Incorporated in August 1894, Westville, Pictou County, is situated on the Pictou branch of the Canadian National Railways, 2 miles from Stellarton, 5 miles from New Glasgow, 11 miles from Pictou, and 42 miles from Truro. According to the Eighth Census of Canada (1941), the population of Westville between 1871 and 1941 grew from 1,675 to 4,115. In 1941, more than 90% of the inhabitants were originally from the British Isles, and 62% of these were either Scottish or of Scottish descent. The principle religious denominations were United Church of Canada (38%), Presbyterian (29%) and Roman Catholic (22.5%).

Coal mining gave birth to Westville, and for many years was the backbone of the town's economy. The main seam of coal was discovered in the Westville area about 1865. The Acadian Coal Company began operations in 1866, and the settlement that sprang up around their works was named Acadia Village. In 1868 the Intercolonial Coal Company began developing land bought from John Campbell. On May 25, 1868, a public meeting was held to establish a name for the community. Acadia Village was renamed Westville at the meeting. On May 13, 1873, an explosion at the Drummond Colliery killed sixty men and boys, and the slope was not re-opened until 1875. By 1910, three companies worked the seams of coal, marking the peak prosperity of Westville’s coal industry.

Public service industries and retail outlets comprised most of the town's commerce. The first school-house was built in 1869 and opened in January 1870. A postal way office was established on August 1, 1868, with Duncan Balfour as Postmaster. A Post Office-Customs House was constructed sometime between 1904 and 1916. Track was built to join the mines with the Intercolonial Railway in 1867-1868 and another line built to connect with the loading docks on the Middle River was opened for use in 1871. An electric tramway connecting Westville, Stellarton and New Glasgow was under construction in 1904 and opened October 10 of that year.