Wellington, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wellington, Texas
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The restored Historic Ritz Theatre in Wellington. In 2011, the theatre was among 100 national finalists in the "This Place Matters" competition of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
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Location of Wellington, Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Collingsworth |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.38 sq mi (3.57 km2) |
| • Land | 1.38 sq mi (3.57 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,034 ft (620 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,896 |
| • Density | 1,374/sq mi (531.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
79095
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| Area code(s) | 806 |
| FIPS code | 48-77152 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2412207 |
Wellington is a city in Collingsworth County, Texas, United States. It is also the county seat, which means it is the main town where the county government is located. In 2020, the city had a population of 1,896 people.
Contents
History of Wellington
How Wellington Started
Wellington began around 1889 or 1890. Three people, Ernest Theodore O'Neil, John Simon McConnell, and John W. Swearingen, bought the land where the city now stands. Later, O'Neil became the sole owner of this land.
In 1890, there were 357 people living in the county. People wanted to officially organize the county and choose a main town. Two places were suggested: Wellington and Pearl. Ernest T. O'Neil supported Wellington, and his wife, Matilda Anna Elisabeth "Lizzie" O'Neil, named it. She admired the Duke of Wellington, a famous hero from the Battle of Waterloo.
Early Days and Growth
In September 1890, people voted, and Wellington was chosen as the county seat for the new Collingsworth County. Ernest T. O'Neil planned the new city in 1891. The first post office opened on January 9, 1891, with Carrie M. Barton as the first postmaster.
A courthouse was built in 1893 using bricks made right there in town. With extra bricks, the builder, J. A. White, also built the first store for Ernest T. O'Neil. O'Neil also opened the first hotel and later started the first bank. He was very active in helping the county grow.
Railroad Connections
In the early 1900s, Wellington was connected by a railroad to Altus, Oklahoma, and then to Wichita Falls, Texas. This helped the city connect with other places. However, the part of the railroad from Wellington to Altus was closed in 1958.
A Famous Incident
Wellington was once mentioned in The New York Times because of an incident involving Bonnie and Clyde (Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow). In 1934, they were involved in an event near the Prichard farm. Their car crashed, and they took two law enforcement officers with them. The officers were later left tied to a fence near Erick, Oklahoma, but they managed to free themselves.
Geography and Location
Where is Wellington?
Wellington is located in the southern part of Collingsworth County. U.S. Route 83 runs along the eastern side of the city. This highway goes north to Shamrock and Interstate 40, and south to Childress.
Texas State Highway 203 goes east from Wellington to the Oklahoma border and west to Quail.
City Size
The United States Census Bureau says that Wellington covers about 3.5 square kilometers (1.38 square miles). All of this area is land, with no water.
Climate in Wellington
Wellington has a semi-arid climate. This means it is usually dry, but not as dry as a desert. On climate maps, this type of climate is called "BSk".
Population of Wellington
How Many People Live Here?
The population of Wellington has changed over the years. Here is a look at the population from different census years:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 576 | — | |
| 1920 | 1,968 | 241.7% | |
| 1930 | 3,570 | 81.4% | |
| 1940 | 3,308 | −7.3% | |
| 1950 | 3,676 | 11.1% | |
| 1960 | 3,137 | −14.7% | |
| 1970 | 2,884 | −8.1% | |
| 1980 | 3,043 | 5.5% | |
| 1990 | 2,456 | −19.3% | |
| 2000 | 2,275 | −7.4% | |
| 2010 | 2,189 | −3.8% | |
| 2020 | 1,896 | −13.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 Census Details
In 2020, there were 1,896 people living in Wellington. There were 828 households and 563 families.
The population included people from different backgrounds:
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 1,025 | 54.06% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 102 | 5.38% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 17 | 0.9% |
| Asian (NH) | 6 | 0.32% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 43 | 2.27% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 703 | 37.08% |
| Total | 1,896 |
Education in Wellington
Public schools in Wellington are part of the Wellington Independent School District. The local high school team is known as the Wellington Skyrockets.
Notable People from Wellington
Many interesting people have connections to Wellington:
- John Aaron – A NASA engineer who played important roles in the Apollo 12 and Apollo 13 Moon missions. He was born in Wellington.
- Loyd Colson – A former Major League Baseball pitcher.
- Jan Fortune – A journalist and writer, born in 1892. She was the first girl born in the town.
- Glen D. Hardin – A piano player and arranger who worked with the TCB Band.
- Bob O'Rear – The seventh employee at Microsoft and a very successful businessman.
- Jimmy Webb – A Grammy Award-winning songwriter who lived in Wellington in the 1950s.
- Tex Winter – A famous college and NBA basketball coach who created the triangle offense in basketball.
Images for kids
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Downtown Wellington across from the Collingsworth County Courthouse; the Collingsworth County Historical Museum and Art Center is located behind the tree.
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The Ozark Trail runs through parts of the Texas Panhandle, including Wellington.
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U.S. Post Office in Wellington
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Collingsworth County Museum
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Cotton bales near Wellington
See also
In Spanish: Wellington (Texas) para niños
