Westland, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Westland, Indiana
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 Westland, Indiana
Location in Indiana
Westland, Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Hancock |
| Township | Blue River |
| Elevation | 892 ft (272 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
46140
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| GNIS feature ID | 447628 |
Westland is a small, quiet community located in Hancock County, in the state of Indiana, United States. It's known as an unincorporated community, which means it's a place where people live together but it doesn't have its own official town government or mayor. Instead, it's part of a larger area called Blue River Township.
History of Westland
Westland was never officially planned out or mapped as a town. It grew naturally over time.
How Westland Got Its Name
The name "Westland" comes from the Westland Friends Church. This church was started in the area way back in 1840. A group of people called Quakers moved into southeastern Hancock County in the 1830s. Quakers are a type of Christian group known for their peaceful beliefs.
They used to go to a church called Walnut Ridge Friends Meeting, which was quite a distance away in Rush County. Traveling there regularly was hard. So, they decided to create a new church closer to home. This new church was built on land that was west of their old Walnut Ridge Meeting. That's how it got the name "Westland," meaning "land to the west." The Westland Friends Church is still an active church today.
Early Services in Westland
A post office was opened in Westland in 1845. This allowed people in the community to send and receive mail. The post office stayed open for many years, until 1905. One of the first people to run the post office was named Henry West.
