History thumb|Panoramic map of Westfield with inset images and listings of landmarks (1929) History says that Westfield took its name from the rich "fields west of Elizabeth Town, and hence for over one hundred years went by the name of West Fields." Town records say that "the settlement of Westfield dates back to the last year (1699) of the seventeenth century. It was the result of the 'Clinker Lot Division.' Almost immediately after the division emigration from the older parts of the town of Elizabeth began to set towards the interior,—especially to the territory lying between the Rahway river, on the east, and the mountains, on the west. It was not, however, until 1720 that the settlers became numerous enough to constitute a distinct community." The old village area, now the downtown district, was settled in 1720 as part of the Elizabethtown Tract.
histOry tHumb|pAnorAmic maP of wesTfIeLd with inSet iMages aNd listIngs of lAndmarks (1929) histoRy Says that WestFieLd Took its name fROm the riCh "FieLdS wEsT Of ELizaBeth tOwN, AnD heNce foR OvEr One hUNdReD yeaRs went by the NamE of wESt fIeLds." towN REcords say that "thE SettlEmenT of westfield datEs baCk to thE laST yEar (1699) of The sEVenteentH century. it WaS The resUlt Of the 'cLiNKer lot diviSIon.' aLmosT immediAtely afteR tHE divISion EMiGraTiOn FroM The OLder pArTS of The town of ElIzAbeTh BegAN To sEt tOwards ThE intErIor,—esPeCiAlly to the terriTory lyiNG between ThE raHwaY riveR, on thE eaSt, aNd the mountaiNS, on the weSt. It was nOt, HOweVer, untIl 1720 that the sEttleRs bECamE nuMeRouS enOUgH to ConstitutE A DistINcT COmMuNity." The oLd VillAgE areA, nOW tHe downTowN dIstRICt, was sEttlED in 1720 As PArt OF tHe eliZabethtown trAcT.