Weldon, California
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Weldon is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kern County, California, United States. It sits at the southeast tip of Lake Isabella. Weldon is located Template:Convert east-southeast of Wofford Heights,<ref name=CGN>Template:California's Geographic Names</ref> at an elevation of Template:Convert.<ref name=gnis /> The population was 2,303 at the 2020 census, down from 2,642 at the 2010 census.
Geography
Weldon is located at Template:Coord.<ref name=gnis />
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of Template:Convert, over 99% of it land.
History
The Weldon post office opened in 1871.<ref name=CGN /> The name honors William B. Weldon, a cattle rancher.<ref name=CGN /> Camp Leonard, a temporary army camp, was established at Weldon in 1863.<ref name=CGN /> <ref>Historic California Posts: Camp Leonard, from The California State Military Museum website, accessed September 15, 2011</ref>
The 1941 western film Doomed Caravan was partially filmed in Weldon.<ref>Schneider, Jerry L. (2016). Western Filming Locations California Book 6. CP Entertainment Books. Page 73. Template:ISBN.</ref> Other movies filmed here include Borderland (1937), In Old Mexico (1938) and Hidden Gold (1940).<ref>Schneider, Jerry L. (2016). Western Filming Locations California Book 6. CP Entertainment Books. Page 70. Template:ISBN.</ref>
Demographics
Weldon first appeared as a census designated place in the 2000 U.S. census formed out of a portion of the deleted South Lake CDP.<ref name=2000CensusCA/>
2020
The 2020 United States census reported that Weldon had a population of 2,303. The population density was Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 82.8% White, 0.3% African American, 3.3% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.0% from other races, and 10.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.2% of the population.<ref name=DP1>Template:Cite web</ref>
The whole population lived in households. There were 1,062 households, out of which 19.9% included children under the age of 18, 35.9% were married-couple households, 7.9% were cohabiting couple households, 30.4% had a female householder with no partner present, and 25.8% had a male householder with no partner present. 36.8% of households were one person, and 21.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.17.<ref name=DP1/> There were 597 families (56.2% of all households).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The age distribution was 16.9% under the age of 18, 4.1% aged 18 to 24, 20.0% aged 25 to 44, 29.7% aged 45 to 64, and 29.3% who were 65Template:Nbspyears of age or older. The median age was 53.9Template:Nbspyears. For every 100 females, there were 103.4 males.<ref name=DP1/>
There were 1,443 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert, of which 1,062 (73.6%) were occupied. Of these, 75.5% were owner-occupied, and 24.5% were occupied by renters.<ref name=DP1/>
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $27,353, and the per capita income was $24,896. About 30.9% of families and 31.7% of the population were below the poverty line.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2010
At the 2010 census Weldon had a population of 2,642. The population density was Template:Convert. The racial makeup of Weldon was 2,375 (89.9%) White, 5 (0.2%) African American, 82 (3.1%) Native American, 11 (0.4%) Asian, 1 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 53 (2.0%) from other races, and 115 (4.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 217 people (8.2%).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The census reported that 2,636 people (99.8% of the population) lived in households, no one lived in non-institutionalized group quarters and 6 (0.2%) were institutionalized.
There were 1,167 households, 254 (21.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 541 (46.4%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 117 (10.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 78 (6.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 78 (6.7%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 18 (1.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 351 households (30.1%) were one person and 179 (15.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.26. There were 736 families (63.1% of households); the average family size was 2.74.
The age distribution was 484 people (18.3%) under the age of 18, 178 people (6.7%) aged 18 to 24, 443 people (16.8%) aged 25 to 44, 856 people (32.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 681 people (25.8%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 50.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.
There were 1,583 housing units at an average density of 59.1 per square mile, of the occupied units 901 (77.2%) were owner-occupied and 266 (22.8%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 7.8%. 1,923 people (72.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 713 people (27.0%) lived in rental housing units.