Oil and Gas Is Part of Wharton County's History — and Still Active

Wharton County has been an oil and gas producing area since 1925. The Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) regulates all oil and gas operations in the state and keeps public records of wells, permits, and production data for the county.

When buying land, mineral rights may or may not come with the surface. In Texas, the two can be split — someone else can own what is underground. Ask your title company or attorney to check whether mineral rights have been severed before you buy. You can look up well locations and production history for Wharton County through the RRC's free online research tools.