More historic than 18% of U.S. towns · #120 of 142 in Kentucky. What drives it
Most of Westwood was built recently: 7% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1973. Below: maps from 1953 on and the census since 2000.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Westwood is more historic than 18% of U.S. towns, #120 of 142 in Kentucky. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its National Register listings pull it down.
C−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Westwood’s overall grade.
Kentucky towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Kentucky town has 29.9 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Westwood’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (12% of Kentucky towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on two of the three inputs, so a change in either one moves the letter more than it would with three. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±4.3 points).
Founding year: our sources. 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 Westwood’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Westwood was developed after 1920 as a planned residential addition to the city of Ashland, but due to its residents' independence, annexation into the city of Ashland has never occurred. Employees of nearby Armco Steel American Rolling Mill Company, now AK Steel employed the majority of homeowners in Westwood. Development took place from 1920 to 1950, although some additions have been made after that period. As the population of Westwood grew, the community was never incorporated as a city. According to U.S. Census Data, it is one of the largest unincorporated communities in the state of Kentucky.
Westwood is more historic than 18% of U.S. towns, #120 of 142 in Kentucky. 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.
How old are the homes in Westwood?
7% of Westwood’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±4.3 points), against a typical 5.9% for a Kentucky town; the median home was built in 1973.
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 Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) 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.
