Wellington

Before modern development, the western Palm Beach County region consisted largely of wetlands, agricultural land, and territory historically connected to Florida’s Indigenous peoples. In the 1950s, businessman and aviator Charles Oliver Wellington acquired approximately 18,000 acres of swampland and named the property Flying Cow Ranch, combining his initials, C.O.W., with his passion for aviation. After drainage and flood-control improvements, the land supported cattle ranching, farming, and extensive strawberry cultivation. Residential development followed during the 1970s, while polo and equestrian competition established Wellington’s international identity. The community was officially incorporated as a village in 1995 and is now recognized as the winter equestrian capital of the world.