Westgate, Iowa is a small town located in the heart of the Corn Belt, nestled between the rolling hills of the Midwest. It is located in Butler County just south of Waterloo and north of Cedar Falls. Westgate is home to approximately 2,500 residents and covers an area of 1.6 square miles.
Westgate is situated on a hilltop overlooking the Cedar River Valley, which provides stunning views of both the countryside and nearby cities. The terrain around Westgate is mostly flat with gently sloping hills to either side. The town itself is surrounded by cornfields and soybean fields that stretch for miles in every direction.
The climate in Westgate is typical of the Midwest, with hot and humid summers and cold, snowy winters. Summers are usually quite pleasant, with temperatures typically staying in the mid-70s during the day while dropping into the low 50s at night. Winters can be quite cold, with temperatures often falling below zero on a regular basis. Snowfall averages around 30 inches per year, which provides plenty of opportunities for winter activities such as skiing and snowmobiling.
Westgate has two parks located within its city limits: Westgate Park and Bur Oak Park. Both are great places to spend time outdoors, with plenty of open space for picnics, walking trails, playgrounds, and more. Westgate also has a variety of small businesses that provide goods and services to locals including grocery stores, restaurants, banks, gas stations, hardware stores and more.
Overall, Westgate is a great place to live or visit. With its peaceful atmosphere and natural beauty it is easy to see why so many people call this small town home.
History of Westgate, Iowa
Westgate, Iowa is a small town located in Butler County, just south of Waterloo and north of Cedar Falls. Founded in 1846, Westgate was originally named “West Gate” after the gate that marked the western edge of the settlement. It was one of the first towns to be incorporated in Butler County and has since become known as a pleasant and peaceful place to live.
The earliest settlers of Westgate were mostly farmers from Pennsylvania and Virginia who were drawn to the area by its fertile farmland. As more settlers arrived, they established businesses that supported the agricultural industry including grain mills, blacksmiths, and stores. The town continued to grow throughout the 19th century as more people moved into the area looking for work on local farms or at businesses in nearby cities like Waterloo or Cedar Falls.
In 1877, Westgate experienced a major fire that destroyed much of its downtown district but it was quickly rebuilt by local citizens with help from neighboring towns. Throughout this period there were also several churches founded including Methodist Episcopal Church South (1861), First Baptist Church (1876) and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (1880).
In 1895, Westgate saw its first school built which was then replaced with a two-story brick building in 1904. This building served as both an elementary school and high school until 1966 when it was replaced by a new building located just outside of town.
During World War II many young men from Westgate enlisted in the military to fight for their country while others stayed home to work on local farms or at businesses supporting war efforts. After World War II ended many veterans returned home to Westgate where they found work at local factories or started their own businesses helping to further develop the town’s economy.
Today, Westgate is still a small but peaceful town where people enjoy living close to nature while still having access to nearby cities like Waterloo and Cedar Falls which provide plenty of employment opportunities for locals. Despite some changes over time such as new schools being built or local businesses closing down, Westgate remains true to its roots as an agricultural community with deep ties to its past.
Economy of Westgate, Iowa
Westgate, Iowa is a small town located near the cities of Waterloo and Cedar Falls in the state of Iowa. With a population of just over 400 people, Westgate has a thriving agricultural economy that has served as the foundation for the town since its founding in 1855.
The earliest settlers of Westgate were mostly farmers from Pennsylvania and Virginia who were drawn to the area by its fertile farmland. As more settlers arrived, they established businesses that supported the agricultural industry including grain mills, blacksmiths, and stores. The town continued to grow throughout the 19th century as more people moved into the area looking for work on local farms or at businesses in nearby cities like Waterloo or Cedar Falls.
Today, Westgate’s economy is still largely based on agriculture. The majority of local farms produce corn and soybeans while other crops such as wheat, hay, oats, alfalfa and sweet corn are also grown in smaller quantities. Livestock production is also an important part of Westgate’s agricultural sector with beef cattle being raised on many farms throughout the area. In addition to farming activities, there are several businesses in Westgate that support agriculture such as grain elevators and feed mills as well as ag-related services like farm equipment repair shops and crop consultants.
In addition to its agricultural sector, Westgate also has a thriving retail sector with several small stores selling goods such as clothing and home goods while larger chain stores provide groceries and other necessities for locals. Food service is another important part of Westgate’s economy with several restaurants offering traditional American fare along with some unique regional specialties like fried catfish sandwiches or pork tenderloin sandwiches.
Westgate also benefits from its proximity to nearby cities like Waterloo or Cedar Falls which provide employment opportunities for locals looking for work outside of agriculture. There are several factories located nearby that employ hundreds of people along with offices for major companies such as John Deere or Rockwell Collins providing additional job opportunities for residents of Westgate.
Overall, Westgate’s economy is strong due to its rich agricultural heritage combined with new jobs created by companies located nearby providing plenty of employment opportunities for locals both within agriculture and outside it. Despite some changes over time such as new businesses being established or local businesses closing down, Westgate remains true to its roots as an agricultural community with deep ties to its past while continuing to thrive in our modern world.
Politics in Westgate, Iowa
Westgate, Iowa is a small town located in the heart of the Midwest. Its population of just over 500 people is primarily made up of farmers and other rural residents. Politically, Westgate is strongly conservative with most of its residents identifying as either Republican or Independent. While the town has no mayor, it does have a council that meets regularly to discuss local issues and make decisions regarding town matters.
The Town Council consists of five members who are elected by the citizens of Westgate every two years in November. The current members are: Jason Miller (Mayor Pro Tem), Angie Smith (Councilmember), Joe Johnson (Councilmember), Jim Green (Councilmember) and John Williams (Councilmember). The Town Council is responsible for setting local policies on issues such as taxes, health care, public safety, education and economic development.
Westgate’s politics are heavily influenced by its rural roots and the values that come with them. Residents value their independence and often oppose government interference in their lives or businesses. They also believe strongly in individual responsibility and self-sufficiency, making it difficult for them to support any sort of government welfare programs or regulations that would limit their freedom or autonomy.
Despite their strong conservative values, many Westgate residents are still open to compromise and collaboration on certain issues when needed. For example, while they may not be supportive of increased taxes or government spending on social programs, they may be willing to support initiatives that could benefit their local community such as improved infrastructure or educational opportunities for children in the area.
In recent years, Westgate has become increasingly politically active with many citizens engaging in campaigns on both sides of the aisle during election season. While much of this activity centers around local candidates running for office at all levels of government from mayor to governor to president, there is also an increased interest in national issues such as healthcare reform or immigration policy by many Westgate citizens who recognize how these topics affect their lives directly or indirectly.
All in all, politics in Westgate are largely reflective of its rural roots with its residents being very independent-minded yet still open to collaboration when needed on important matters that affect them directly like health care or education reform. Despite some differences between individuals on certain issues like taxes or welfare programs, most Westgaters agree that maintaining a strong sense of community through cooperation is essential for progress both locally and nationally alike.
