Westfield, New York facts for kids

Westfield is a town in western New York State, located in Chautauqua County. In 2020, about 4,513 people lived here. There's also a village called Westfield inside the town, where most of the people live. This area is special because of its vineyards, beautiful gorges, and old buildings.

Quick facts for kids Westfield, New York
Town
Aerial view of Barcelona in the northern part of the town of Westfield. View is to the north over Lake Erie.
Location within Chautauqua County and New York
Westfield, New York Location in New York
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Chautauqua
Settled	1802
Created	1823
Government
• Type	Town Council
Area
• Total	47.25 sq mi (122.38 km2)
• Land	47.19 sq mi (122.21 km2)
• Water	0.07 sq mi (0.17 km2)
Elevation	754 ft (230 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,545
• Estimate  (2021)	4,513
• Density	99.14/sq mi (38.28/km2)
ZIP code	14787
FIPS code	36-013-79950

History of Westfield

The Westfield area was first settled in 1802 by a man named James McMahan. He came from Pennsylvania. McMahan built a mill near where Chautauqua Creek flows into Lake Erie. This mill was taken apart before the War of 1812 so that British soldiers couldn't use it. Today, some of the millstones from McMahan's mill are outside the Patterson Library in Westfield village.

The town of Westfield was officially created in 1828. It was formed from parts of two other towns: Portland and Ripley.

Barcelona Lighthouse

The Barcelona Lighthouse was built in 1829. It helped guide ships on Lake Erie. This lighthouse was special because it was the first in the world to be powered by natural gas. It was used until 1859.

Grape Industry

In 1897, Charles E. Welch, who started Welch's Grape Juice, moved his company to Westfield from New Jersey. He did this because the climate in Westfield was perfect for growing grapes, especially Concord grapes. Soon, the area became well-known for growing grapes used to make both wine and grape juice.

Historic Buildings

Westfield has many historic buildings. Twenty of them are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites. All but one of these buildings were added to the list in 1983. The Barcelona Lighthouse was added earlier, in 1972.

Geography of Westfield

Westfield covers about 47.25 square miles (122.4 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a very small part being water.

Nearby Areas

Westfield is surrounded by other places. Here's a look at what's around it:

• To the north: Lake Erie
• To the east: Portland and Chautauqua
• To the south: Sherman
• To the west: Ripley

Chautauqua Creek forms a large part of the border between Westfield and Chautauqua.

Population Information

In 2000, there were 5,232 people living in the town of Westfield. About 2,075 households and 1,419 families lived there. The population density was about 110 people per square mile.

Many types of people live in Westfield. In 2000, most residents were White (about 97%). A small percentage were African American, Native American, or Asian. About 2.6% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

About 31.6% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had 2.46 people, and the average family had 2.98 people.

The population's age was spread out:

• 25.4% were under 18 years old.
• 6.8% were 18 to 24 years old.
• 25.7% were 25 to 44 years old.
• 24.2% were 45 to 64 years old.
• 18.0% were 65 years or older.

The average age in the town was 40 years.

Economy of Westfield

Vineyards along U.S. Route 20 west of the village of Westfield

The main business in Westfield is agriculture, especially growing grapes. The Welch Grape Juice Company has a strong connection to this area because of its grape farms.

Transportation in Westfield

Several important roads pass through Westfield:

• The New York State Thruway (Interstate 90)
• US 20
• NY 5
• NY 394

Train Routes

Two major train companies, CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern, have tracks running through Westfield. These tracks connect cities like Cleveland and Buffalo.

In the past, passenger trains like the Empire State Express used to stop in Westfield. Today, Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited train passes through twice a day on the CSX tracks, but it does not stop in Westfield. The closest stops for Amtrak are in Erie, Pennsylvania, to the west, and Buffalo-Depew station to the east.

Notable People from Westfield

Many interesting people have connections to Westfield:

• Grace Bedell: A girl who suggested to Abraham Lincoln that he should grow a beard.
• Francis B. Brewer: A US congressman.
• George Emerson Brewer: A famous surgeon.
• Harry Castlemon: A writer.
• Marion Dickerman: A vice-principal at the Todhunter School.
• Lou DiMuro: A Major League Baseball umpire.
• Charles G. Groat: A geologist.
• George W. Patterson: A US congressman and Lieutenant Governor of New York.
• Robert Weathers: A former NFL running back.
• Alexander Wilson: A former Wisconsin Attorney General.
• John Wrench: A mathematician.
• John H. Haight: Received the Medal of Honor during the American Civil War.

Communities and Locations in Westfield

Here are some of the smaller communities and important spots within the town of Westfield:

• Barcelona – A small community right by Barcelona Harbor on Lake Erie.
• Bournes Beach – A community in the northeast corner of the town, located where Bournes Creek meets the lake.
• Camp Vernon Airport – A small airfield in the northeast part of town.
• Forest Park – A small community on Lake Erie, southwest of Barcelona.
• Hawthorne Park – A community by the lake, near Bournes Beach.
• Lombard – A community in the western part of the town where several roads cross.
• Volusia – A community near Chautauqua Creek in the eastern part of the town.
• Westfield – The main village in the town, where Route 394 and Route 20 meet.

See also

In Spanish: Westfield (pueblo) para niños