford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hillje | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lissie | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Plainview | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 77437 — El Campo (also serves nearby rural routes)
- 77488 — Wharton (also serves Glen Flora and Lane City)
- 77435 — East Bernard
Smaller unincorporated communities such as Boling, Louise, Egypt, Iago, Newgulf, Pierce, Danevang, Hungerford, Hillje, Lissie and Plainview do not have their own post office and are served by a neighbouring town’s ZIP code.
Geography
Wharton County lies on the Coastal Prairie of southeast Texas, a flat, low-lying landscape drained by the Colorado River, which crosses the county through Wharton and El Campo on its way to Matagorda Bay. The terrain supports rice, cotton and cattle operations across broad, gently sloping farmland. Wharton County borders Austin County to the north, Fort Bend County to the northeast, Brazoria County to the east, Matagorda County to the southeast, Jackson County to the southwest, and Colorado County to the northwest.
Demographics
Wharton County recorded 41,570 residents at the 2020 census. El Campo and Wharton are the two largest communities, with 12,350 and 8,627 residents respectively. Median household income in the county runs below the Texas state figure of $75,780, reflecting the county’s agricultural economic base. Population density is light, at roughly 38 residents per square mile of land.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture anchors the county’s economy: rice, cotton, grain sorghum and cattle ranching dominate the countryside, supported by grain elevators and cotton gins around El Campo and Louise. Oil and gas production, tied to the nearby Newgulf sulfur-mining legacy, has also contributed to county revenue over the decades. Wharton County Junior College, based in Wharton, is a major local employer and the region’s higher-education anchor. The county fair, held each September in El Campo, remains the county’s largest annual event.
History
Wharton County was created in 1846 from Matagorda and Jackson counties and organized the same year. It takes its name from brothers William Harris Wharton and John Austin Wharton, both prominent figures in the Texas Revolution. Rice cultivation, introduced in the late 1800s, transformed the county’s agricultural base and drew new settlement along the rail lines built through Wharton and El Campo in the early twentieth century.
Getting There
U.S. Highway 59 and State Highways 60 and 71 cross the county, and a segment of Interstate 69 is under construction along the U.S. 59 corridor.
- Houston — 60 miles northeast
- Victoria — 55 miles southwest
- Bay City — 25 miles southeast
- Columbus — 30 miles north
The nearest commercial airport is George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. Amtrak does not serve Wharton County directly; the nearest station is in Houston.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Wharton County, Texas?
It lies on the Coastal Prairie of southeast Texas, about 60 miles southwest of Houston and 130 miles southeast of Austin.
What is the Wharton postcode?
Wharton’s ZIP code is 77488.
What is the population of Wharton County?
Wharton County had a population of 41,570 at the 2020 census.
What is the largest city in Wharton County?
El Campo is the largest city, with 12,350 residents at the 2020 census.
Wharton is the county seat of Wharton County, sitting on the Colorado River near the centre of the county.
How did Wharton County get its name?
It was named for brothers William Harris Wharton and John Austin Wharton, both leaders of the Texas Revolution.
What is Wharton County’s economy based on?
Rice, cotton, grain sorghum and cattle ranching, along with oil and gas production and education through Wharton County Junior College.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.