W ellington, Florida is one of the most unique communities in America. You see, this is horse country...more aptly, Wellington is perhaps the premier equestrian community, located in beautiful Palm Beach County. Of course, Palm Beach has a reputation as one of the most exclusive addresses in America. With a mild climate that averages a balmy 78 degrees each year, the area benefits from a quality of life that cannot be recreated.

Wellington supports a population of around 40,000 human residents. Depending on the time of year, it may be difficult to count the number of horses that reside within these boundaries. Folks in Wellington are an average of 37 years old, with a median household income of just over $70,000 per year. While it is possible to find housing in most price ranges and tastes, you will find that the many homes here are highly unique, with plenty of architectural details and special touches. Wellington has a strong economy, with the majority of residents employed in the retail sector. Technology, professional services and the sciences make up a significant portion of employment options. Finance and manufacturing vie for third place.

Wellington and its residents strongly adhere to the "city of villages" concept. This means a strong emphasis on creating neighborhood clusters that have easy access to infrastructure and services while limiting growth and sprawl. Simultaneously, each neighborhood within the community maintains its own unique feel. This well coordinated effort results in individual neighborhoods maintaining their own consistency, while seeming drastically different from others. Wellington residents are involved in each phase of local government, and citizen participation is the norm rather than the exception.

The town has some truly interesting details to explore. Residents here absolutely love the town's 74 miles of canals and 315 acres of lakes. And Wellington's location within Palm Beach County makes it part of the self-proclaimed "Golf Capital of Florida". Golfers here certainly have a lot to love. With over 160 courses, golf resorts, schools and academies, a golfer could never tire of the diversity of play. Tennis buffs have as much to keep them active within the region. The world class Chris Evert Tennis Academy is headquartered here, along with hundreds more private and public tennis facilities and courts. Spectators can watch major league baseball teams in spring training within the county, epicureans can choose from over 2,000 restaurants, and shoppers have every brand name imaginable to choose from.

But perhaps the biggest draw in Wellington is the Winter Equestrian Festival. This event draws owners, riders and their horses from all corners of the globe. The $1 million Grand Prix show jumping and dressage competitions feature top professionals, Olympians, and members of the U.S. Equestrian Team. This festival is the world's largest horse show, and takes place over eight weeks with over 5,000 horses. The top competitors in hunting, jumping, equitation and dressage take home over $3 million in purse money.

Wellington is a perfect place to enjoy the outdoors. As one of the premier equestrian destinations in the world, Wellington offers a unique way of living that it is intent on preserving for future generations. Residents have easy access to the numerous amenities that sunny Palm Springs has to offer, including some of the nation's best beaches, fishing and watersports. Singles, seniors and families who live in the area participate in its planning an numerous events, creating a truly exceptional quality of life.