Geography of Wharton County
Small towns and open country define Wharton County. Its 42,060 residents are spread across 1,090 square miles, giving the county a density typical of rural Texas.
It lies in the Central Texas region at about 29.28° N, 96.22° W and is 51st in size among Texas's 254 counties. Wharton County shares boundaries with 6 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Victoria (about 57 miles away in a straight line) and Houston (about 61 miles).
Central Texas stretches across the Hill Country, the Blackland Prairie and the Cross Timbers. It includes some of the fastest-growing suburbs in the nation along the I-35 corridor, alongside quiet ranching counties with limestone creeks and live-oak savanna.
For a broader view of how Wharton County fits within the state, download our free Texas map with counties and cities PDF — a printable, high-resolution reference showing all 254 Texas counties labeled with their county seats.
Population & demographics
With approximately 42,060 residents across 1,090 square miles, Wharton County has a population density of about 38.6 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Wharton
If you need an official record from Wharton County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Wharton is where it is kept. The town shares its name with the county. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. For many residents, a trip to Wharton combines county business with groceries, school events and church.
History & name origin
Wharton County was established in 1846 and was named for William Harris Wharton (1802–1839) and John Austin Wharton (1806–1838), brothers and officers in the Texas Revolution. It was carved from territory previously part of Colorado County, Jackson County and Matagorda County.
Wharton County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Wharton County geography, population, county seat, neighboring counties, and how to use the maps on this page. Figures are sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau; answers are written and reviewed by the Texas County Map team.
Where is Wharton County, Texas located?+
Wharton County is located in the Central Texas region of Texas at approximately 29.278° N, 96.222° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48481. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Wharton County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Wharton County in square miles?+
Wharton County covers approximately 1,090 square miles of land in the Central Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 51st out of 254 Texas counties. The full bounding box of the county is rendered to scale on the interactive map and matches the U.S. Census TIGER 2023 polygon.
What is the population of Wharton County, Texas?+
Wharton County has a population of approximately 42,060 residents. With 1,090 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 38.6 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Wharton County the 80th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Wharton County?+
Wharton is the county seat of Wharton County, Texas, which was organized in 1846 and named for William Harris Wharton (1802–1839) and John Austin Wharton (1806–1838), brothers and officers in the Texas Revolution. Wharton County was originally carved out of Colorado County, Jackson County and Matagorda County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Wharton County are located in Wharton.
Which Texas counties border Wharton County?+
Wharton County shares borders with Matagorda, Austin, Brazoria, Fort Bend, Jackson, and Colorado counties. These 6 neighboring counties are highlighted on the schematic boundary map and linked at the bottom of this page so you can quickly compare population, area, and county seats across the Central Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Wharton County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Wharton County map on this page to save a letter-size PDF of the county boundary, neighboring counties and incorporated places, drawn from U.S. Census Bureau 2023 boundary files. The "Official TxDOT road map" button downloads the Texas Department of Transportation county road mapbook for Wharton County. Both files are stored on this site and download directly. Our free Texas map with counties and cities PDF shows all 254 counties on one sheet.
What is the FIPS code for Wharton County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Wharton County is 48481, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 481. This is the same FIPS code used by the U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line files, the American Community Survey, and most federal datasets that key on county.