Welaka is small — about 714 people — but it punches above its weight with its own town hall, police department, volunteer fire, and water utility. Here's everything a new Welaka resident needs: tax office, DMV, library, utility setup, trash, voter registration, and a Week-1 checklist.
The hard numbers — official sources cited at the bottom of the page.
| County | Putnam County, Florida |
|---|---|
| Status | Incorporated Town — strong-mayor/council form |
| Incorporated | June 21, 1887 |
| Population | 714 (2020 U.S. Census) |
| Median household income | ~$51,528 (recent ACS estimate) |
| Median home value (ZIP 32193) | ~$271,800 (ACS estimate) |
| Square miles | 1.51 sq mi total (1.47 land, 0.04 water) |
| Elevation | 30 ft |
| ZIP code | 32193 |
| Time zone | Eastern (ET) |
| Mayor | Kathy Washington (Interim Mayor, per town site) |
| Town Clerk (administration) | Meghan E. Allmon — Welaka has no separate town manager; the Town Clerk runs day-to-day operations |
Population/income/home-value figures are the latest publicly available Census Bureau and ACS estimates. Officeholders change with each election — verify on welaka-fl.gov before relying on names.
For a town of 714, Welaka does a lot in-house: its own water utility, its own police department, and a long-standing volunteer fire department. Permits, code enforcement, and zoning are also handled at Town Hall.
Welaka doesn't have a Tax Collector branch or library inside town limits — but the Crescent City branch, just ~10 miles south, handles almost everything you'd need.
Welaka students are zoned into the Putnam County School District. Most Welaka homes feed into elementary schools nearby and into Crescent City Junior–Senior High School at the secondary level. Because rural attendance zones don't always follow town lines, we always confirm the exact school for a specific address before you buy.
Welaka itself has no hospital or urgent care — Putnam Hospital in Palatka is the closest emergency room, about a 33-minute drive on CR-309.
Urgent-care hours change — call before you drive.
Welaka has its own police department, plus the Greater Welaka Volunteer Fire Department for fire and rescue. Putnam Sheriff backs them up.
Florida is strict about new-resident deadlines. Knock these out in your first 30 days and you'll never get blindsided by a ticket or a late fee.
Not anymore. As of October 1, 2025, Waste Pro no longer collects recyclables curbside in Welaka. Residents must drop recyclables at one of three Putnam County sites: 1551 CR-309 (Crescent City), 140 County Landfill Road (Palatka), or 111 Hickory Lane (Interlachen). Household trash and yard debris pickup still continue on Mondays.
The Putnam Tax Collector branch at 115 N. Summit Street in Crescent City — about 15 minutes south on CR-309. It's a full driver-license service center. Phone (386) 329-0282. DL services close at 4:30 PM Monday–Friday.
Welaka Town Hall, (386) 467-9800 ext. 103 — ask for the Utility Clerk. You can also pay by phone at (386) 284-4116 or online at logicsolbp.com/townofwelaka. Natural gas service is separate — Crescent City Gas serves Welaka, set-up at (386) 698-2525.
Almost certainly septic. Welaka does not have a town-wide sewer system, so most properties have their own septic tank and drain field. Before closing on any home, we verify septic location and age, and recommend pumping if it's been more than 3–5 years.
Yes — Welaka Police Department, with Chief Michael Porath. The non-emergency direct line is (386) 329-0801, or you can reach the department through Town Hall at (386) 467-9800 ext. 107. For emergencies, always call 911. The Putnam County Sheriff's Office is the backup agency.
HCA Florida Putnam Hospital in Palatka, at 611 Zeagler Drive — about 17 miles, roughly 33 minutes north of Welaka on CR-309. It's a 99-bed acute-care hospital with a 24-hour ER. Express Family Care in Crescent City handles non-emergency urgent care.
Crescent City Public Library at 610 N. Summit Street — about 15 minutes south. Phone (386) 698-2600. It's open Tuesday through Saturday. Library cards are free for Putnam County residents; bring ID and proof of Welaka address.
Each number, address, and link on this page was verified against the official source listed below. Always double-check critical details by phone before relying on them — municipal info changes.
We'll send you a printable checklist plus the right Welaka listings — St. Johns waterfront, in-town cottage, or quiet acreage. No pressure — just a local family team.
Talk To The Parham Team