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Welcome to the City of Wellington

History

Wellington was originally the world's largest strawberry patch, the Flying Cow Ranch. C. Oliver Wellington bought 18,000 acres (73 km²) of swampland in the 1950s in central Palm Beach County that eventually would be called the Village of Wellington. Wellington began as a planned unit development approved by Palm Beach County in 1972. For many years it functioned as a bedroom community with few shopping centers or restaurants until it was incorporated in December 1995. Wellington holds the largest horse show in the world from the last week in January to the middle of March.[6]

[edit] Geography

Wellington is located at 26°39′18″N 80°15′15″W / 26.655°N 80.25417°W / 26.655; -80.25417 (26.655135, -80.254136).[7] According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 31.4 mi² (81.2 km²), of which 31.0 mi² (80.4 km²) is land and 0.3 mi² (0.8 km²) of it is water (0.99%).

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[4] of 2007, there were 54,791 people, and as of 2000 38, 912 people, 12,938 households, and 10,686 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,230.7 per square mile (475.2/km²). There were 14,761 housing units at an average density of 475.4 per square mile (183.6/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 88.75% White (79.7% were Non-Hispanic White,)[8] 5.38% African American, 0.13% Native American, 1.98% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, and 1.84% from other races. 11.50% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 12,938 households out of which 69.7% were married couples, 47.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.4% were non-families. 13.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.25.

In the village the population was spread out with 31.0% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $91,000 and the median income for a family was $97,000. Males had a median income of $87,000 versus $84,078 for females. The per capita income for the village was $40,726. About 2.9% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.

As of 2000, 83.52% of residents spoke English as a first language, while 12.18% spoke Spanish, French accounted for 0.98%, French Creole for 0.79%, Italian made up 0.61%, and Vietnamese was the mother tongue of 0.47% of the population.[9]

As of 2000, Wellington had the eighty-fifth highest percentage of Cuban residents in the US, with 3.27% of the village's population.[10]

[edit] Economy

BE Aerospace has its corporate headquarters in Wellington.[11]

[edit] Culture

 This section does not cite any references or sources.
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2010)

Wellington is world-famous for equestrian and polo events. It is host to both the Winter Equestrian Festival and the National Horse Show. In addition, it is one of the top polo destinations in the world attracting the world's most accomplished polo players. The Village of Wellington has a large, recently renovated public library, multiple recreation centers, a number of public parks and ball fields, and hosts seasonal events such as the annual Top Gun model aircraft show and holiday parades. There are a number of entertainment and cultural venues - such as the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts and the Norton Museum of Art - in nearby West Palm Beach. The Village is also known for its dedicated equestrian community, and a large population of families with young children (mostly attributable to it having some of the consistently highest-performing schools in the state). It also has a large regional mall The Mall at Wellington Green, along with a many other nationally known retailers (such as Best Buy, Costco, BJ's, Sports Authority, Whole Foods and the like) located in outdoor shopping venues along the major commercial highways.

Beach activities are a half hour's drive time, due east, to the Palm Beaches. For variety, from Wellington one can access Fort Lauderdale less than one hour away or travel to South Beach approximately a one and half hour's drive.

[edit] Education

[edit] Primary and secondary schools

The School District of Palm Beach County serves Wellington.

Public schools in Wellington and schools serving Wellington include:

Elementary

  • New Horizons Elementary School
  • Discovery Key Elementary School
  • Wellington Elementary School
  • Binks Forest Elementary School
  • Elbridge Gale Elementary School
  • Panther Run Elementary School
  • Equestrian Trails Elementary School

Middle

  • Emerald Cove Middle School
  • Wellington Landings Middle School
  • Polo Park Middle School
  • Okeeheelee Middle School

High

Private schools include:

  • Wellington Christian School
  • Dillon Country Day School
  • Conservatory Prep Senior High
  • Ideal School - Private K - 8

[edit] Community colleges

Palm Beach Community College has proposed a Wellington campus. The Wellington town council voted affirmatively on 13 August 2008 to enter negotiations with the college. Plans fell through.[12]

[edit] Public libraries

The Palm Beach County Library System operates the Wellington Branch.[13]

[edit] Notable Wellington residents

 This section does not cite any references or sources.
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2010)

 

Data courtesy of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellington,_Florida