Wadsworth, Texas

Wadsworth is an unincorporated community in Matagorda County, Texas, United States. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had an estimated population of 180 in 2000.[1]

Geography

Wadsworth is located at 28°49′57″N 95°56′06″W / 28.83250°N 95.93500°W (28.8324832, -95.9349598). It is situated at the junction of State Highway 60 and Farm Roads 521 and 2078 in south central Matagorda County, approximately eleven miles south of Bay City.[2]

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Wadsworth has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[3]

History

On October 11, 1902, Ambrose A. Plotner and John W. Stoddard purchased a tract of land known as the Kemp pasture. They formed the Colonial Land Company, which founded Wadsworth – named for William Wadsworth, an early settler in the area.[1] The community became a stop on the Gulf, Colorado, and Santa Fe Railroad and a post office was established in 1907. The population was estimated at 150 in 1914. That figure had risen to nearly 925 in 1925. By the 1930s, Wadsworth had its own school district.

The community went into decline and by 1940, the population had fallen to 400. Wadsworth's school was consolidated with Bay City in 1949. In 1990, approximately 152 people lived in Wadsworth. By 2000, that number had risen slightly to 160.[1]

Although it is unincorporated, Wadsworth has a post office, with the ZIP code of 77483.[4] The Talasek Construction Company, a custom home builder, is headquartered in Wadsworth.[5] There are also two convenience stores in the community.

Education

Public education in the community of Wadsworth is provided by the Bay City Independent School District. Included Bay City High School, higher education is available at the Wharton County Junior College in Bay City, Texas.

Religion and Political Backgrounds

Many of the residents in Wadsworth, Texas are nondenominational Christians, The ALFC (Abundant Life Fellowship Church) which is nondenominational, started out in Wadsworth but later moved to the southern boundaries of Bay City, TX. Another nondenominational church that is currently active in Wadsworth is, Word of Life Church. The church started in the living room of Melvin and Carol Ryman back in 1996. A "miracle" behind the Word Of Life Church building is the building where the congregants gather at today. In the mid 1990s, the church building was vacant, overgrown with trees and the church pews and walls were vandalized and damaged. Pastor Melvin Ryman went to members of the Wadsworth Baptist Church board, who had authority over the building, to buy the church for the new congregation and there was never a unanimous consensus to sell the church but did agree to a long term lease of the building, to Word Of Life Church for only $1. Another "miracle" was the property along Highway 60. A resident and bar owner from Houston, Texas, purchased most of that block to establish an ice house right next to the church. Upon Pastor Ryman meeting with the gentleman to persuade him not to build, he was still determined to build the bar because it fell within distance guidelines of an establishment serving alcohol being so far from a church or school. Pastor Ryman went to the congregation to pray for this man, his family and the situation. Within a few days, the bar owner called Pastor Ryman and told him that he "does not want to go against God" and he was willing to sell the property to the church and for the same price he paid for it. Among dominant religions: Catholic Christian, Baptist, Methodist, and Lutheran. Wadsworth, Texas is made up by mostly White (Non-Hispanic) people. The Wadsworth community has a very southern atmosphere. In terms of politics, Wadsworth is predominantly Conservative Republican. In the 2009 elections the people of this municipality voted for Arizona Senator John McCain (R) for president.

Healthcare

Wadsworth and other municipalities in Matagorda County are served by the Matagorda Regional Medical Center.

As there are no doctors or hospitals in the community of Wadsworth for medical emergencies ambulances come from the nearby municipality of Bay City, Texas equipped with a trauma center that is not equipped to handle severe injuries. Living in Wadsworth for elder people can be dangerous because Bay City ambulances must travel 25 minutes to get to the Wadsworth community.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Wadsworth, Texas". The Handbook of Texas online. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
  2. ↑ "Wadsworth, Texas". Texas Escapes Online Magazine. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
  3. ↑ Climate Summary for Wadsworth, Texas
  4. ↑ Zip Code Lookup
  5. ↑ "About Us". Talasek Construction. Retrieved 2009-07-06.

External links