Historic Wellington has country living, trains and longtime locals
Wellington is a small rural village among Lorain County's farmlands. Most of the village's growth came in the 1800s with the arrival of its railroads, which still send trains rumbling past quiet neighborhoods and a preserved historic downtown. While expanded housing and a growing commercial district have attracted newcomers, most residents have lived in the village for generations. "My dad's family has always been in Wellington, and I still live here myself," says Anne Zacharias, a village native and Realtor with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services. "Everybody knows everybody. When I was in school, my teachers lived right down the road from us, and it's still like that." Everyday living is slow-paced and country-like, but major roads connect the community to bigger cities, and popular events bring seasonal visitors.
Century-old homes and new construction in the village’s neighborhoods
Most of Wellington's growth was in the late 1800s and early 1900s, so almost 200 village properties are on the National Register. Tree-lined streets and grassy lawns showcase a variety of architecture. Ranch-style homes, bungalows and American Foursquares are common, but there's also an array of Victorian, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival and Italianate homes. Most owners of century-old houses take great care to restore and maintain their properties. Newer construction leans more toward contemporary designs. Move-in-ready homes typically cost between $110,000 and $520,000, with a median of roughly $250,000.
Wellington has its own school district and college learning center
Kindergarten through 12th-grade students attend Wellington Exempted Village Schools, which are known for small class sizes. "It's lucky if Wellington's graduating classes break over 100 people," Zacharias says. "There wasn't one person in my school that I didn't know." The district has a B-minus Niche rating. The village is also home to the Lorain County Community College Wellington Learning Center, which offers bachelor's degrees, short-term training and College Credit Plus.
Downtown keeps its history while industry grows and farms remain
An old-fashioned downtown with vintage lampposts and terracotta-red brick buildings stretches along East Herrick Avenue. It includes a variety of small cafes, locally owned restaurants and boutique shops. The village's stately town hall, with its one-of-a-kind blend of historic architectural styles, overlooks the commercial center. The Spirit of '76 Museum is also nearby, showcasing over 4,000 artifacts connected to the village's history. Another commercial center in the north offers a few fast-food chains and a supermarket. Local farms — like the dairy farm Zacharias' family owns — also sell fresh produce, meat and milk to residents. A growing industrial district invites manufacturers and suppliers to set up businesses in town.
State routes and busy railroads keep the community well connected
Wellington may be very rural, but larger cities are still an easy drive away. State Routes 58 and 18 create the village's main intersection and connect drivers to Highway 20. People can reach downtown Cleveland and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport within 45 minutes. The village is also home to the CSX/W&LE Wellington Railroad Diamond Crossing, a major railway intersection. Over 60 trains pass through the village daily, meaning rumbling wheels and blaring horns can often be heard. "You can hear a train anywhere when you're in Wellington," Zacharias says. The crossing attracts many railfans who enjoy watching trains haul goods through the community. The closest hospital is in Oberlin, 9 miles north.
Village parks support sports, hunting, hiking and water activities
Wellington Community Park offers lighted ball fields, batting cages, a boardwalk trail and playgrounds. It also has basketball, tennis and pickleball courts. Wellington Reservation accommodates hiking, cycling, horseback riding, fishing and kayaking near the village's reservoirs. Visitors can rent paddle boats to launch on the water in the summer. Less than 1 mile south, Findley State Park is popular for camping, mountain biking and lake swimming. It also has a disc golf course. Across the street, Wellington Wildlife Area offers seasonal hunting grounds.
Wellington hosts a major county fair and small festivals
The Lorain County Fair is the village's biggest annual event and the third-largest fair in Ohio. It attracts people from all over the state and country with its grandstand events, derby competitions and show animals. "We'll get people from a couple of states away coming in to visit family, and they'll specifically plan their trip around the fair," Zacharias says. Outside fair season, the community hosts a spring garden tour, Independence Day fireworks and a Christmas in the Village event. In the fall, vendors sell handmade goods outside the village hall during Harvest of the Arts. The community also has the Lorain and West Virginia Excursion Railway, which offers train rides to the public. Most excursions are for major holidays, but Wine on the Rails and the Bluegrass Train are popular summer events.
