Wellington, Kansas
Encyclopedia
Wellington is a city in and the county seat
of Sumner County
, Kansas
, United States
. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,172.
was an important factor in the early economy of the town.
In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a branch line north-south from Herington
through Wellington to Caldwell
. It foreclosed in 1891 and was taken over by Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway, 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".
, the city has a total area of 5.8 square miles (15 km²), of which, 5.7 square miles (14.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (2.08%) is water.
of 2000, there were 8,647 people, 3,422 households, and 2,306 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,529.6 people per square mile (590.9/km²). There were 3,795 housing units at an average density of 671.3 per square mile (259.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.36% White, 1.71% African American, 1.24% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 2.58% from other races
, and 1.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.26% of the population.
There were 3,422 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples
living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,410, and the median income for a family was $43,493. Males had a median income of $34,368 versus $22,254 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,790. About 8.9% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.6% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.
Schools
Maps
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Sumner County
Sumner County, Kansas
Sumner County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. The county's population was 24,132 for the 2010 census. Its county seat is Wellington. Sumner County is part of the Wichita, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was named in honor of Charles Sumner, a U.S...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,172.
19th century
Wellington was first surveyed on April 4, 1871 and named for the Duke of Wellington. It was designated as the permanent seat of Sumner County in 1872, winning out over competitor Sumner City. Trading with the cattle herds coming up the Chisholm TrailChisholm Trail
The Chisholm Trail was a trail used in the late 19th century to drive cattle overland from ranches in Texas to Kansas railheads. The portion of the trail marked by Jesse Chisholm went from his southern trading post near the Red River, to his northern trading post near Kansas City, Kansas...
was an important factor in the early economy of the town.
In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a branch line north-south from Herington
Herington, Kansas
Herington is a city in Dickinson and Morris counties in the U.S. state of Kansas. Named after its founder, Monroe Davis Herington. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,526.-19th century:...
through Wellington to Caldwell
Caldwell, Kansas
Caldwell is a city in Sumner County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,068.-19th century:In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a branch line north-south from Herington to Caldwell...
. It foreclosed in 1891 and was taken over by Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway, which shut down in 1980 and reorganized as Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad
Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad
-OKT I:The Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad , was originally created on May 29, 1980 after the demise of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad on March 31, 1980...
, merged in 1988 with Missouri Pacific Railroad
Missouri Pacific Railroad
The Missouri Pacific Railroad , also known as the MoPac, was one of the first railroads in the United States west of the Mississippi River. MoPac was a Class I railroad growing from dozens of predecessors and mergers, including the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway , Texas and Pacific...
, merged in 1997 with Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Rock Island".
Geography
Wellington is located at 37°16′2"N 97°24′0"W (37.267289, -97.400061), at an elevation of 1230 feet. According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 5.8 square miles (15 km²), of which, 5.7 square miles (14.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (2.08%) is water.
Area attractions
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 8,647 people, 3,422 households, and 2,306 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,529.6 people per square mile (590.9/km²). There were 3,795 housing units at an average density of 671.3 per square mile (259.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.36% White, 1.71% African American, 1.24% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 2.58% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.26% of the population.
There were 3,422 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,410, and the median income for a family was $43,493. Males had a median income of $34,368 versus $22,254 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $16,790. About 8.9% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.6% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
This area produces vast quantities of winter wheat and wheat is still the driving force behind the local economy, so much so that Wellington is called the "Wheat Capital of the World". Railroads and petroleum are also significant, and manufacturing, especially aircraft parts, is growing.Notable people
- Ernie BarrettErnie BarrettErnie Drew "Black Jack" Barrett is a retired American basketball player. He played collegiately for the Kansas State University....
, Professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics (first round 7th pick in 1951 NBA draft). Also nicknamed "Mr. K-State" for his love of Kansas State and his performance as a player at Kansas State. He has a statute standing outside of Bramlage Coliseum, as well as his jersey retired. Was the point guard for Wellington during their only basketball state championship in 1947. - Arthur S. ChampenyArthur S. ChampenyBrigadier General Arthur Seymour Champeny is the only American to earn the Distinguished Service Cross in three different wars...
, United States ArmyUnited States ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
officer - Dort Clark, film and television actor 1940s-1970s, over 60 roles
- Mardie CornejoMardie CornejoNieves Mardie Cornejo was a Major League Baseball relief pitcher in 1978 for the New York Mets. He is the father of Nate Cornejo who pitched for the Detroit Tigers from to .-Drafts:...
, major league baseball player for the New York Mets. - Nate CornejoNate CornejoNathan John Cornejo is a former professional baseball player who was a pitcher in the major leagues from -. Nate Cornejo was drafted in the first round of the 1998 MLB draft by the Detroit Tigers, number 34 overall...
, major league baseball player for the Detroit Tigers. First round draft pick. - Neil FrankNeil FrankDr. Neil Frank, Ph.D. is an American meteorologist and former director of the National Hurricane Center in Florida. He was instrumental in advancing both the scientific and informational aspects of hurricane forecasting. He retired as Chief Meteorologist at KHOU-TV in Houston. Dr...
, meteorologist and former director of the National Hurricane CenterNational Hurricane CenterThe National Hurricane Center , located at Florida International University in Miami, Florida, is the division of the National Weather Service responsible for tracking and predicting weather systems within the tropics between the Prime Meridian and the 140th meridian west poleward to the 30th... - Joseph E. MaddyJoseph E. MaddyJoseph Edgar Maddy was a pioneering American music educator.He was born in Wellington, Kansas where both of his parents were teachers. He attended Wichita College of Music in Wichita, Kansas...
, pioneering music educator and founder of the Interlochen Arts Camp - Chuck MillerChuck Miller (musician)Charles Nelson "Chuck" Miller was an American singer and pianist who had a US top ten hit in 1955 with his version of "The House of Blue Lights".He was born in Wellington, Kansas, and learned to play piano as a child...
, pop and jazz musician
External links
CitySchools
- USD 353, local school district
Maps
- Wellington City Map, KDOT
- Sumner County Map, KDOT