About Wellington

Overview

Situated in beautiful Northern Colorado in the plains at the base of the Rocky Mountains, the Town of Wellington is a peaceful, family-oriented community poised for growth. 

Known as “Colorado’s Northern Gateway,” Wellington is located between two state capitals: Denver, CO, and Cheyenne, WY, at the intersection of I-25 and CO SH 1 in the northeast corner of Larimer County. Wellington is growing beyond its identity as a bedroom community and into a mature town in its own right

Early Beginnings

The Town of Wellington was an oil, coal and agricultural hub throughout the 1800s and became a stopping location for wagon trains, travelers, and military movement between Cheyenne, Wyoming and Fort Collins, Colorado. The town was founded in 1902, incorporated in 1905 and named after C.L. Wellington, an employee of the Colorado and Southern Railroad.

Location

Wellington is located at the intersection of Interstate 25 and Highway 1 in the northeast corner of Larimer County and sits at an elevation of 5,201 feet above sea level.

Climate & Average Temperatures

Wellington’s climate offers 4 distinct seasons, located in a semi-arid zone, the average annual precipitation is approximately 13.6 inches with a growing season 145 days in length. The summers in Wellington are warm and pleasant, the nights are cool and comfortable with an average year-round humidity level of 35%.

Hometown to Supreme Court Justice

Wellington was the childhood home of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Byron White who frequently returned to the town for high school reunions later in his life.

Population

Wellington maintained a population around 500 throughout the 20th century and grew to about 1,000 until the early 2000s. Today, Wellington is home to a population of nearly 12,000 residents.

Woolly Mammoth Remains

Around the same time the population began to grow in Wellington, woolly mammoth remains were discovered by a construction crew while digging foundations for new homes. The remains were carefully excavated by a University of Colorado team while residents watched with excitement. Unfortunately, after being taken back to the University for further examination, the tusks were dropped and shattered on a floor. In recognition and remembrance of this event, the subdivision where they were found named a street Mammoth Circle.

Today the town, is known for parades, its 4th of July celebration, bike riding, restaurants, and a community spirit only seen in small towns. In 2005, we celebrated the Wellington's Centennial.