About Wellington, CO

The Town of Wellington was an oil, coal and agricultural hub throughout the 1800's 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 I-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 14" with a growing season of 145 days. The summers are warm and pleasant, the nights are cool and comfortable with an average year-round humidity level of 35%.

Population

Wellington maintained a population around 500 throughout the 20th century and grew to about 1,000 until the early 2000's. Today, Wellington is home to a population of nearly 6,800 residents.

Factoid

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.