Welda, Kansas, 1880s
Welda’s story
152 years in pictures
The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 1880 and 5 maps from 1885 on.
- 1874Welda is settled
WeldaKS
This town of 233 people was settled in 1874.
Population
233
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$113K
Census ACS
Household income
$78K
median
Median age
22.4
years
Jobs based here
25
A commuter town
Is Welda a good place to live?
Welda’s midpoint age is 22.4 years, where Kansas’ towns sit at 38.1 years and U.S. towns at 40.5 years. Among 152 Kansas towns, just 9 have a lower share of working residents who work in town than Welda. Welda has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
233 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
Moving to Welda: who provides what
Welda is unincorporated, so Anderson County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerEvergy14.6¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterAnderson Co RWD 5No health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesAnderson CountyAnderson County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn Kansas you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person until 21 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereAnderson County ClerkAnderson County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2024
ZIP code6609166091 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Welda.
Work & commute
Welda has 0.4 jobs per working resident, so most workers leave town for work
5.2% of residents live below the poverty line in Welda. Just 2% of the town’s working residents have a job in town. The top destinations are Garnett (15%), Wichita (12%) and Iola (10%). For half of commuters, work is under 31 miles away.
2%work in town
| Welda | Typical Kansas town | Typical U.S. town | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 5.2% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $78,000 | $73,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Welda2%
Garnett15%
Wichita12%
Iola10%
Colony8%
31 mi
median commute distance
25
jobs based in Welda
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2024 · ACS
14″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter24–43°
Spring45–66°
Summer66–87°
Fall46–68°
Oct 22
typical first frost
Apr 17
typical last frost
+0.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazards
Top of a high hazard risk in Welda: inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in nearly two thirds of U.S. communities. FEMA puts nearly a third of Welda’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 20% to drought.
66risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingDroughtCold waves
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Health
How healthy Welda is
The share of adults in Welda who say their health is fair or poor is 23%. Only 6 of the 151 Kansas towns we compare have a higher share of adults who smoke cigarettes than Welda. Among adults in the town, 31% get no exercise outside work and 40% have high blood pressure.
| Welda | Typical Kansas town | Typical U.S. town | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 15% | 14% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 26% | 25% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 34% | 35% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 13% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Kansas
0 better19 too close to call13 worse
| What stands out | Welda | KS |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 19.9% | 11.3% |
| More adults with COPD | 10% | 6.7% |
| More smokers | 19% | 14% |
Anderson County Hospital
7.8 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Welda
15pages on Welda
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Welda; the nearest are
Allen County Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Iola17.2 mi$4,260 in-state tuitionEmporia State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Emporia51 mi$7,106 in-state tuition
College town 19 of every 100 Welda residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Kansas.
A commuter town
98% of working residents leave Welda for work
Where Welda’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
25jobs based in Welda
2%of working residents work in town
31 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2024
About Welda
Unincorporated community in Anderson County, Kansas
Welda is a census-designated place (CDP) in Welda Township, Anderson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 149.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.9 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,100 ft
- ZIP code
- 66091
Questions about Welda
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Welda, KS a good place to live?
Welda has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.