History of Westfield, Indiana

The history of Westfield, Indiana commenced when the city was officially founded in 1834 by Quakers who had emigrated to Central Indiana from North Carolina. It was not until January of 2008, however, that the town was officially incorporated as a city.

Today, Westfield is one of the fastest growing towns in the United States, along with several other such cities in Hamilton County, Indiana. At a distance of only about ten miles from the northern edge of Indianapolis, Westfield has benefited enormously from its location over the generations.
It is largely accepted that Westfield was one of the sites on the all-important Westfield Underground Railroad during the Civil War. Both the Quaker Friends Church and the Wesleyan Methodist Church supported the anti-slavery causes and activities of that era.

Nearby Carmel‘s Hamilton County Convention and Visitors Bureau has recently pitched in to help Westfield develop a new museum, which already houses lots of interesting and nostalgic memorabilia. The Westfield Washington Historical Society and Museum is inside the old Fire Station and Town Hall on Union Street. There, visitors can view, among other historical items, the very first motorized fire truck in Westfield. There are also tours available of some of the homes and businesses purported to have been safe houses along the famous Underground Railroad.