A BasicTimeline of the History of Westfield New Jersey

1664	Elizabethtown is settled. The "west fields" include area west of the Cranford River
1727	Founding of Presbyterian Church creates a distinct village identity
1750	First school built near present Elmer Street
1777	June 26 & 27 - British army camps in Westfield
1780	Many Westfielders help defeat British at the Battle of Springfield
1794	Township of Westfield formed. Includes Plainfield, Scotch Plains, Mountainside, Clark, and Garwood.
1838	First railroad arrives in town - Elizabeth to Somerville. Stagecoach lines become obsolete.
1865	Civil War ends. Westfield is little changed - just a small farming village - since Revolutionary War period.
Late 1860's	Begin era of major growth - new churches, Fairview Cemetery, new stores, more people - transforming Westfield from a sleepy village to a bustling town.
1874	A great fire destroys much of the downtown area. First fire department is organized
1875	"The Townsman", first newspaper, published.
1890	"Westfield Leader" begins publication
1892	Northside Railroad Station completed, and first bank is opened.
1893-95	First electric and telephone service completed. Water and sewer services also installed.
1898	First trolley runs through town on the same route followed by today's #49 bus.
1900	Fair Acres Track (horseracing) opens in vicinity of Wells Street / Washington School area. It lasts for 10 years.
1903	New town charter.
1906	Carnegie Library (now Felice's) opens. [It is no longer Felice's]
1909	McKinley School opens. Oldest school still in service.
1910	Population is 6,420
1911	Present Fire House dedicated.
1918	Mindowaskin Park opens on site of former Clark's pond. Twenty five die in flu epedemic. Sixteen servicemen killed in WW I.
1929	YMCA opens.
1935	Buses replace the trolley.
1939-45	Over 2,000 Westfielders serve in WW II. Sixty eight die in service
1952	Westfield High School opens.
1954	New Town Hall and Library open
1954-62	Four new schools are built as population of the town increases.
1970	Population reaches 33,720.
1980's	Modest decline in population. School system is restructured. New library opens.
1990's-2004	The character of downtown changes due to influx of national brand stores. "Mom and Pop" type stores on the decline. Westfield struggles with it's identity. Parking garages proposed for town.