Wellington, Texas
Encyclopedia
Wellington is a city in Collingsworth County, Texas
, United States
. The population was 2,275 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Collingsworth County.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), all of it land.
, hero of the Battle of Waterloo
. The alternate and proposed town of Pearl was located several miles north of Wellington.
In September, 1890, the vote was held and Wellington was selected for the seat of the newly organized county of Collingsworth. In 1891 the new city, laid out by Ernest T. O’Neil, was surveyed and platted, and the first postal service and Postmaster, Carrie M. Barton, was established on January 9, 1891. Construction of a courthouse began in 1893 and the contractor, J. A. White, built the courthouse of locally made bricks. With the extra materials leftover from the courthouse, J. A. White erected a mercantile store for Ernest T. O’Neil. This became the first mercantile store and commercial building in Wellington, prior to the opening of a two-story hotel by O’Neil. Later O’Neil organized the first bank, was active in all phases of the county’s growth and development, and served as Postmaster from August 22, 1895 to December 11, 1897.
of 2000, there were 2,275 people, 906 households, and 615 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,670.4 people per square mile (645.9/km²). There were 1,162 housing units at an average density of 853.2/sq mi (329.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.87% White, 6.95% African American, 1.05% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 13.23% from other races
, and 2.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 25.10% of the population.
There were 906 households out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples
living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.4% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 21.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 89.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,260, and the median income for a family was $30,257. Males had a median income of $25,143 versus $15,368 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,997. About 17.4% of families and 22.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.2% of those under age 18 and 20.1% of those age 65 or over.
.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 2,275 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
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 Collingsworth County.
Geography
Wellington is located at 34°51′17"N 100°12′49"W (34.854616, -100.213626).According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), all of it land.
History
Sometime in 1889 or 1890, as smaller ranches and farmlands were being purchased, Ernest Theodore O’Neil, his brother-in-law John Simon McConnell and John W. Swearingen, together, had purchased the land which upon which the town currently sits for $5.00 per acre. Subsequently, O’Neil, who originally owned a fourth of the section of the township, purchased the interests of John McConnell and John Swearingen, and retained sole ownership of the land. The 1890 census showed 357 inhabitants across the county, with 89 ranches and farms and 335 acres (1.4 km²) of land in cultivation. In August, 1890, a petition was circulated to organize the county, choose a county seat, and elect county officers. Two potential townships were proposed: Wellington and Pearl. The proposed town of Wellington was located on the land owned by Ernest T. O’Neil who was promoting this location, and had been given its proposed name by his wife, Matilda Anna Elisabeth “Lizzie” O’Neil, who greatly admired the Duke of WellingtonArthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
, hero of the Battle of Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
. The alternate and proposed town of Pearl was located several miles north of Wellington.
In September, 1890, the vote was held and Wellington was selected for the seat of the newly organized county of Collingsworth. In 1891 the new city, laid out by Ernest T. O’Neil, was surveyed and platted, and the first postal service and Postmaster, Carrie M. Barton, was established on January 9, 1891. Construction of a courthouse began in 1893 and the contractor, J. A. White, built the courthouse of locally made bricks. With the extra materials leftover from the courthouse, J. A. White erected a mercantile store for Ernest T. O’Neil. This became the first mercantile store and commercial building in Wellington, prior to the opening of a two-story hotel by O’Neil. Later O’Neil organized the first bank, was active in all phases of the county’s growth and development, and served as Postmaster from August 22, 1895 to December 11, 1897.
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 2,275 people, 906 households, and 615 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 1,670.4 people per square mile (645.9/km²). There were 1,162 housing units at an average density of 853.2/sq mi (329.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.87% White, 6.95% African American, 1.05% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 13.23% 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 2.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 25.10% of the population.
There were 906 households out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% 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, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.4% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 21.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 89.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,260, and the median income for a family was $30,257. Males had a median income of $25,143 versus $15,368 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 $13,997. About 17.4% of families and 22.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.2% of those under age 18 and 20.1% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Public education in the city of Wellington is provided by the Wellington Independent School DistrictWellington Independent School District
Wellington Independent School District is a public school district based in Wellington, Texas .Located in Collingsworth County, the district extends into a portion of Childress County....
.
Notable natives
- John AaronJohn AaronJohn W. Aaron is a former NASA engineer, and was a flight controller during the Apollo program. He is widely credited with saving the Apollo 12 mission when it was struck by lightning shortly after liftoff and played an important role during the Apollo 13 crisis, earning him the highly...
- NASANASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
engineer (born here and reared in Oklahoma) who played an important role in the Apollo 12Apollo 12Apollo 12 was the sixth manned flight in the American Apollo program and the second to land on the Moon . It was launched on November 14, 1969 from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, four months after Apollo 11. Mission commander Charles "Pete" Conrad and Lunar Module Pilot Alan L...
mission - Loyd ColsonLoyd ColsonLoyd Albert Colson is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Colson played for the New York Yankees in . In 1 career game, he had a 0-0 record with a 4.50 ERA. He batted and threw right-handed....
- former Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher - Glen D. HardinGlen HardinGlen D. Hardin is an American piano player, songwriter and arranger. He has performed and recorded with such notable artists as Elvis Presley, Emmylou Harris, John Denver, Ricky Nelson and many others.-Career:...
- piano player and arranger with the TCB BandTCB BandThe TCB Band was a group of professional musicians who formed the core rhythm section of Elvis Presley’s band from August 1969 until his death in 1977. TCB stands for Taking Care of Business, a personal motto Presley adopted in the early 1970s... - Bob O'RearBob O'RearRobert O'Rear is a former employee of Microsoft, and is among the group of twelve early Microsoft employees who posed for a company photo in 1978. A Texan, he has degrees in mathematics and physics. He left Microsoft in 1993, and reportedly owns a cattle ranch in Texas...
- Microsoft multi-millionaire - Tex WinterTex WinterMorice Fredrick "Tex" Winter is a Hall-of-Fame American basketball coach, and innovator of the triangle offense.-Early life:...
- former college and NBA head coach who created the triangle offense in basketball