Welch, Oklahoma

Updated on Oct 31, 2023

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Country United States County Craig Area code(s) 539/918 Elevation 250 m Population 607 (2013)		State Oklahoma Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6) FIPS code 40-79750 Zip code 74369

Weather 23°C, Wind S at 32 km/h, 60% Humidity

Welch is a town in Craig County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 619 at the 2010 census, an increase of 3.7 percent from 597 in 2000. It is the second largest town in its county.

Map of Welch, OK 74369, USA

History

Welch was established in 1888 in the Cherokee Nation on land that D. B. Nigh leased from Frank Craig. The Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway (Katy) had built a line through the area in 1871, and in 1891 it built a switch on Nigh's property, providing a shipping point for local hay and grain. The town that began to grow around the switch was named for a Katy railroad official, A. L. Welch. A post office was established in 1892. The town plat was approved in 1902, and the town incorporated in 1909.

A joint stock company established the first school in 1899, then sold it to the city in 1907. The first class graduated in 1911.

Geography

Welch is located at 36°52′29″N 95°5′38″W (36.874605, -95.093805). It is 18 miles (29 km) north of Vinita, the county seat, and 13 miles (21 km) west of Miami, the county seat of Ottawa County.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²), all land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 597 people, 247 households, and 170 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,308.7 people per square mile (501.1/km²). There were 295 housing units at an average density of 646.7 per square mile (247.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 75.38% White, 0.17% African American, 12.90% Native American, 1.34% from other races, and 10.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.18% of the population.

There were 247 households out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the town, the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 23.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 87.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $31,389, and the median income for a family was $38,482. Males had a median income of $22,063 versus $21,944 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,358. About 8.9% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.8% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Agriculture has been the mainstay of Welch's economy since its founding. Henry Brooks Campbell began buying hay In 1889 ior a Kansas City hay dealer, leading to the establishment of Campbell Hay and Grain Company, one of the largest hay and grain businesses in northeastern Indian Territory at that time. In 1928 The Maxson family started a cattle auction business in 1928 and 1967 opened the Maxson Sales Barn in 1967. The business was renamed the Welch Livestock Auction, after the Maxsons sold it in 1977. Charley Neill began a cattle-feeding business on his ranch west of town in the 1930s. He and a son formed the Neill Cattle Company in 1960.

Crop production, ranching, and related businesses remain the area's financial anchor.