Wellington

History

Wellington was platted in 1871 and named for the Duke of Wellington. It was designated as the Sumner County seat in 1872, winning out over Sumner City according to the Wellington library. Cattle herders coming up the Chisholm Trail helped to build the early town's economy. The first post office in Wellington was established in July 1871. In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a north–south branch line from Herington through Wellington to Caldwell. Creditors foreclosed on it 1891 and the railroad was taken over by Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, which shut down in 1980 and reorganized as Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad, merged in 1988 with Missouri Pacific Railroad, merged in 1997 with Union Pacific Railroad. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Rock Island". On May 27, 1892, an estimated F4 tornado struck Wellington, destroying 100 homes and 30 businesses, and killing 12 people in town. In 2020, Wellington opened a flag design contest. After several rounds of committee and public input, Shayna Templeton's design with wheat stalks on a red, silver, and white flag was selected and revealed in 2021.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water. The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Wellington has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,411
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,327
• European Starling

  Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,231
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  1,171
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  1,106
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,066
• Canada Goose (canadensis Group)

  Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  955
• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  915