El Campo, Texas
El Campo is a city in Wharton County on the coastal prairie of the upper Gulf Coast, about 66 miles southwest of Houston. Long known as farm and ranch country, the area became a center of Texas rice growing in the early 1900s, and the surrounding flat prairie and wetlands are also a well-regarded destination for waterfowl and goose hunting.
Place essentials
Official Census snapshot- Census place type
- City
- July 2025 population
- 12,142
- Change from 2020 base
- -1.7%
- Land area
- 9.2 sq. mi.
- County footprint
- Wharton County
Place type, county footprint, and land area use the Census Bureau's January 1, 2025 geography. Population uses Vintage 2025 estimates through July 1, 2025; change compares that estimate with the April 1, 2020 estimates base. Geography file | Population file
Property here runs through the appraisal district and tax office for Wharton County. The homestead exemption, appraisal cap, protests, and any MUD, PID, or special districts all sit at the parcel level.
Official routes
Use the office for the parcel address; a mailing city is not always the governing city.
County context
What to know around El Campo
County lines carry much of the property, land, water, and outdoors context around El Campo.
County History
How Wharton County Got Its Name and Its Start
Wharton County was created in 1846 and named for two brothers who were leaders in Texas independence.
Property Tax
Who Sets Your Property Value in Wharton County
On East Milam Street, two offices face each other across the road. One decides what your property is worth, the other sends the bill.
Historic Courthouse
The Wharton County Courthouse Has Stood Since the 1930s
Wharton's courthouse was built during the 1930s Depression era. It is a landmark in the county seat.
Nearby
Places near El Campo
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Next steps for El Campo
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