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C−History
History · Westmont

Westmont dates to 1921, and 1 of its places is on the National Register

More historic than 23% of U.S. towns · #603 of 768 in Illinois. What drives it

Most of Westmont was built recently: 5% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1976. Its Register listing is the William L. Gregg House. Its Register listing is the William L. Gregg House. Below: maps from 1891 on and the census since 1930.

1921founded
1on the National Register
5%homes built before 1940
2famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
Quick answers

How Westmont began

When was Westmont founded?

1921

Westmont dates its founding to 1921 (Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history agree). The census first counted it in 1930.

First census: 2,733 in 19302020 census: 24,429105 years

How historic is Westmont?

C−

More historic than 23% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: Wikidata; Wikipedia’s history section gives the same year. First post office: 1922.The full story ↓
History grade

What drives Westmont’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Westmont is more historic than 23% of U.S. towns, #603 of 768 in Illinois. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its age pulls it down.

C−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Westmont’s overall grade.
Founding era1921, from Wikidata: founded 1900–1944, an older era than 9% of U.S. townsDHomes built before 19405.1% of homes (±1.8) · typical IL town 10.6% · U.S. 8.4%CNational Register1 listing, 0.4 per 10,000 residents · typical IL town 0.5 · U.S. 2.4B
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 23%
NewerOlder
Illinois towns of 2,500+ (768)Ahead of 22%

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 Westmont’s 0.4 sits near the middle of its state (59% of Illinois towns have fewer) while its 1 listings outnumber those of 51% of U.S. towns.

How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from D to C+. The pre-1940 share (±1.8 points) is firm at this size. Two sources give 1921.

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 →

What stands out about Westmont’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Westmont are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 18918 editions of the USGS map, 1891 to 1993. Watch Westmont change.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Westmont’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Westmont’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
On the map

Westmont on the map, 1891 to 1993

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Westmont. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Westmont on the 1891 USGS mapWestmont on the 1900 USGS mapWestmont on the 1927 USGS mapWestmont on the 1953 USGS mapWestmont on the 1963 USGS mapWestmont on the 1972 USGS mapWestmont on the 1980 USGS mapWestmont on the 1993 USGS map1891Riverside sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Westmont.

The story

How Westmont came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Westmont.

Read it all →

The area known as Westmont earlier had been inhabited by the Potawatami. After several failed attempts by the U.S. government to persuade the Native Americans to move from the area, in 1833 they agreed under coercion to vacate their land for a nominal payment.

The development of the Illinois-Michigan Canal, authorized by the State of Illinois in the 1820s but delayed in construction until the 1830s, contributed to Westmont's early growth. Many of the workers turned to farming when the economic panic of 1837 halted canal construction; agriculture became the major occupation with produce sold in nearby Chicago. The area around Westmont became one of the most prosperous sections of the state.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Westmont, 1891 to 1993

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1891On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  3. 20th century
  4. 1921
    FoundingWestmont is established
  5. 1922Post officeThe Westmont post office opens
  6. 1983Born herePierre Pierce is born here
  7. 1993Born hereRobbie Russo is born here
By decade

Westmont, decade by decade

Today18 recent
Westmont High School in Illinois, 2025 012025Westmont High School in Illinois, 2025 01Westmont Centre 20252025Westmont Centre 2025Veteran's Memorial in Ty Warner Park, Illinois2025Veteran's Memorial in Ty Warner Park, IllinoisTy Warner Park in DuPage County, Illinois2025Ty Warner Park in DuPage County, IllinoisTy Warner Park in DuPage County, Illinois 052025Ty Warner Park in DuPage County, Illinois 05Ty Warner Park in DuPage County, Illinois 042025Ty Warner Park in DuPage County, Illinois 04Ty Warner Park in DuPage County, Illinois 032025Ty Warner Park in DuPage County, Illinois 03Ty Warner Park in DuPage County, Illinois 022025Ty Warner Park in DuPage County, Illinois 02James M. Long Park in DuPage County, Illinois, 20252025James M. Long Park in DuPage County, Illinois, 2025FMCNatatorium2024FMCNatatoriumAerial view of Westmont, Illinois, October 20242024Aerial view of Westmont, Illinois, October 2024Westmont il2017Westmont ilCentral2016CentralCB&Q Special near Cass Ave., Westmont, IL on June 12, 19662016CB&Q Special near Cass Ave., Westmont, IL on June 12,…LUC Women Scientists 22014LUC Women Scientists 2Westmont Il2013Westmont IlThyridopteryx ephemeraeformis-larva crawling2011Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis-larva crawlingWestmontILUSAPopulationPyramid2008WestmontILUSAPopulationPyramid
On the National Register

1 historic place in Westmont

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

place listed
1
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
1
each building in a district counts
first listed
1980
William L. Gregg House
William L. Gregg House
Buildings
William L. Gregg HouseBuilding

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

People over time

Westmont, census by census

05,00010,00015,00020,00025,00019401960198020002020Peak: 24,685

Between 2,733 and 24,685 people in every census since 1930.

10 censuses, 1930–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Westmont’s Wikipedia page.

Famous people

2 famous people were born in Westmont

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
Robbie RussoAmerican ice hockey player · b. 1993
P
Pierre PierceAmerican basketball player · b. 1983
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Downers Grove1 historic placeB+Willowbrook1 historic placeDClarendon HillsIts storyC−Oak Brook4 historic placesC−Hinsdale8 historic placesB+Darien1 historic placeDDowners Grove Township11 historic placesA−York Township13 historic placesB+

Questions about Westmont’s history

What year was Westmont founded?

In 1921, according to Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history of the town. Westmont’s post office opened in 1922, and the census of 1930 counted 2,733 people here.

How does Westmont rank for history?

Westmont is more historic than 23% of U.S. towns, #603 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.

What is on the National Register in Westmont?

One place: the William L. Gregg House (listed 1980).

How old are the homes in Westmont?

5% of Westmont’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±1.8 points), against a typical 11% for an Illinois town; the median home was built in 1976.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

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 (18), the National Register of Historic Places (1), 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.