Westfield, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Westfield
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Location of Westfield in Clark County, Illinois.
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Clark |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.98 sq mi (2.53 km2) |
| • Land | 0.98 sq mi (2.53 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 764 ft (233 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 536 |
| • Density | 548.06/sq mi (211.54/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code(s) |
62474
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| Area code(s) | 217 |
| FIPS code | 17–80281 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2400151 |
| Wikimedia Commons | Westfield, Illinois |
Westfield is a small village located in Westfield Township, Clark County, Illinois, United States. A village is a type of community that is usually smaller than a town or city. In 2020, about 536 people lived there. This number was a little lower than in 2010, when 601 people called Westfield home.
Contents
History of Westfield
How Westfield Started
The village of Westfield was first planned out in 1839. This means people decided where streets and buildings would go. A post office opened in Westfield on June 18, 1840, helping people send and receive mail. However, the community did not officially become a village until August 31, 1875. This process is called "incorporation."
Westfield College: A Look Back
From 1865 to 1914, Westfield was home to Westfield College. This school was started in 1861 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. At first, it was a "seminary," which is a school that trains people to become religious leaders.
In 1865, it became a college that allowed both male and female students to attend. The college was most popular in 1909, with 160 students. After that, fewer students enrolled, and the college faced money problems. Because of these issues, it had to close in 1914.
The college building was then used as the high school for Westfield Township starting in 1914. Sadly, the building was destroyed by a fire in 1917.
Where is Westfield Located?
Westfield is located in the state of Illinois. According to information from 2021, the village covers an area of about 0.98 square miles (2.53 square kilometers). All of this area is land, meaning there are no large bodies of water within the village limits.
Who Lives in Westfield?
Population Changes Over Time
The number of people living in Westfield has changed quite a bit over the years. Here's a quick look at how the population has grown and shrunk:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 647 | — | |
| 1890 | 510 | −21.2% | |
| 1900 | 820 | 60.8% | |
| 1910 | 927 | 13.0% | |
| 1920 | 933 | 0.6% | |
| 1930 | 646 | −30.8% | |
| 1940 | 678 | 5.0% | |
| 1950 | 661 | −2.5% | |
| 1960 | 636 | −3.8% | |
| 1970 | 678 | 6.6% | |
| 1980 | 733 | 8.1% | |
| 1990 | 676 | −7.8% | |
| 2000 | 678 | 0.3% | |
| 2010 | 601 | −11.4% | |
| 2020 | 536 | −10.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
People and Households in 2020
In 2020, the village of Westfield had 536 people living in 248 households. A household is a group of people living together in one home. Out of these households, 154 were families.
Most people in Westfield are White, making up about 97% of the population. A small number of people are African American or Native American. About 1.87% of residents are from two or more racial backgrounds. Less than 1% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
Families and Age Groups
About 27.8% of households in Westfield had children under 18 living with them. Nearly half of the households (49.19%) were married couples living together.
The average household had about 2.79 people. The average family had about 2.30 people.
When looking at age groups, 20% of the population was under 18 years old. About 26.8% of residents were 65 years or older. The median age in Westfield was 48.0 years. This means half the people were younger than 48, and half were older.
Income and Economy
In 2020, the median income for a household in Westfield was $53,421. For families, the median income was $54,605. The "median" means that half of the households or families earned more than this amount, and half earned less.
The average income per person in the village was $26,040. About 6.8% of all people and 4.5% of families lived below the poverty line. This includes 4.4% of children under 18 and 9.2% of people aged 65 or older.
Schools and Churches in Westfield
Local Schools
Westfield is part of the Casey-Westfield School District. Students attend school in the nearby city of Casey, Illinois. There are two main school buildings:
- Monroe Elementary School, which teaches students from kindergarten through 6th grade.
- Casey-Westfield Jr-Sr High School, which serves students from 7th through 12th grade.
Community Churches
Westfield has two churches that serve the community:
- The Westfield United Methodist Church was formed in 1968. This happened when the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren (EUB) Church joined together. They use the building that the EUB church built in 1918.
- The Westfield Baptist Church is now located in the building that used to be the Methodist Church. The original wooden building for the Baptist Church has been changed into a private home.
See also
In Spanish: Westfield (Illinois) para niños
