Westfield Borough History

It all begin with a Mission.

Westfield Borough was incorporated on February 12, 1867. The first settlement was called “Priestville” and was a central point for missionary activities. The name was later changed to Westfield as it was the westernmost point for settlers in the Cowanesque Valley.

The population of Westfield Borough was 1,064 in the 2010 Census. Although it is in a downward trend, the population has remained between 1,000 and 1,200 residents since it was formed.

Services provided by Westfield Borough include water and sewer, police coverage, street lighting, and street maintenance. The borough is one square mile in size. The Municipal Building was converted from an old condensery in 1982 and also houses the Crary Hose Fire Company. Westfield is governed by a 7 member council and mayor.

The Borough of Westfield was started in 1867 within Westfield Township. Ayers Tuttle was the first permanent settler to the area, coming in 1809 before Westfield Township was formed in 1821 from Deerfield Township. Prior to the first Post Office around 1820, the town was known as Priestville. There were several businesses at the time of Borough formation, the longest lasting was the Eberle Tannery starting in 1867 and lasting, with a few changes in ownership, until closing in 2004. The railroad came in 1882 and helped many merchants import and export their goods along the line. The last passenger train was November 19, 1949, but freight ended in 1975 after flooding of the tracks and RR bridge damage. We are RICH in history!!