Electricity in Wellington, OH

History of Wellington

The rights to naming the village were given as a reward for how much road could be contracted to build. The original winner of the contest picked the name "Charlemont", to near universal disdain. The rights to name the town then went to William Welling, who chose the name "Wellington", either after himself or the Duke of Wellington. Wellington was incorporated as a village in 1855.In 1858, the former American House Hotel (later torn down and replaced by Herrick Memorial Library) was the site of the Oberlin-Wellington Rescue. A group of men, both white and black and many from Oberlin, swarmed the hotel to rescue runaway slave John Price. He was being held by a US Marshal and his men, who intended to return him to his master in Kentucky.The abolitionists transported Price out of town en route to the Underground Railroad and helped convey him to Canada. Thirty-seven men were indicted, but only two, Simeon M. Bushnell and Charles Henry Langston, were tried in federal court for interfering with the marshal in carrying out the Fugitive Slave Law. After Langston's eloquent speech about slavery and discrimination, the judge gave them light sentences. The events and trial received national attention, and kept the issue of slavery at the forefront of debate.Archibald M. Willard, painter of the patriotic Spirit of '76 painting, lived in Wellington during the 19th century. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery on the outskirts of the village.

Wellington by the Numbers

Population

10,341

Median Age

42.1 yrs

Median Household Income

$78,318/yr

Median Home Value

$229,600

Homeownership Rate

81%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)