Weldon, California

Weldon
Unincorporated Community
Census Designated Place
Location in Kern County and the state of California
Location in Kern County and the state of California
Weldon is located in the United States
Weldon
Weldon
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 35°39′57″N 118°17′25″W / 35.66583°N 118.29028°W / 35.66583; -118.29028
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountyKern
Government
 • State senatorShannon Grove (R)
 • AssemblymemberStan Ellis (R)
 • U. S. rep.Vince Fong (R)
Area
 • Total
26.815 sq mi (69.450 km2)
 • Land26.663 sq mi (69.058 km2)
 • Water0.151 sq mi (0.392 km2)  0.56%
Elevation
2,654 ft (809 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
2,303
 • Density86.37/sq mi (33.35/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
93283
Area codes442/760
FIPS code06-83948
GNIS feature ID0255860
Weldon and neighboring South Lake sit on the southeast tip of the Lake Isabella, in the picture at far left

Weldon is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kern County, California, United States. It sits at the southeastern tip of Lake Isabella. Weldon is located 9 miles (14 km) east-southeast of Wofford Heights, at an elevation of 2,654 feet (809 m). The population was 2,303 at the 2020 census, down from 2,642 at the 2010 census.

Geography

Weldon is located at 35°39′57″N 118°17′25″W / 35.66583°N 118.29028°W / 35.66583; -118.29028.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 26.8 square miles (69 km2), over 99% of which is land.

History

The Weldon post office opened in 1871. The name honors William B. Weldon, a cattle rancher. Camp Leonard, a temporary army camp, was established at Weldon in 1863.

The 1941 western film Doomed Caravan was partially filmed in Weldon. Other movies filmed here include Borderland (1937), In Old Mexico (1938) and Hidden Gold (1940).

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
20002,387—
20102,64210.7%
20202,303−12.8%
U.S. Decennial Census
1860–1870 1880-1890
1900 1910 1920
1930 1940 1950
1960 1970 1980
1990 2000 2010
2020

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.

Racial and ethnic composition

Weldon CDP, California – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000 Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 2,073 2,269 1,803 86.85% 85.88% 78.29%
Black or African American alone (NH) 10 5 7 0.42% 0.19% 0.30%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 79 62 58 3.31% 2.35% 2.52%
Asian alone (NH) 11 11 25 0.46% 0.42% 1.09%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) 3 1 3 0.13% 0.04% 0.13%
Other race alone (NH) 4 1 1 0.17% 0.04% 0.04%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 58 76 149 2.43% 2.88% 6.47%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 149 217 257 6.24% 8.21% 11.16%
Total 2,387 2,642 2,303 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Weldon had a population of 2,303. The population density was 86.4 inhabitants per square mile (33.4/km2). 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.

The whole population lived in households. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

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 spouse or partner present, and 25.8% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 36.8% of households were one person, and 21.4% had one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.17. There were 597 families (56.2% of all households).

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 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.1 males.

There were 1,443 housing units at an average density of 54.1 units per square mile (20.9 units/km2), of which 1,062 (73.6%) were occupied and 381 (26.4%) were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 5.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.2%. Of the occupied units, 75.5% were owner-occupied and 24.5% were occupied by renters.

Income and poverty

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.

2010 census

At the 2010 census Weldon had a population of 2,642. The population density was 98.6 inhabitants per square mile (38.1/km2). 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%).

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.

References

  1. 1 2 "Final Maps | California Citizens Redistricting Commission". Archived from the original on October 12, 2025. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
  2. ↑ "California's 20th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC.
  3. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on March 18, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Weldon, California
  5. ↑ "US Census Bureau". www.census.gov. Archived from the original on October 27, 2026. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, California: Word Dancer Press. p. 1125. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
  7. ↑ "Historic California Posts: Camp Leonard, from The California State Military Museum website, accessed September 15, 2011". Archived from the original on February 6, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  8. ↑ Schneider, Jerry L. (2016). Western Filming Locations California Book 6. CP Entertainment Books. Page 73. ISBN 9780692722947.
  9. ↑ Schneider, Jerry L. (2016). Western Filming Locations California Book 6. CP Entertainment Books. Page 70. ISBN 9780692722947.
  10. ↑ "Decennial Census by Decade". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 6, 2022.
  11. ↑ "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 26, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  12. ↑ "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  13. ↑ "1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 11, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  14. ↑ "1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  15. ↑ "1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 4, 2025. Retrieved February 4, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  16. ↑ "1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 28, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  17. ↑ "1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 17, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  18. ↑ "1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 26, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  19. ↑ "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 19, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  20. ↑ "1960 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 22, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  21. ↑ "1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 22, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  22. ↑ "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  23. ↑ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 26, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  24. ↑ "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 26, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  25. 1 2 "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 22, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  26. ↑ "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 28, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  27. 1 2 "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Weldon CDP, California". United States Census Bureau.
  28. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Weldon CDP, California". United States Census Bureau.
  29. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Weldon CDP, California". United States Census Bureau.
  30. 1 2 3 4 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  31. 1 2 "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  32. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Weldon CDP, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  34. ↑ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Weldon CDP". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 12, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)