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'{{Infobox settlement |official_name = Wharton, Texas |settlement_type = [[City]] |nickname = |motto = <!-- Images --> |image_skyline = Wharton, TX, sign IMG_1048.JPG |imagesize = 250px |image_caption = <span style="font-size:100%;">Wharton entrance sign</span> |image_flag = |image_seal = <!-- Maps --> |image_map = Wharton County Wharton.svg |mapsize = 250px |map_caption = Location of Wharton, Texas <!-- Location --> |subdivision_type = [[List of countries|Country]] |subdivision_name = United States |subdivision_type1 = [[Political divisions of the United States|State]] |subdivision_name1 = [[Texas]] |subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Texas|County]] |subdivision_name2 = [[Wharton County, Texas|Wharton]] <!-- Government --> |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name = |leader_title1 = |leader_name1 = |established_title = |established_date = <!-- Area --> |unit_pref = Imperial |area_footnotes = |area_magnitude = |area_total_km2 = 18.7 |area_land_km2 = 18.7 |area_water_km2 = 0.0 |area_total_sq_mi = 7.2 |area_land_sq_mi = 7.2 |area_water_sq_mi = 0.0 <!-- Population --> |population_as_of = [[United States Census, 2000|2000]] |population_footnotes = |population_total = 9237 |population_density_km2 = 493.6 |population_density_sq_mi = 1278.3 <!-- General information --> |timezone = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]] |utc_offset = -6 |timezone_DST = CDT |utc_offset_DST = -5 |elevation_footnotes = |elevation_m = 31 |elevation_ft = 102 |coordinates_display = inline,title |coordinates_type = region:US_type:city |latd = 29 |latm = 19 |lats = 1 |latNS = N |longd = 96 |longm = 5 |longs = 49 |longEW = W <!-- Area/postal codes & others --> |postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]] |postal_code = 77488 |area_code = [[Area code 979|979]] |blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]] |blank_info = 48-78136<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=http://factfinder2.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=American FactFinder}}</ref> |blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID |blank1_info = 1371316<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref> |website = [http://www.cityofwharton.com cityofwharton.com] |footnotes = }} '''Wharton''' is a city in [[Wharton County, Texas|Wharton County]], [[Texas]], United States. This city is sixty miles southwest of [[Houston]]. The population was 8,832 at the 2010 [[census]]. It is the [[county seat]] of [[Wharton County, Texas|Wharton County]]<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|accessdate=2011-06-07|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> and is located on the [[Colorado River (Texas)|Colorado River]] of Texas just south of [[U.S. Highway 59 (Texas)|U.S. Highway 59]] (Future [[Interstate 69 in Texas|Interstate 69]]). ==Geography== Wharton is located at {{coord|29|19|1|N|96|5|49|W|type:city}} (29.316939, -96.097065).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of 7.2&nbsp;square miles (18.8&nbsp;km²), of which, 7.2&nbsp;square&nbsp;miles (18.7&nbsp;km²) of it is land and 0.14% is water. [[U.S. Route 59 in Texas|U.S. Route 59]] (US&nbsp;59) (Future [[Interstate 69 in Texas|Interstate 69]]) (Future I-69) passes through the west side of Wharton. To the northeast on US&nbsp;59 (Future I-69) is [[Rosenberg, Texas|Rosenberg]] in [[Fort Bend County, Texas|Fort Bend County]] while [[El Campo, Texas|El Campo]] in Wharton County is to the southwest. [[Texas State Highway 60|State Highway 60]] (SH&nbsp;60) passes through Wharton, heading south to [[Bay City, Texas|Bay City]] and north to [[East Bernard, Texas|East Bernard]]. [[Farm to Market Road 102|FM&nbsp;102]] starts on SH&nbsp;60 in Wharton and goes northwest to [[Eagle Lake, Texas|Eagle Lake]] in [[Colorado County, Texas|Colorado County]]. [[Farm to Market Road 1301|FM&nbsp;1301]] also begins at SH&nbsp;60 in Wharton and goes southeast to [[Boling-Iago, Texas|Boling-Iago]]. The [[Colorado River (Texas)|Colorado River]] flows toward Wharton from the northwest and after passing through the city, the river's direction is more to the south.<ref>{{google maps|url=https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Wharton,+TX&hl=en&ll=29.30137,-96.096897&spn=0.11422,0.178699&sll=31.168934,-100.076842&sspn=14.320266,22.873535&hnear=Wharton,+Texas&t=m&z=13 |accessdate=June 16, 2013 }}</ref> <gallery widths="240px" heights="160px" > Image:Colorado River of Texas at Wharton IMG 1058.JPG|The [[Colorado River (Texas)|Colorado River]] as it flows through Wharton Image:Riverfront Park in Wharton, TX IMG 1057.JPG|Riverfront Park in Wharton Image:Downtown Wharton, TX IMG 1031.JPG|Downtown Wharton across from the [[Wharton County, Texas|Wharton County]] [[Courthouse]] Image:Plaza Theater in Wharton, TX IMG 1029.JPG|Restored Plaza Theater in Wharton <!-- Deleted image removed: Image:Mural in Wharton, TX IMG 1059.JPG|One of several [[murals]] in Wharton depicting area [[history]] --> Image:Wharton County Museum IMG 1054.JPG|Wharton County Historical Museum contains exhibits on [[Dan Rather]] and [[Medal of Honor]] winner [[Roy Benavidez]] as well as a collection of stuffed big-game [[animal]]s. Image:Tiger at Wharton County Historical Museum IMG 1052.JPG|Tiger exhibit at Wharton County Historical Museum (the tiger is the mascot of Wharton High School) Image:Wharton County Junior College IMG 1049.JPG|Administration building at [[Wharton County Junior College]] </gallery> ===Climate=== The climate in penisville this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Wharton has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=556914&cityname=Wharton%2C+Texas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Wharton, Texas]</ref> ==Demographics== As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 9,237 people, 3,539 households, and 2,268 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 1,278.3 people per square mile (493.3/km²). There were 4,000 housing units at an average density of 553.6 per square mile (213.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 56.33% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 26.43% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.41% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.71% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.16% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 14.18% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.78% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 31.08% of the population. There were 3,539 households out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.21. In the city the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.1 males. The median income for a household in the city was $26,704, and the median income for a family was $34,543. Males had a median income of $30,423 versus $20,460 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $13,993. About 17.3% of families and 22.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 22.3% of those under age 18 and 21.7% of those age 65 or over. ==History== [[File:Wharton TX Courthouse.JPG|thumb|right|upright=1.5|Wharton's economy is dependent on the county government. This photo shows the county courthouse from Fulton Street.]] The area now known as Wharton was part of the Caney Run mail route established by the [[Republic of Texas]] in 1838. The community was named after two leaders in the struggle for Texas independence, brothers [[John Austin Wharton (1806-1838)|John]] and [[William H. Wharton|William Wharton]]. The [[Plantations in the American South|plantation]] community was first settled in 1846 by some of [[Stephen F. Austin]]'s original colonists, and a post office was established in 1847. The first [[Lieutenant governor (United States)|lieutenant governor]] of Texas, Albert Horton, was an early settler. Land for the courthouse square was donated by [[William Kincheloe]] and surveyed by Virgil Stewart and William J. E. Heard. Early settlers came from Alabama, Kentucky, Virginia, Georgia, and Mississippi. Jewish immigrants, arriving as early as the 1850s, established additional businesses and began the [[Congregation Shearith Israel (Texas)]], the only synagogue in a three-county area.<ref>[http://www.isjl.org/history/archive/index.html Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities], [http://www.isjl.org/history/archive/tx/wharton.html "Wharton, Texas"]</ref> Other settlers in the community included Swiss, German, Mexican, and Czech immigrants and descendants of plantation slaves. Early crops included [[potato]]es, [[cotton]], [[Maize|corn]], [[rice]], and [[sugar cane]], and commercial enterprises included [[cattle]], [[molasses]], and sugar. At different times the community had a cotton oil mill, a sugar cane factory, gristmills, cotton gins, a [[milk]] processing plant and dairy, an ice plant, and numerous other industries. Oil and sulfur production in the outlying areas contribute to the town's economy. The population of Wharton was about 200 in the early 1880s. [[File:Wharton TX Monument CSA.JPG|thumb|left|upright=0.8|Confederate monument]] The [[New York, Texas and Mexican Railway]] was the first railroad to arrive at Wharton in 1881, followed by the [[Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway|Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe]] in 1899. These two railroads brought a new influx of settlers, increasing the population to 1,689 in 1900 and 2,346 in 1920. In 1888 the first opera house opened. Wharton was incorporated in 1902, when most of the structures were of wood construction. A major fire on December 30 of that year destroyed a number of frame business buildings.<ref>{{cite news |title=BUSINESS BLOCK IS DESTROYED BY FIRE |url= http://www3.gendisasters.com/texas/5467/wharton,-tx-fire,-dec-1902|newspaper=The Daily Express, San Antonio, Texas |date= December 31, 1902|accessdate=10 November 2012}}</ref> Afterwards, businessmen and the city government were convinced to use brick construction with fire walls for all buildings within the city limits and to construct a water system with fire hydrants. A free library was established in 1902 by the New Century Club and adopted by the city in 1904. In 1935 the majority of the library inventory was given to the Wharton Public School. The first public park was dedicated in 1913, and the Wharton [[Chamber of Commerce]] organized in 1919. The city experienced its greatest growth during the 1930s, increasing from 2,261 in 1930 to 4,386 in 1940. Wharton Little Theatre was organized in 1932, and [[Wharton County Junior College]] was established in 1946. The town's population reached 5,734 in 1960 and 7,881 in 1970. A community concert series was developed in the 1960s. By the 1980s Wharton had such diverse industries as Health-focus, the largest physical rehabilitation and therapy service in the nation; M. I. Drilling Fluids, a subsidiary of Magcobar Division of Dresser Industries; the Formosa Plastics Group, consisting of Nan Ya Plastics and J-M Manufacturing; Coastal Warehouse Limited, serving the agricultural industry; and Gulf Coast Medical Center and South Texas Medical clinics. The economy was also heavily dependent on the presence of the county government. In the 1980s Academy Award–winning screenwriter [[Horton Foote]], a descendant of Lieutenant Governor Horton, lived in Wharton. The Wharton County Historical Museum features exhibits on [[Dan Rather]] and [[Medal of Honor]] recipient [[Roy Benavidez]] as well as a wildlife collection. The Wharton population was stable at the end of the twentieth century: 9,033 in 1980, 9,011 in 1990, and 9,237 in 2000. The 2010 census reported a decrease to 8,832.<ref>[http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/P1/1600000US4878136 U.S. Census]</ref> == Notable people == <!--- Keep the list in alphabetical order ---> * [[Bert Adams]], baseball player * [[Jesse McI. Carter]], [[United States Army]] [[Major general (United States)|Major General]] in [[World War I]] * [[Larry Dale]], an American [[blues]] singer and [[guitarist]] * [[Horton Foote]], playwright * [[Albert Clinton Horton]], first [[Lieutenant Governor of Texas]] * [[Lamar Lathon]], former American professional football player * [[Debra Medina (politician)|Debra Medina]], candidate for the Texas [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[gubernatorial]] [[nomination]] in 2010 * [[Dan Rather]], former [[CBS]] anchor * [[Lester Smith]]{{disambiguation needed|date=December 2012}}, philanthropist (pinkwell.org) * [[Phil Stephenson (Texas politician)|Phil Stephenson]], member of the [[Texas House of Representatives]] since 2013; [[Certified Public Accountant]] in Wharton * [[Mac Sweeney|David McCann "Mac" Sweeney]], former [[U.S. Representative]] from Texas (1985–1989) * [[Go Man Go]], race horse inducted into the [[American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame]] * [[Van G. Garrett]], poet ==See also== {{Portal|Texas}} *[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Wharton County, Texas]] ==References== <references /> ==External links== * [http://www.cityofwharton.com City of Wharton] {{Wharton County, Texas}} {{Texas}} {{Texas county seats}} [[Category:Cities in Wharton County, Texas]] [[Category:Cities in Texas]] [[Category:County seats in Texas]] [[Category:Populated places established in 1846]]'