Westview Ohio

WESTVIEW, OHIO

James Geer, the first recorded settler arrived in Columbia Township in 1814. The community of Westview started as a result of the Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati Railroad going through Olmsted Township. A train station was built in the southern part of Olmsted Township in 1849. (President Lincoln’s train passed by this station in 1865 as his body was returned to Illinois.)

In 1879, a number of quarries were developed in the southern and eastern parts of Westview. Growth in the area accelerated as a short line railroad was built from the quarries to the main north-south line. In 1879 , there were thirty homes. After the quarries were exhausted, Westview returned to a farming area.

In 1927, Westview was incorporated as a Village.

Annexation

The City of Olmsted Falls consists of the former villages of Olmsted Falls and Westview. The Villages were merged, consolidated, and combined by action of their voters on January 1, 1971. (In the language of the statute : annexed.)

The Report of the Annexation Committee provided (Section 25) that the Ordinances of the Village of Westview were to be the effective ordinances of the consolidated community. The Ordinances of the Village of Olmsted Falls were to be effective only to the extent that their subject matter was not covered by the Westview Ordinances.

In her plans, “ The natural beauty of Westview should be preserved. Land which is most valuable for open space must be protected while adequate park and recreational areas should be available for future use. There is a considerable amount of such land along the West Branch of Rocky River. The preservation of this “green belt” should be encouraged and represents an important feature of the Westview Comprehensive Plan.

Lands located in areas susceptible to periodic flooding, poor surface drainage or serious soil erosion should not be developed because of the danger to public health and safety.”

Sources:

THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF WESTVIEW, OHIO January, 1968

CUYAHOGA COUNTY, 1879

HISTORICAL STORY by Walter F. Holzworth

WME June, 17, 2014