C.E. Muegge Real Estate, located in Wharton County, is neighbored on the north by Fort Bend and Brazoria Counties, both of which number in the top bracket of the fastest growing counties in Texas - and why not? It is a great place to live with fresh air and friendly people.
Our purpose at Muegge Real Estate is to provide the type of service that we would like to receive. Our courteous considerate associates will help make your buying and selling experience a pleasant one.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Situated on the banks of the beautiful Colorado River at US 59, Wharton is the county seat of Wharton County. This farming and ranching community boasts a population of slightly over ten thousand in a county that has a population of just over forty thousand residents. Wharton's access to US 59 will make it a valuable stop on the interstate highway system, which will facilitate trade between the US and its neighbors to the north and south, Canada and Mexico.
Wharton County was carved out of Matagorda, Colorado and Jackson Counties in 1846, ten years after Texas' independence from Mexico. Eastern Wharton County was settled primarily through Stephen F. Austin's land grants prior to Texas winning its independence. These are large land holdings. The western side of the county is divided into two sections, half and quarter sections, and was settled primarily by European immigrants who arrived after Texas became a state. The fertile land and ready access to a water supply - the Colorado River or numerous creeks and caneys - made it ideal for farming and ranching by early settlers.
RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Because of its close proximity to Houston, which is 54 miles to the northeast, current residents of Wharton and Wharton County are able to enjoy the benefits of both rural and city life. A short, 30 minute commute will take one to First Colony Mall in Sugarland, a suburb of Houston. Whereas a 45 minute drive south on Highway 60 to Matagorda might end in a day spent tanning at the beach or fishing for trout and redfish in the Gulf of Mexico. Wharton County itself offers fresh water fishing, deer, goose and duck hunting.
Although the courthouse in Wharton is 102 feet above sea level and the landfall, following the Colorado River across the county, is one foot per mile, Wharton County is best characterized as flat land with rich bottom and creek lands and plenty of prairie. The rich soil rows corn, maize, milo, cotton and rice, making Wharton County the leading grain producer in the state. A yearly average precipitation of just over 39 inches causes crops t flourish, along with the stands of oak, pecan and elm trees scattered throughout the county. The average high temperature in July of 95 degrees and the average low in January of 45 degrees also make ideal conditions for raising cattle. Wharton COunty is home to some of the finest Brahma cattle herds in the world, the breed having been developed in this area.
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES
There are five independent school districts in Wharton County. Wharton ISD is located in Wharton, along with Wharton County Junior College and St. Thomas Episcopal, a private school offering pre-K through 8th grade. Several other Wharton churches also provide preschool and daycare. Other school districts in Wharton County include El Campo, East Bernard, Louise and Boling.
Standards in our public schools have been on the rise, in keeping with TAAS testing - Wharton High School was proclaimed Exemplary for the 2001-2001 school year. Many other county schools also fall into the Exemplary and Recognized categories.
Wharton boasts one of the finest junior colleges in the state, Wharton County Junior College. Currently, there are 2,500 students in WCJC campuses in Wharton, Richmond, and El Campo. The Richmond campus is primarily a technical school, but the college also offers academic courses in both Richmond and El Campo. WCJC also fields a variety of sports, including baseball, womens' volleyball and rodeo.
HEALTH CARE
For many years, Wharton has enjoyed local health care far beyond that commonly found in rural areas. Gulf Coast Medical Center of Wharton is the largest medical facility between Houston and Victoria. Besides housing the GCMC hospital and South Texas Medical Clinic, the medical complex also is home to an MD Anderson Cancer Center satellite. In addition, those living in west Wharton County may choose El Campo Memorial Hospital in El Campo.
TRANSPORTATION
Colorado Valley Transit provides bus service to anyone i need in the county or cities. There are set routes with bus stops throughout the cities, in addition to scheduled stops in Houston and Galveston. Arrangements can be made in advance for those who need home pick up.
Motor freight lines also service the county and, recently, Tex-Mex Railroad has purchase the connecting rail line between Houston and Victoria. There are also major bus lines which travel through the city on a daily basis.
The city of Wharton has one of the finest small airports south of Houston. With a 5,000 foot runway, it is capable of handling traffic in all types of weather and can accommodate various aircraft, including small jet airplanes.
TAXES
The combined Ad Valorem (property) taxes in the City of Wharton are 2.89212 per $100 evaluation. This includes the city of Wharton, Wharton ISD, Wharton County Junior College, and Coastal Bend Underground Water District. Taxes outside the city of Wharton must be computed separately based on location.