Wellton is surrounded by picturesque mountains in the heart of the Wellton-Mohawk Valley. The town abuts Interstate 8 and runs 29 miles east of Yuma. The name Wellton (originally Well Town) came from the wells drilled to provide water to the Southern Pacific Railroad. As a diverse community, Wellton serves as a business, service and recreation center for more than 5,000 people in the Wellton-Mohawk Valley and surrounding area. Wellton's mild, clear winters allow for a year-round growing season and provide a major attraction for winter visitors and retirees.
Traditionally, agriculture and ranching have formed the area’s economic basis. In addition, a large segment of the population is involved in agricultural support industries, trades and services. A rapidly growing winter and retirement population significantly impacts the economy. Wellton has a growing commercial services sector. The town continually seeks ways to enhance the local economy. Wellton has various incentives to attract new commercial and light industrial development.
The community offers a variety of recreational activities and opportunities in the area including the Pioneer Museum, Tinas Altas, Desert Hot Springs, Baker's Tanks and El Camino Del Diablo. Wellton is 35 miles from Yuma Territorial Prison, Fort Yuma Indian Museum, Custom House, the Fine Art Center (Depot) and Century House Museum. The town is 55 miles from San Luis Rio Colorado and Sonora, Mexico, which offer curio shops, nightclubs and other attractions. South of San Luis is the small fishing village of El Golfo de Santa Clara, Mexico. El Golfo offers miles of sandy beaches for camping, swimming and clam digging.
The town of Wellton offers a broad range of community facilities including a museum, a community center, a library, two golf courses, three parks and a swimming pool. A recreational complex offers lighted pickleball courts, basketball courts and other facilities for athletic and recreational activities.
| Founded | 1904 | Incorporated | 1970 |
| Elevation | 256 ft. | Location | Yuma County |
| Phoenix | 155 miles | San Diego | 201 miles |
| Tucson | 208 miles | Los Angeles | 301 miles |
| Las Vegas | 307 miles |
| 2000 | 2010 | 2023 (est.) | |
| Wellton | 1,829 | 2,884 | 2,482 |
| Yuma County | 160,026 | 196,160 | 207,318 |
| State of Arizona | 5,130,632 | 6,401,569 | 7,285,370 |
Office of Economic Opportunity
Arizona Dept. of Revenue & Arizona Tax Research Foundation
| Wellton | 2.50% |
| Yuma County | 1.11% |
| State | 5.60% |
Arizona Dept. of Revenue & Arizona Tax Research Foundation
| 2000 | 2010 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civilian Labor Force | 617 | 996 | 752 |
| Unemployed | 113 | 466 | 2 |
| Unemployment Rate | 18.3% | 46.8% | 0.3% |
Office of Economic Opportunity
| Count | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| Less than high school | 738 | 31.6% |
| High school or equivalent, no college | 561 | 24.0% |
| Some college or Associate degree | 564 | 24.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree or advanced degree | 476 | 20.4% |
American Community Survey
| Count | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| Education, health care & social assistance | 158 | 21.8% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, & mining | 156 | 21.5% |
| Transportation, warehousing, & utilities | 110 | 15.2% |
| Arts, entertainment, food & recreation services | 85 | 11.7% |
| Manufacturing | 68 | 9.4% |
| Retail trade | 34 | 4.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 34 | 4.7% |
| Construction | 32 | 4.4% |
| Professional, scientific, & administrative services | 30 | 4.1% |
| Public administration | 17 | 2.3% |
| Finance, insurance & real estate | 0 | 0.0% |
| Information | 0 | 0.0% |
| Other services, except public administration | 0 | 0.0% |
American Community Survey
This profile was prepared by the Arizona Commerce Authority in cooperation with local sources. For further information, please contact: