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Westville, Indiana facts for kids

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Westville, Indiana
Westville, Indiana water tower, built in the 1930s
Westville, Indiana water tower, built in the 1930s
Motto(s): 
Community of Progress
Location of Westville in LaPorte County, Indiana.
Location of Westville in LaPorte County, Indiana.
Country United States
State Indiana
County LaPorte
Township New Durham
Area
 • Total 3.25 sq mi (8.42 km2)
 • Land 3.25 sq mi (8.42 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
774 ft (236 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 5,257
 • Density 1,617.04/sq mi (624.34/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
46391
Area code(s) 219
FIPS code 18-83420
GNIS feature ID 2397737
Website http://www.westville.us

Westville is a town in New Durham Township, LaPorte County, Indiana, United States. The population, as of the 2020 census is 5,257. It is included in the Michigan City, Indiana-La Porte, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area. Westville is located in Northwest Indiana, also known as The Region.

History

Westville was platted in 1851, and incorporated as a town in 1864. It was a station and shipping point at the junction of two railroads.

Rev. John Milton Whitehead lived in Westville at the time of his enlistment as a chaplain in the 15th Indiana Infantry Regiment. Whitehead received the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Stones River when he "went to the front during a desperate contest and unaided carried to the rear several wounded and helpless soldiers."

The Everel S. Smith House was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

Geography

According to the 2010 census, Westville has a total area of 3.09 square miles (8.00 km2), all land.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1870 640
1880 627 −2.0%
1890 522 −16.7%
1900 468 −10.3%
1910 503 7.5%
1920 408 −18.9%
1930 496 21.6%
1940 523 5.4%
1950 624 19.3%
1960 789 26.4%
1970 2,614 231.3%
1980 2,887 10.4%
1990 2,255 −21.9%
2000 2,116 −6.2%
2010 5,853 176.6%
2020 5,257 −10.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

Note that the census data for 2010 and later include the Westville Correctional Facility.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 5,853 people, 1,093 households, and 705 families living in the town. The population density was 1,894.2 inhabitants per square mile (731.4/km2). There were 1,186 housing units at an average density of 383.8 per square mile (148.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 72.1% White, 25.1% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 1.6% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.3% of the population.

There were 1,093 households, of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.1% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.5% were non-families. 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.97.

The median age in the town was 33.1 years. 12% of residents were under the age of 18; 13.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 47.3% were from 25 to 44; 21.4% were from 45 to 64; and 5.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 76.9% male and 23.1% female.

Education

The town has a lending library, the Westville-New Durham Township Public Library. Westville residents may also request a free library card from any La Porte County Public Library branch. Purdue University Northwest's other campus, formerly Purdue North Central, is in Westville.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Westville (Indiana) para niños

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