Editing Westville, Illinois

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!--See the Table at Infobox settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage-->
<!-- Basic info ---------------->
|official_name          = Westville
|other_name             = 
|nickname               = 
|settlement_type        = Village
|motto                  = <!-- images and maps ----------->
|image_skyline          = Westville_Illinois.png
|imagesize              = 
|image_caption          = Signs at the north edge of Westville
|image_flag             = 
|flag_size              = 
|image_seal             = 
|seal_size              = 
|image_shield           = 
|shield_size            = 
|image_blank_emblem     = 
|blank_emblem_type      = 
|blank_emblem_size      = 
|image_map              = File:Vermilion County Illinois Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Westville Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                = 150px
|map_caption            = Location of Westville in Vermilion County, Illinois.
|image_map1             = 
|mapsize1               = 
|map_caption1           = 
|pushpin_map            = USA Illinois Vermilion County
|pushpin_label_position = 
|pushpin_map_caption    = Westville's location in Vermilion County
|pushpin_mapsize        = <!-- Location ------------------>
|subdivision_type       = Country
|subdivision_name       = United States
|subdivision_type1      = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1      = [[Illinois]]
|subdivision_type2      = [[List of counties in Illinois|County]]
|subdivision_name2      = [[Vermilion County, Illinois|Vermilion]]
|subdivision_type3      = [[List of townships in Illinois|Township]]
|subdivision_name3      = [[Georgetown Township, Vermilion County, Illinois|Georgetown]]
<!-- Politics ----------------->
|government_footnotes   = 
|government_type        = 
|leader_title           = Mayor
|leader_name            = Mike&nbsp;Weese
|leader_title1          = 
|leader_name1           = 
|leader_title2          = 
|leader_name2           = 
|leader_title3          = 
|leader_name3           = 
|leader_title4          = 
|leader_name4           = 
|established_title      = Organized
|established_date       = 1896
|established_title2     = 
|established_date2      = 
|established_title3     = 
|established_date3      = <!-- Area --------------------->
|area_magnitude         = 
|area_footnotes         = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_17.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 15, 2022}}</ref>
|unit_pref  = Imperial
|area_total_sq_mi       = 1.68
|area_land_sq_mi        = 1.68
|area_water_sq_mi       = 0.00
|area_water_percent     = 0
|area_urban_sq_mi       = 
|area_metro_sq_mi       = 
|area_blank1_title      = 
|area_blank1_sq_mi      = <!-- Population ------------------------>
|population_as_of                = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes            = 
|population_note                 = 
|population_total                = 3167
|population_density_km2          = 728.56
|population_density_sq_mi        = 1887.37
|population_metro                = 
|population_density_metro_km2    = 
|population_density_metro_sq_mi  = 
|population_urban                = 
|population_density_urban_km2    = 
|population_density_urban_sq_mi  = 
|population_blank1_title         = 
|population_blank1               = 
|population_density_blank1_km2   = 
|population_density_blank1_sq_mi = <!-- General information --------------->
|timezone               = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|CST]]
|utc_offset             = -6
|timezone_DST           = [[Central Daylight Time|CDT]]
|utc_offset_DST         = -5
|coordinates            = {{coord|40|02|38|N|87|38|20|W|display=inline}}
|elevation_footnotes    = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft           = 673
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
|postal_code_type       = ZIP code
|postal_code            = 61883
|area_code              = 217
|blank_name             = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info             = 17-80931
|blank1_name            = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] ID
|blank1_info            = 2400157<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2400157}}</ref>
|website                = [http://www.villageofwestville.com/ villageofwestville.com]
|footnotes              = 
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
|area_total_km2 = 4.35
|area_land_km2 = 4.35
|area_water_km2 = 0.00
}}

'''Westville''' is a village in [[Georgetown Township, Vermilion County, Illinois|Georgetown Township]], [[Vermilion County, Illinois]], United States. It is part of the [[Danville, Illinois]] [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. The population was 3,202 at the 2010 census, and 2,990 in 2018.

== History ==
The town was laid out in May 1873 by William P. and Elizabeth A. West, although it started out as a station on the Danville and Southwestern Railroad, and there had been settlements in this area prior to the platting. The first known settler was Moses Scott, who purchased land and built a structure in 1827. The post office was established on January 12, 1874.<ref>{{cite book
  | last = Callary
  | first = Edward
  | title = Place Names of Illinois
  | publisher = University of Illinois Press
  | year = 2009
  | location = Urbana, Illinois
  | isbn = 978-0-252-03356-8
  | page = 372}}</ref>  Telephone lines were first installed in 1900, and electricity arrived in 1901.

[[Image:Westville Illinois museum.png|200px|thumb|left|Museum in Westville]]

During its early days, Westville had many immigrants who lived separately in their own neighborhoods that evoked the tastes, smells, and sounds of different cultures in each neighborhood; the town was known as a "Little Chicago" as it mirrored the different cultures there. Today, many people still carry on the Eastern European names of their ancestors, though it has become more integrated.

Westville played the first regular season night high school football game, that counted towards the season record, under permanent lights, in the United States in 1928. It has been much debated that it was in 1892 in Mansfield, Ohio, but that was not two high schools playing each other and the lights were not permanent. The first night game in Illinois was played in Elgin on October 28, 1898, but again, it was under temporary lighting. Friday Night High School Football, as we know it today, started in Westville, Illinois in 1928.<ref>{{Citation |title= Arizona Republic |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/120275524/|access-date= December 29, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation |year= 1938 |title= Athletic Journal Volume 19-20 |publisher= Athletic Journal Publishing Company }}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last= Piper |first= Ralph |year= 1941 |title= Night Football: Status, Principles and Standards of Lighting |publisher= Ralph Piper }}</ref>

In 2007, "Remember Westville" was published by author James E. Bryant. The critically acclaimed book chronicled in detail the 1976 Westville Tigers basketball team and their season, as well as a brief history of the village of Westville. Westville finished the season 27–3, garnering a spot in the Illinois High School Association's Sweet Sixteen state tournament. The Tigers lost 67–65 in the final seconds to the eventual state champion, Mt. Pulaski in the Decatur Super Sectional at Milliken University.

Westville is known for its Labor Day celebration. The village celebrates with an annual parade showcasing local businesses, schools, and officials. St. Mary's church also partakes in Labor Day with an International Food Festival and a raffle drawing.

==Geography==
Westville is located on [[Illinois Route 1]] / [[U.S. Route 150]], about seven miles south of [[Interstate 74]] and the county seat of [[Danville, Illinois|Danville]].

According to the 2010 census, Westville has a total area of {{convert|1.68|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="census-g001">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1780931
  |title=G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1
  |access-date=December 25, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213060929/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1780931
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 1605
|1910= 2607
|1920= 4241
|1930= 3901
|1940= 3446
|1950= 3196
|1960= 3497
|1970= 3655
|1980= 3573
|1990= 3387
|2000= 3175
|2010= 3202
|2020= 3167
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
As of the census<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 3,175 people, 1,420 households, and 903 families residing in the village. The population density was {{convert|1,990.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,537 housing units at an average density of {{convert|963.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the village was 97.86% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.41% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.19% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.03% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.38% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.10% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.76% of the population.

There were 1,420 households, out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 22.5% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $34,654, and the median income for a family was $47,083. Males had a median income of $31,694 versus $21,433 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the village was $17,538. About 4.7% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

== Schools ==

Westville is served by the Westville Community Unit School District #2<ref>[http://www.westville.k12.il.us/ Westville Community Unit School District #2]</ref> which includes Judith Giacoma Elementary, Westville Junior High School, and [[Westville High School (Illinois)|Westville High School]]. Until 2010, Westville was home to the private, Catholic Preschool-8th Grade institution, Saint Mary's Parish Grade School, but the school has been permanently closed.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.commercial-news.com/archives/st-mary-s-school-to-shutter/article_f335ec1e-ed9f-56f3-8052-287b4fd786fb.html|title=St. Mary's school to shutter|last=Helenthal|first=Mike|date=February 13, 2010|work=The Commercial-News|access-date=September 3, 2016}}</ref>

==Transportation==
[[Danville Mass Transit]] provides bus service on Route 1 connecting Westville to downtown Danville and other destinations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ridedmt.org/home/showpublishedimage/724/637563787344800000|title=System Map|access-date=January 28, 2024}}</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://www.villageofwestville.com/ Village of Westville]

{{Vermilion County, Illinois}}
{{Illinois}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Villages in Vermilion County, Illinois]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1873]]
[[Category:1873 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:Villages in Illinois]]