Editing Westville, New York (section)

== History ==
[[File:Westville NY Fire Department.jpg|thumb|left|Westville Fire department]]

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The area was first settled ''circa'' 1800. The town of Westville was formed from the town of [[Constable, New York|Constable]] in 1829. The community has always been chiefly a farming community, with rich clay soils in the north and sandy soils in the southern part of the town. The Salmon River meanders through the township and was important to its early industry and its agriculture. In the 19th century, Westville was largely settled by Scottish and English people who had migrated from [[Vermont]] and other parts of [[New England]]. The only churches in the community were [[Protestantism|Protestant]], the [[Presbyterian Church]] at Westville Corners and [[Methodist Episcopal Church|Methodist-Episcopal]] at Westville Center.

Around the time of the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], there was an influx of [[French Canadians]] into [[northern New York]], and some took up farming in the community. In the 19th century and early 20th century, there were several small industries in the community, a [[gristmill]], a butter factory, a [[Starch mill|starch factory]], and several [[sawmill]]s. Most of these industries were located on the Salmon River. Over time,{{when|date=August 2012}} the industries disappeared and left only farming as the stable economic activity, as it is today.