The beautiful scenery in Wellington, Fla., is only one of the many reasons why people move to the area. Named one of the Top 100 Best Places to Live in 2010 by Money Magazine, Wellington is a modern community with an abundance of cultural, athletic and recreational amenities. Wellington apartments for rent are ideal for settling down, because the community is centered on family friendly events and attractions, and is home to great education and public safety.
Wellington is a world-famous village for equestrian and polo events, and is one of the top destinations for polo attracting professional players from around the globe. As a fairly new village, growth has continued over the past few years and officials believe by 2018 the population will be around 62,800 residents. Still much of the land has not been developed yet, and much of it consists of residential property.
Located in Palm Beach County along the east coast of the state, residents can easily access Fort Lauderdale or South Beach. According to statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, the population has been increasing dramatically over the past two decades. In 1990, just about 22,000 residents lived in the village, and today more than 57,100 people call Wellington home.
The beginning of Wellington started in the 1950s when a successful New York businessman, Charles Oliver Wellington, purchased a large plot of land. Despite the area's marshy land, as it is bordered on the southwest by the Everglades, Wellington saw promise in the region. In 1953, state legislation passed to provide proper drainage and flood control to the land. This made a drastic difference the land of what is now Wellington. The previously waterlogged land turned into a breeding ground for crops such as strawberries, oranges and other citruses. Nearly 2,000 acres of land was dedicated to the world's largest strawberry patch.
After the westward expansion of Palm Beach County, a result of a joint venture between the Investment Corporation of Florida and the Alcoa Company, many investors traveled to the undeveloped land. ICOF purchases 7,400 acres of land at roughly $800 per acre, and after a year the company joined with Alcoa to construct a planned community. The region continued to grow as more people traveled west, and by the end of 1995 Wellington became a village.
The leading industries in Wellington are educational, health and social services at 21 percent of the workforce. Retail trade, finance, insurance, real estate and leasing are other top industries in the area.
Students living in apartments in Wellington have several options for post-secondary education in the area. Some of the options include Palm Beach Atlantic University, Keiser University, Palm Beach State College and Northwood University.
Because of the high quality of life and modern amenities of Wellington, the average cost of living is slightly more than the national average. According to Best Places, the overall cost of living is 14 points higher than the national average, food is 7 points higher and utilities are 7 points lower. Similarly, the average cost of rentals in Wellington is within a higher cost range of other communities in the area. According to statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, the average cost of a rental is $1,482.
In Wellington, there are no haunted houses to enjoy the fall festivities, so the community holds an annual fall festival with 3,000 square feet of haunted hallways. The festival also features a costume contest, a pumpkin pie eating contest, hayrides, inflatable rides, and trick-or-treating. Wellington holds festive events year-round to celebrate the Fourth of July, Earth Day and Memorial Day.
If you are looking for an apartment for rent or a house rental in Wellington, Fla., search for rental properties at Rent.com®.