Waldo, Kansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Waldo, Kansas
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Location within Russell County and Kansas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kansas |
| County | Russell |
| Founded | 1888 |
| Incorporated | 1911 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.38 sq mi (0.97 km2) |
| • Land | 0.38 sq mi (0.97 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,713 ft (522 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 30 |
| • Density | 79/sq mi (31/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
67673
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| Area code | 785 |
| FIPS code | 20-74575 |
| GNIS ID | 472528 |
Waldo is a small city in Russell County, Kansas, United States. It is located in Waldo Township. In 2020, about 30 people lived in the city.
Contents
History of Waldo
The town of Waldo was started on October 1, 1888. A company called the Union Town Company bought land for it. This land was along a Union Pacific Railroad line.
The community grew quite a bit in the early 1900s. By 1915, about 300 people lived there. Waldo had a small business area. It included a bank, stores, and three grain elevators. These elevators were used to store crops. The town was important for shipping farm products. In May 1911, Waldo officially became a city. This is called being "incorporated."
Since the 1930s, the number of people living in Waldo has slowly gone down. Waldo High School closed in 1964. Waldo Grade School closed later, in 1979. In 1993, the Union Pacific Railroad stopped using its tracks through Waldo. This meant no more train service for the town.
Where is Waldo Located?
Waldo is in north-central Kansas. It is on U.S. Route 281. The city is about 122 miles (196 km) northwest of Wichita. It is also about 224 miles (360 km) west of Kansas City. The county seat, Russell, is about 16 miles (26 km) to the south-northeast.
Waldo is in a hilly area called the Smoky Hills. This region is part of the larger Great Plains. The city is on the east side of the West Fork of Wolf Creek. This creek flows into the Saline River.
The United States Census Bureau says Waldo covers about 0.36 square miles (0.93 km2). All of this area is land.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 246 | — | |
| 1930 | 279 | 13.4% | |
| 1940 | 257 | −7.9% | |
| 1950 | 216 | −16.0% | |
| 1960 | 178 | −17.6% | |
| 1970 | 123 | −30.9% | |
| 1980 | 75 | −39.0% | |
| 1990 | 57 | −24.0% | |
| 2000 | 48 | −15.8% | |
| 2010 | 30 | −37.5% | |
| 2020 | 30 | 0.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Waldo's Population in 2010
In 2010, there were 30 people living in Waldo. These people lived in 15 households. Seven of these households were families. The city had about 75 people per square mile (29/km2). There were 44 housing units in total.
Everyone living in Waldo in 2010 was White. There were no Hispanics or Latinos reported.
About 20% of households had children under 18. Many households (53.3%) were made up of single people. A large number (60%) of these single people were 65 or older. The average household had 2 people. The average family had about 3 people.
The median age in Waldo was 52 years old. This means half the people were older and half were younger. About 26.7% of the population was under 18. About 33.3% were 65 or older.
What People Do for Work
In 2012, about 37% of people over 16 years old had jobs or were looking for jobs. Most of these people were employed.
People in Waldo worked in different areas. Many worked in management, business, or science. Some worked in sales or office jobs. Others worked in farming, construction, or maintenance.
The main types of jobs were:
- Farming, fishing, hunting, and mining (40%)
- Education and health care (30%)
- Retail (20%)
Living in Waldo is not very expensive. The cost of living is lower than the average for the U.S. In 2012, the average home value was $13,800.
Schools in Waldo
The public schools in Waldo are part of the Natoma–Paradise–Waldo USD 399 school district. This district is based in Natoma.
Waldo High School joined with Paradise High School in 1964. Then, Paradise High School joined with Natoma High School in 1974. The sports team mascot for Waldo High School was the Waldo Warriors.
City Services and Roads
Transportation
Two main roads go through Waldo: U.S. Route 281 and Kansas Highway 18 (K-18). They run together through the city.
Utilities
Western Electric provides electricity to homes in Waldo. Gorham Telephone offers landline phone service. They also provide cable TV and internet. Most people in Waldo use propane to heat their homes.
Media and News
Waldo is in the Wichita-Hutchinson, Kansas television market. This means people in Waldo get their TV channels from this area.
See also
In Spanish: Waldo (Kansas) para niños
