Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Westphalia

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
–Not graded
History · Westphalia

Westphalia’s post office opened in 1881

Most of Westphalia was built recently: 0.0% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1967. Below: maps from 1943 on.

1881first post office
0on the National Register
0.0%homes built before 1940
Add an old photoShare a memory
Quick answers

How Westphalia began, and where its name came from

When was Westphalia founded?

1881

The Westphalia post office opened in 1881, the earliest record of the town by name.

2020 census: 181145 years

How did Westphalia get its name?

Westphalia was named after the region of Westphalia in Germany.

Founding year: the first Westphalia post office (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Name: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.The full story ↓

What stands out about Westphalia’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 Westphalia are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Westphalia’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Westphalia’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
The story

How Westphalia came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Westphalia.

Read it all →

Westphalia was laid out in 1881, and it was originally built up chiefly by Germans. It was named after the region of Westphalia in Germany. The Westphalia post office was established in 1881. Many businesses have existed over the history of Westphalia including a variety store, antique store, hotel, blacksmith, elevator, photo studio, mine supply and the Westphalia elementary school.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

By decade

No old photos in the archives yet

Weddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.

Be the first to add onePhotograph a print flat, in daylight, no flash.
Add from your album
On the map

Westphalia on the map, 1943 to 1980

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

Westphalia on the 1943 USGS mapWestphalia on the 1957 USGS mapWestphalia on the 1980 USGS map1943Plainville sheet · 1:24,000

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

Famous people

Famous people close to Westphalia

Nobody well known was born in Westphalia itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.

See all →
Phil HarrisAmerican actor, singer and comedian · b. 1904
Joseph W. BarrAmerican politician · b. 1918
John Richard GreggAmerican politician · b. 1954
D
Dorothy MengeringAmerican television personality, 1921-2017 · b. 1921
H
Herdis McCraryAmerican football player · b. 1904
J
John L. DavisAmerican admiral · b. 1825

Questions about Westphalia’s history

What year was Westphalia founded?

The Westphalia post office opened in 1881, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).

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). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikipedia and U.S. Geological Survey historical maps. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.