Wharton, Texas

Located on the Colorado River, Wharton was established as the Wharton County seat when the county was organized in 1846. The city is the home of Wharton County Junior College and the Gulf Coast Medical Center. Rice, corn, cotton and grain grown in the fertile farmland makes Wharton one of the major agriculture producers in the state. The Veterans Memorial Monument in Monterey Square, downtown, bears the names of service personnel who died in combat in World Wars I & II, Korea, Vietnam and Lebanon. A soothing riverside park, Riverfront Park, overlooks the winding Colorado River with benches, picnic tables, and playground equipment. The downtown area is known for its quaint antique and gift shops, as well as the surrounding historical areas of Glen Flora and Egypt. Murals painted on downtown buildings depict the county's diverse heritage, and the Wharton County Courthouse restoration will return the structure to its original 1888 appearance.