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Kansas›Ottawa County
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WellsKS

Home to 10 people, the town was settled in 1892.

Population
10
Census survey, 2020–24
Land area
1 sq mi

Is Wells a good place to live?

40% of residents live below the poverty line in Wells, above both the Kansas town median (9.1%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). Among 152 Kansas towns, just one has a higher home-ownership rate than Wells. Wells has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.

Small town

10 people, and everyone knows the way

In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.

Nearby towns
Grant Township · 3 miRichland Township · 4 miBlaine Township · 5 miConcord Township · 7 miBennington · 8 miMinneapolis · 8 mi
Getting set up

Moving to Wells: who provides what

Wells is unincorporated, so Ottawa County and regional agencies provide most services.

PowerEvergy14.6¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterOttawa Co RWD 2No health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers35% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesOttawa CountyOttawa County provides services here
SchoolsNorth Ottawa County Unified School District 239Which school depends on your addressNCES
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.gov
Who runs elections hereOttawa County ClerkOttawa County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Dec 2025
ZIP code6746767467 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 Wells.

Natural hazards

Wells faces a high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding

Expected losses in Wells break down as 38% from inland flooding and 15% from tornadoes. Wells’ risk rating from FEMA works out to 75 of 100. One declared disaster, in 2007, has brought federal aid to Wells households.

75risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
75High riskLowerHigher
Inland floodingTornadoesIce storms
1
federal disasters paid out here
Full pageWells’ hazards pageOpen the full Hazards page
What it facesHigh riskFlood claims0 paid flood claims · No paid flood claims on recordPast disasters1 federal disaster · Paid out in WellsGet ready1.2 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Climate

The climate in Wells brings four seasons and hot summers

The range runs from 20° on a January night to 92° on a July afternoon, with about 18 inches of snow a winter.

18″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter22–43°
Spring42–66°
Summer66–89°
Fall45–68°
Oct 19
typical first frost
Apr 20
typical last frost
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
Full pageWells’ climate pageOpen the full Climate page
A year of weatherJuly highs 92°, January lows 20°Rain & snow18″ of snow a winter · 31 inches of rain and snow a yearHeating & coolingMostly a heating billThen and now+1.3° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Health

How healthy Wells is

For adults in Wells, the share who have diabetes is 12%. Against the Kansas average, Wells comes out ahead on 3 CDC measures out of 32, and behind on 5. Two figures for adults locally: 29% feel lonely, 38% have high blood pressure.

WellsTypical Kansas townTypical U.S. town
Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES)31%35%36%
Feel lonely (CDC PLACES)29%31%33%
High blood pressure (CDC PLACES)38%34%35%
Depression (CDC PLACES)21%22%23%
32 measures vs. Kansas
3 better24 too close to call5 worse
What stands outWellsKS
Fewer uninsured adults8.1%9.9%
Fewer adults facing housing insecurity9.4%11.2%
More adults with COPD8.4%6.7%
Ottawa County Health Center
8.2 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
Full pageWells’ health reportOpen the full Health report
Everyday habitsMore smokersHospitals & doctors nearby8.2 miles to an ER · Ottawa County Health CenterHow adults are doingMore adults in frequent physical distressEvery CDC estimateBetter than KS on 3 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Wells

13pages on Wells
The big questions
HealthBetter than KS on 3 of 32 CDC measuresNatural hazardsFEMA risk higher than 75% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
PlacesAttractions5 nearby · Rolling Hills Zoo 23 miLibraryMinneapolis PublicColleges
The story
HistorySettled 1892Climate92° summer highs · 18″ of snow
Day to day
NewsWeatherHandbookTown SquareNeighbors
After high school

Colleges nearby

None within 15 miles of Wells; the nearest are

Kansas Wesleyan UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Salina22.7 mi$34,630 tuitionSalina Area Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Salina24.3 mi$7,128 in-state tuitionKansas State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Manhattan52.1 mi$11,221 in-state tuition

About 0 of every 100 Wells residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Kansas.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

About Wells

Unincorporated community in Ottawa County, Kansas

Wells is a census-designated place (CDP) in Ottawa County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 45.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Area
1.4 sq mi

Questions about Wells

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Wells, KS a good place to live?

Wells has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.