thehouseofruthanne

Today, Pitts has a Westville mailing address and so does Webb Mill. It's all known as WESTVILLE, today...but back then, those communities had their own little post offices, like Pitts and Webb Mill.

Both Poplar Head Community and New Hope Community are just a few miles from Westville.

if you're in Westville, and your coming straight out to the historical marker site, when you reach Hwy. 2, at the cross roads, where that church and store is, then you turn left to (the site), but you'll keep driving straight to the PITTS (Carpenter

Westville, Florida

Location in Holmes County and the state of Florida

Coordinates: 30°46′4″N 85°51′8″W / 30.76778, -85.85222

Country United States

State Florida

County Holmes

Area

Town 19.3 km² (7.5 sq mi)

Land 18.8 km² (7.3 sq mi)

Water 0.5 km² (0.2 sq mi)

Elevation 21 m (69 ft)

Population (2000)

Town 221

Density 11.5/km² (29.5/sq mi)

Tme zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)

Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)

ZIP code 3246

Westville is a town in Holmes County, Florida, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 221. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2004 estimates, the town had a population of 225.

Westville is located at 30°46′4″N, 85°51′8″W (30.767681, -85.852302)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 19.3 km² (7.4 mi²). 18.8 km² (7.3 mi²) of it is land and 0.5 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (2.42%) i Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 221 people, 94 households, and 64 families residing in the town. The population density was 11.7/km² (30.4/mi²). There were 107 housing units at an average density of 5.7/km² (14.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.64% White, 0.45% Asian, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.26% of the population.

There were 94 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the town the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 82.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $27,000, and the median income for a family was $34,375. Males had a median income of $25,625 versus $20,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $11,415. About 9.2% of families and 13.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.5% of those under the age of eighteen and 22.2% of those sixty five or over.

Interesting facts

Laura Ingalls Wilder with husband Almanzo and daughter Rose lived here for a short time in 1891. Laura's cousin Peter lived here as well. ¹

Driving Directions (to the INGALLS (Webb Mill) site)

A – I-10 exit 112 – Hwy. 79 North to Bonifay – 2 miles

In Bonifay, take US 90/Hwy. 90 West to Westville – 11 miles

B – Turn right (North) at US 90/Hwy. 90 on to South/North Pine Street (Hwy. 79/179/179A) to Westville – ½ mile – drive through Westville toward Cedar Street – Turn slight right on to Hawkins Street (which is Hwy. 79/179/179A) – River Road

Stay on Hwy. 79/179/179A North to Hwy. 2 at New Hope Community – 14 miles

C – Turn left (West) on to Hwy. 2 (Caution Light-Stop) – 3 miles

D – Turn right (North) on to Hwy. 163 North to the site (on the left side) at 1234 Hwy. 163 (Poplar Head Community) – 1 mile

Driving Directions (to the church & cemetery)

A – I-10 exit 112 – Hwy. 79 North to Bonifay – 2 miles

In Bonifay, take US 90/Hwy. 90 West to Westville – 11 miles

Stay on Hwy. 79/179/179A North to Hwy. 2 at New Hope Community – 14 miles

C – Turn right (East) on to Hwy. 2 (Caution Light-Stop) – 1 mile

E – Turn right (South) on to Mount/Mt. Ida Road to the church & cemetery (on the left side) at 1305 Mount/Mt. Ida Road (New Hope Community) – 1 mile

(Note: Mount/Mt. Ida Road curves back around to Hwy. 79/179/179A. So you can get to the church & cemetery by turning on Mount/Mt. Ida Road via Hwy. 79/179/179A or Hwy. 2.)

Driving Directions (to the REESE/CARPENTER (Pitts) site)

A – I-10 exit 112 – Hwy. 79 North to Bonifay – 2 miles

In Bonifay, take US 90/Hwy. 90 West to Westville – 11 miles

Stay on Hwy. 79/179/179A North to Hwy. 2 at New Hope Community – 14 miles

C – At Hwy. 2 (Caution Light-Stop) drive straight (North) on Hwy. 179A to Tommy Lane (where you turn left onto Tommy Lane and following it back to the dead end, where the houses and Reese Cemetery are loc

Westville Florida Homes County. 30 miles northwest of Defuniak Springs Florida . Then known as New Hope Florida farming community on the banks of the Choctawhatchee River where over 100 years ago this serene community played host to northern visitors seeking warmth and relaxation under Florida sky's.

One visitor an American Author Laura Ingalls Wilder put Westville on historic maps. Laura along with her husband Almanzo and baby, Rose, age 5 came to Westville too stay with her second cousin Peter Franklin Ingalls and his new wife Mary Edith McGowin that had recently married at Mount Ida Congregation Methodist Church.

Laura's stay was short as she couldn't take the humidity Florida offers. AC, shorts, halter tops, swimming pools weren't thought of in Laura's time . Can't imagine the thought of wearing prairie fashions of era and not having modern comfort is mind-boggling. Two years was all Laura could take, she packed up her family then headed North to Dakota Territory where she lived out her life writing Little House On The Prairie Books we all eventually grown to love.

Did Laura come to Florida by Train or Wagon or both?

Research results proclaimed that Laura left Spring Valley Minnesota by train for Florida and arrived [some say ]Geneva Alabama , where Peter Franklin Ingalls may have met her. Or did she arrive Westville Florida where the Louisiana & Nashville tracks meet. Then trek 30 miles to Peters home in New Hope by wagon.

Time and continued search will tell the true story some day.

There was though official sighting of Laura being in Westville with wagon and horses, she was said to have carried a large gun and being very vocal.

Should Westville Florida be considered another LHOTP historic site?