El Campo
El Campo is on U.S. Highway 59 and State Highway 71, thirteen miles southwest of Wharton in south central Wharton County. The Lower Colorado River Authority provides water, and several creeks flow near the city limits. In 1882 a railroad camp called Prairie Switch was situated where El Campo now stands and served as a switching point on New York, Texas and Mexican Railway. Cowboys called the camp "Pearl of the Prairies." Located in the midst of cattle country, the camp was used by Mexican cowboys who changed the name to El Campo in 1890. Ranching was the chief industry, and thousands of cattle were shipped yearly to San Antonio. Four large ranches surrounded the settlement: the Texas Land and Cattle Company (KO Ranch) to the south, the Pierce Ranch to the east, the Herder Ranch to the west, and the Brown Ranch to the north.
Adapted from the official Handbook of Texas, a state encyclopedia developed by the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). It is an authoritative source of trusted historical records.
Karen H. Meinardus | © Texas State Historical Association
At a Glance
Belongs to
El Campo is part of or belongs to the following places.
Adopt a Town
The Texas Almanac's Land Rush program lets you adopt the town, county, or lake of your choice and share your message with the world. 100% of the proceeds benefit education in Texas.
Currently Exists
Yes
Place type
El Campo is classified as a Town
Associated Names
- (Prairie Switch)
Locations
-
- Latitude
- 29.19698540
- Longitude
- -96.27158900
Has Post Office
Yes
Is Incorporated
Yes

Proud to call Texas home?
Put your name on the town, county, or lake of your choice.
Search Places »
El Campo by the Numbers
Population Counts
This is some placeholder text that we should either remove or replace with a brief summary about this particular metric. For example, "We update population counts once per year..."
Population Counts
El Campo
Pop. | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
12,350 | 2020 | United States Census Bureau |
11,782 | 2019 | Texas Demographic Center |
11,602 | 2010 | United States Census Bureau |
10,945 | 2000 | United States Census Bureau |
10,511 | 1990 | United States Census Bureau |
10,462 | 1980 | United States Census Bureau |
9,332 | 1970 | United States Census Bureau |
7,700 | 1960 | United States Census Bureau |
6,237 | 1950 | United States Census Bureau |
3,906 | 1940 | United States Census Bureau |
2,034 | 1930 | United States Census Bureau |
1,766 | 1920 | United States Census Bureau |
17,788 | 1910 | United States Census Bureau |