Westville, Connecticut
Encyclopedia
Westville is a neighborhood of the city of New Haven, Connecticut
located in the western part of the city west of the West River
. The official neighborhood planning area for Westville is defined to be the area bordered by the neighboring town of Woodbridge, Connecticut
on the west (the border runs roughly along the Wilbur Cross Parkway
), by the Amity neighborhood
on the north (along Fountain Street), by the West Rock neighborhood
on the northeast (along Valley Street), by the West River
on the east, and by the city of West Haven on the south. Edgewood Avenue, Fountain Street and Forest Road
are the main through routes of the neighborhood.
Westville is a mixed-use district, with both residential and commercial zoning
space. Generally, as elevation rises, the neighborhood becomes more residential, with primary commercial buildings located along Whalley Avenue, which runs from the southeast to northwest. This area is home to many pubs and restaurants, and also features art galleries, antique shops, and other local businesses. The eastern half of the residential portion of the neighborhood is a state historic district known as Suburban Westville Historic District. The "downtown" area of Westville, which is zoned for commercial use, is listed as the Westville Village Historic District
on the National Register of Historic Places
. In 2003, the listed area was 22 acres (8.9 ha) and there were 30 contributing buildings in the district. In 2006, the listing was amended to add the former Westville Theater building at 827 Whalley Avenue, an Early Commercial style building that was built in 1912. The theater building is now occupied by an antiques
store. Westville Center has also been officially designated as a "Connecticut Main Street".
Several of Yale University
's primary athletic facilities are located near the edge of Westville, including Yale Bowl
(football), Yale Field
(baseball), Cullman Courts (tennis), and the Yale golf course
.
Westville is the home to much of the New Haven area's Jewish population, formerly including U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman
. In June 2007 Lieberman announced plans to move to Stamford
.
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
located in the western part of the city west of the West River
West River (Connecticut)
The West River is a freshwater stream in southern Connecticut. It flows through the towns of Bethany, Woodbridge, and New Haven before discharging into the West Haven Harbor....
. The official neighborhood planning area for Westville is defined to be the area bordered by the neighboring town of Woodbridge, Connecticut
Woodbridge, Connecticut
Woodbridge is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,983 at the 2000 census. It is one of the wealthiest towns in Connecticut, ranking 16th in the state in terms of per capita income, and is home to many of the faculty of Yale University...
on the west (the border runs roughly along the Wilbur Cross Parkway
Wilbur Cross Parkway
The Wilbur Cross Parkway is a limited access road in Connecticut, comprising the portion of Route 15 between Milford and Meriden. It is named after Wilbur Lucius Cross, a former governor of the state...
), by the Amity neighborhood
Amity, Connecticut
The valley of Amity is an area located partly in the town of Woodbridge, Connecticut and partly in the city of New Haven. It is bounded on the northeast by the West Rock ridge, on the south by the Westville neighborhood of New Haven, and on the northwest by an incline in elevation above which lies...
on the north (along Fountain Street), by the West Rock neighborhood
West Rock (neighborhood)
West Rock is an official neighborhood of the city of New Haven, Connecticut.It includes part of West Rock Ridge State Park and the campus of Southern Connecticut State University. The north end of the official neighborhood contains the Brookside neighborhood....
on the northeast (along Valley Street), by the West River
West River (Connecticut)
The West River is a freshwater stream in southern Connecticut. It flows through the towns of Bethany, Woodbridge, and New Haven before discharging into the West Haven Harbor....
on the east, and by the city of West Haven on the south. Edgewood Avenue, Fountain Street and Forest Road
Route 122 (Connecticut)
Route 122 is a primary, minor arterial highway beginning at Interstate 95 in West Haven. It runs north of West Haven center and roughly follows the path of the West River. It then enters the Westville neighborhood of New Haven and ends at Route 63...
are the main through routes of the neighborhood.
Westville is a mixed-use district, with both residential and commercial zoning
Zoning
Zoning is a device of land use planning used by local governments in most developed countries. The word is derived from the practice of designating permitted uses of land based on mapped zones which separate one set of land uses from another...
space. Generally, as elevation rises, the neighborhood becomes more residential, with primary commercial buildings located along Whalley Avenue, which runs from the southeast to northwest. This area is home to many pubs and restaurants, and also features art galleries, antique shops, and other local businesses. The eastern half of the residential portion of the neighborhood is a state historic district known as Suburban Westville Historic District. The "downtown" area of Westville, which is zoned for commercial use, is listed as the Westville Village Historic District
Westville Village Historic District
Westville Village Historic District is a historic district representing most of the commercial center of the Westville neighborhood of New Haven, Connecticut...
on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. In 2003, the listed area was 22 acres (8.9 ha) and there were 30 contributing buildings in the district. In 2006, the listing was amended to add the former Westville Theater building at 827 Whalley Avenue, an Early Commercial style building that was built in 1912. The theater building is now occupied by an antiques
Antiques
An antique is an old collectible item. It is collected or desirable because of its age , beauty, rarity, condition, utility, personal emotional connection, and/or other unique features...
store. Westville Center has also been officially designated as a "Connecticut Main Street".
Several of Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
's primary athletic facilities are located near the edge of Westville, including Yale Bowl
Yale Bowl
The Yale Bowl is a football stadium in New Haven, Connecticut on the border of West Haven, about 1½ miles west of Yale's main campus. Completed in 1914, the stadium seats 61,446, reduced by renovations from the original capacity of 70,869...
(football), Yale Field
Yale Field
Yale Field is a stadium in West Haven, Connecticut, just across the city line with New Haven, Connecticut. It is primarily used for the Yale University baseball team, the Bulldogs, and, until 2007 was also the home field of the New Haven County Cutters Canadian-American Association of Professional...
(baseball), Cullman Courts (tennis), and the Yale golf course
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
.
Westville is the home to much of the New Haven area's Jewish population, formerly including U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman
Joe Lieberman
Joseph Isadore "Joe" Lieberman is the senior United States Senator from Connecticut. A former member of the Democratic Party, he was the party's nominee for Vice President in the 2000 election. Currently an independent, he remains closely affiliated with the party.Born in Stamford, Connecticut,...
. In June 2007 Lieberman announced plans to move to Stamford
Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...
.
External links
- Westvillect - local website giving information on neighborhood resources and activities
- Westville Village Historic District, New Haven Preservation Trust website