Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
More historic than 14% of U.S. towns · #693 of 768 in Illinois. What drives it
Most of Westchester was built recently: 7% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1957. Below: maps from 1891 on and the census since 1930.
Westchester dates its founding to 1926 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1930.
More historic than 14% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Westchester is more historic than 14% of U.S. towns, #693 of 768 in Illinois. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its age pulls it down.
Few Illinois towns list much on the Register (a typical Illinois town has 0.5 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Westchester’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (28% of Illinois towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Westchester’s history is told.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Westchester. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Westchester.
From Wikipedia’s history of Westchester.
The area now known as Westchester was occupied by German farmers beginning in the mid-19th century. Samuel Insull purchased the land in 1924 with plans to develop it for residential use and create an English-style town. As a result, the town's name and the majority of its street names are of English origin.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
Born hereKathryn Hahn is born here
Born hereJulian Love is born here
2018Bemis Woods North Westchester Illinois-12066
2014Westchester Fire Department
2010FEMA - 44958 - FEMA being video taped by the press wh…
2010FEMA - 44957 - FEMA representative speaks with a resi…
2010FEMA - 44956 - FEMA public information officer speaki…
2010FEMA - 44955 - FEMA representative speaks with reside…
2010FEMA - 44954 - FEMA representative on the street in I…
2007Cicada BroodXIII 1200x800
2006Westchester, Illinois Village Hall exteriorBetween 358 and 20,033 people in every census since 1930.
10 censuses, 1930–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Westchester’s Wikipedia page.
Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.
Another post office, High Ridge, opened and closed inside today’s town.
US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.
In 1926, according to Wikidata. Westchester’s post office opened in 1888, and the census of 1930 counted 358 people here.
Westchester is more historic than 14% of U.S. towns, #693 of 768 in Illinois. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
7% of Westchester’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±2.9 points), against a typical 11% for an Illinois town; the median home was built in 1957.
What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (9), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
