EDUCATION AND POVERTY

prepared by the Houston-Galveston Area Council

overviewhousing & land useeconomy & workforceeducation & healthenvironment & transportationsources

35791113

wharton county

2017 PROFILE

prefaceIn 2013, the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) developed Our Great Region 2040, a regional plan for sustainable development. The plan lays out a long-range vision to ensure that the 13-county region is one of the world’s greatest places to live, work, and succeed by 2040.

The 2017 profiles for all 13 counties in the region provide a demographic snapshot and build a baseline understanding from which local communities and H-GAC can gauge how the region has advanced the tenets of the Our Great Region 2040 plan.

The contents of this report have been gathered from a variety of sources referenced on the last two pages. All maps were produced by H-GAC.

To read the Our Great Region 2040 plan and all 13 county profiles, visit ourregion.org/county-profiles.html or h-gac.com/go/apps.

1 wharton county

2040

grea tv

big ideasStrategies in the Our Great Region 2040 plan are grouped into Big Ideas for six different topics highlighting areas of opportunity within the region. The Big Ideas serve as high-level guides when considering new projects or policies. This 2017 county profile includes a range of demographic data points that correspond with one or multiple Big Ideas.

2

RResiliencyIncreasing our resiliency to disaster and a changing environment

Economic DevelopmentStrengthening our economic competitiveness through an educated and skilled workforce

Healthy CommunitiesCultivating places where people can lead active, healthy lives

HousingProviding balanced housing choices near jobs, services, and transportation options

TransportationAchieving a world-class transportation network

EnvironmentSecuring a clean and ample water supply

71

59

90

60

36

71

59

90

60

36

Colorado

WhartonCounty Seat

El Campo

East Bernard

Jackson

Lavaca

Matagorda

Fort Bend

Wharton

Residents Per Square MilePopulation Growth ForecastWharton County is less dense than the region as a whole.

Wharton County grew by 3% from 1980 to 2015 and is expected to reach 45,000 residents by 2040.

1980

2010

2000

1990

2020

2030

2040

2,590

560

20

45,000

40,000 2015 41,000

40

3 wharton county

OVERVIEW

County Seat: WhartonLargest City: El Campo

Other counties

Top 4 cities

Major roads

Wharton County

Wharton County Boundaries

0 4 8 miles N

Harris

RegionBrazoria

Montgom

eryFort Bend

Chambers

Liberty

Walker

Matagorda

Colorado

Galveston

Austin

Waller

Wharton

Race and EthnicityWharton County has a higher percentage of White and Hispanic residents than the region and the state.

County Region TexasWhite

Hispanic*

BlackAsianOther

46% 39% 44%

39% 36% 38%

11% 17% 12%

0% 7% 4%

0% 2% 2%

Median Household IncomeWharton County has one of the lowest median household incomes in the region.

$53,200

$45,200

Poverty RateWharton County has a higher rate of poverty than the region, particularly for children.

County

Region

Texas

18% 28% 13%

16% 23% 10%

17% 25% 11%

Overall Children (under 18) Seniors (65 and over)

4

AgeWharton County has a higher portion of residents over 65 than the region.

Ages 18-34

over 65

Ages 0-17

Ages 35-64

26%27%

21%25%

37%39%

15%10%

CountyRegion

*As defined by the Office of Management and Budget as a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race.

Harris

Texas

Montgom

eryBrazoria

Fort BendCham

bers

Liberty

Walker

Matagorda

Colorado

Galveston

Austin

Waller

Wharton

5 wharton county

Wharton County Land Use

71

59

90

60

36

8 miles0 4N

WhartonLavaca

Jackson

Colorado

Fort Bend

Matagorda

Forest, shrubs, pasture, grasslands, barren lands and cultivated crops

90%

Wetlands3%

Open water1%Developed Land7%

Other counties

Building Permits IssuedSingle-family construction is high, but volatile in comparison with previous years, while multi-family permits remain low.

1990

1992

1998

2010

2012

1996

2004

2006

2008

1994

2002

2000

2014

2016

12

45

Single Family 82 units

16

40

Multi-Family 0 units

HOUSING & LAND USE

Vacant Housing UnitsAround 15% of Wharton County’s housing units are vacant.

15%

Housing TenureWharton County has a higher rate of homeownership than the region or the state.

Own 68% Rent 32%

61% 39%

62% 38%

County

Region

Texas

Median Home ValueWharton County has the third lowest median home value in the region.

Chambers

Texas

AustinG

alveston

Fort Bend M

ontgomery

Waller

LibertyM

atagordia

Colorado W

alker

Harris

Wharton

$136,000

$102,300Housing Units Built Since 2000One-tenth of Wharton County’s housing units were built since 2000.

Chambers

Texas

Colorado

Galveston

Fort Bend

Montgom

ery

Waller

Brazoria

LibertyAustinW

alker

Matagorda

Harris

Wharton

25%

11%

Housing TypeWharton County’s homes are mostly single-family residences.

Single Family Multi-Family RV, boat, & mobile home

75% 11%

66% 29%

68%

County

Region

Texas24%

6

Wetlands

Open water

Developed Land

Living CostsWharton County households spend 66% of their income on transportation and housing.

35%

31%Housing

Transportation

Brazoria

14%

5%

8%

ECONOMY & WORKFORCE

Top Employers in Wharton County

Top Industries by Percent of Overall Jobs

Educational Services

Retail Trade

Retail TradeEducational Services

Manufacturing

Manufacturing

12%

11%11%

12%

13%

13%

14%14%

7 wharton county

Employment & Education (16-19 Year Olds)Fewer than 10% of Wharton County’s working-age teens are both unemployed and out of school.

Enrolled in School Employed, Not in School Not in School or Employed

79% 12% 9%

85% 7% 8%

County

Region

Employment in Wharton County between 2002 and 2014 stayed largely in four major industries: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Retail Trade, and Manufacturing.

2002 2014

Health Care & Social Assistance

Health Care & Social Assistance

Greenleaf Nursery Co, Inc.

Cardell Cabinets

Nan Ya Plastics Corp.

El Campo ISD

Leedo Mfg. Company, Inc.

Signature Gulf Coast HospitalTexas Home Health of America, Inc.

Wharton County Junior CollegeWal-Mart Associates, Inc.

Wharton ISD*This reflects the most up-to-date publicly available data and may not represent the current mix of major employers in the county.

Only 34% of Wharton County residents work in the county, and only 44% of the workers in the county live there.

Workers’ Job & Home Destinations

Aust

in

Gal

vest

on

Fort

Ben

d

Out

side

Reg

ion

Wal

ker

Cham

bers

Har

ris

Fort

Ben

d

Mat

agor

da

Braz

oria

Braz

oria

Mat

agor

da

Aust

in

Colo

rado

Mon

tgom

ery

Wal

ler

Colo

rado

Mon

tgom

ery

Cham

bers

Wal

ler

Gal

vest

on

Wal

ker

Libe

rty

Libe

rty

Har

ris

Out

side

Reg

ion

Wha

rton

6,900 Wharton County residents both live and work in the county.

5,40

0

3,90

0

800

700 1,

3001,80

0

900

550

300

<300300

400

4,60

0

Workers in the county who live elsewhereCounty residents who work elsewhere

<300

8

Unemployment Rate Earnings of ResidentsWharton County’s unemployment mirrors national trends, and was higher than the nation in 2016.

Around 40% of Wharton County residents earn more than $40,000 annually, a lower percentage than the region.

2006

2010

2012

2014

2008

2016

County 5.0%

8.3%

4.7%

Nation 4.9%

9.6%

4.6%

$15,000 or less

$15,000- $40,000

$40,000 or more

Region

52%

31%

17%

Wharton

42%37%

21%

EDUCATION

34%

29%

14%

18%

24%

28%

30%

18%

25%

29%

28%

County

Region

Texas

Less than High School

High School or Equivalency

Some College or Associate’s

Bachelor’s Degree or More

A lower percentage of Wharton County residents have completed a bachelor’s degree or more than the region and state.

Educational Attainment

Median Earnings by Educational AttainmentA Wharton County resident with a graduate or professional degree makes, on average, $34,400 more than a resident with less than a high school education annually.

Less th

an

high school

$20K

High school o

r

equivalency

Some colle

ge or

Associa

te’s

Bachelor’s

Graduate or

Professi

onal

$20,400

$25,200

$31,300

$46,300

$54,800

$60K

Wharton County students graduated at a higher rate in 2015 than the students of most counties in the region.

Class of 2015 Graduation Rate

Chambers

Austin

Galveston

Fort Bend

Montgom

ery

Brazoria

Liberty

Matagorda

Colorado

Walker

Waller

Harris

All W

harton Students

Hispanic W

harton Students

White W

harton Students

Black Wharton Students

Asian W

harton Students99%91%

100%

97%

95%Local Schools

East Bernard ISDBoling ISD Public Secondary Schools

Hallettsville ISD

Wharton ISD

El Campo ISD

Louise ISD

Wharton County Junior College

Post-Secondary Schools

9 wharton county

23%

HEALTH

Population without Health InsuranceA lower percentage of Wharton County residents lack health insurance than the region or state.

20%10%

12%

12%

21%

21%

County

Region

Texas

Children (under 18) Total population

Wharton County has one of the highest obesity rates in the state.

Adult Obesity Rate

Chambers

Austin

Galveston

Fort Bend

Montgom

ery

Waller

Liberty

Matagorda

Colorado

Walker

Harris

Wharton

Texas

32%

31%

Top Causes of Death Per 100,000 Wharton County residents

Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease

Cancer (all types)198156

5855

Stroke

10

Brazoria

Heart disease

Dentists Per Capita

County 41 per 100,000

Texas 53 per 100,000

Doctors Per Capita

County 49 per 100,000

Texas 74 per 100,000

ENVIRONMENT

11 wharton county

Residents in 100-year Floodplain Residents in Hurricane Evacuation ZoneA larger percentage of Wharton County residents live in a 100-year floodplain than the region.

No Wharton County residents live in a hurricane evacuation zone, as opposed to 25% of the region’s residents.

30% 12%

RegionCounty

0% 25%

RegionCounty

Wharton County EcoRegions & Conservation Districts

Conservation and Recreation Lands

Floodplains & Low Terraces

Northern Humid Gulf Coast Prairie

Other counties

Wharton

Colorado

Matagorda

Jackson

Brazoria

Fort Bend

TRANSPORTATION

Wharton County workers have a shorter average commute than the region as a whole.

Mean Commute to Work (minutes)

Chambers

Austin

Galveston

Fort Bend

Montgom

ery

Waller

Liberty

Matagorda

Colorado

Walker

Brazoria

Harris

Wharton

Region

34

292321

Wharton County drivers travel more annually than drivers in the region as a whole.

Vehicle Miles Traveled per Person

Chambers

Austin

Galveston

Fort Bend

Montgomery

Waller

Liberty

Matagorda

Colorado

Walker

Brazoria

Harris

Wharton

Region

34,100

8,700

18,300

6,000

Commute Mode to WorkA higher percentage of Wharton County workers drive to work compared to the region as a whole.

County 82% 12% 4% 0% 2%

Region 80% 11% 4% 2% 3%

Drive alone

Carpool

Work from

home

Public transit

Walk, bike, other

Wharton County has a higher rate of traffic fatalities than the rest of the region.

Traffic Fatalities per 100,000 Residents

County 34

22

Region 10

11

2010 2015

12

SOURCES

13 wharton county

Overview

Economy & Workforce

Housing & Land Use

Top Industries by Percent of Overall JobsU.S. Census Bureau, 2002-2014, OnTheMap Application, Longitudinal-Employer Household Dynamics ProgramMajor Employers in Wharton County2016 Workforce Solutions, County Economic ProfilesEmployment & Education (16-19 Year Olds)U.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates, Table B14005Unemployment RateU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2006-2016Earnings of ResidentsU.S. Census Bureau, 2014, OnTheMap Application, Longitudinal-Employer Household Dynamics ProgramWorkers’ Job & Home DestinationsU.S. Census Bureau, 2014, OnTheMap Application, Longitudinal-Employer Household Dynamics Program

Wharton County Boundaries (map)Houston-Galveston Area Council, 2017

Wharton County Land Use (map)Houston-Galveston Area Council, 2017

Population Growth ForecastHouston-Galveston Area Council, 2017

Building Permits IssuedU.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 1990-2015

Residents per Square MileHouston-Galveston Area Council, 2017

Housing TenureU.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates, Table DP04

AgeU.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates, Table B01001

Housing TypeU.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates, Table DP04

Median Household IncomeU.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates, Table S2503

Vacant Housing UnitsU.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates, Table DP04

Poverty RateU.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates, Table S1701

Living CostsCenter for Neighborhood Technology 2013 H+T® Index

Race and EthnicityU.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates, Table B03002

Median Home ValueU.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates, Table DP04Housing Units Built Since 2000U.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates, Table DP04

14

Education & Health

Environment & Transportation

Educational AttainmentU.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates, Table S1501

Wharton County EcoRegions & Conservation Districts (map)Houston-Galveston Area Council, 2017

Local SchoolsTexas Education Agency and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

Residents in 100-year FloodplainHouston-Galveston Area Council, 2017

Class of 2015 Graduation RateTexas Education Agency, Four-Year Graduation and Dropout Data, Class of 2015

Residents in Hurricane Evacuation ZoneHouston-Galveston Area Council, 2017

Median Earnings by Educational AttainmentU.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates, Table B20004

Mean Commute to Work (minutes)U.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates, Table S0802

Population without Health InsuranceU.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates, Table S2701

Vehicle Miles Traveled per PersonTexas Department of Transportation, 2015 Roadway Inventory

Top Causes of DeathTexas Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Health Statistics, 2013 County Health Facts Profiles

Commute Mode to WorkU.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates, Table S0802

Adult Obesity RateCenter for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013 County Data Indicators

Traffic Fatalities per 100,000 ResidentsTexas Department of Transportation, 2010-2015, Crash Records Information System

Dentists per CapitaU.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Health Resources & Services Administration, Area Health Resources FilesDoctors per CapitaU.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Health Resources & Services Administration, Area Health Resources Files

Houston-Galveston Area CouncilPO Box 22777 Houston, Texas 77227-2777

www.h-gac.comwww.ourregion.org

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