Official Name: | Westfield, Alabama |
Pushpin Map: | Alabama#USA |
Pushpin Label: | Westfield |
Pushpin Label Position: | bottom |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | United States |
Subdivision Type1: | State |
Subdivision Name1: | Alabama |
Subdivision Type2: | County |
Subdivision Name2: | Jefferson |
Timezone: | Central (CST) |
Utc Offset: | −6 |
Timezone Dst: | CDT |
Utc Offset Dst: | −5 |
Elevation Ft: | 564 |
Coordinates: | 33.4844°N -86.9403°W |
Area Code: | 205, 659 |
Blank Name: | GNIS feature ID |
Blank Info: | 128808 |
Westfield is an unincorporated community and former coal mining town in Jefferson County, Alabama. It was a coal mining camp for Tennessee Coal & Iron Co. that was purchased by U.S. Steel and developed as a planned steel worker community that was predominantly African American. It was home to Westfield High School. In 1969 it was described as a model of company owned community with various amenities noted.[1]
Star professional baseball player Willie Mays was born in Westfield in 1931.[2] Lawyer and former judge U. W. Clemon grew up in Westfield.[3]
Rev. Clarence S. Reeves wrote a history of the high school. It closed with desegregation. Alumni remained active in subsequent years.[4] In 2013 the film Westfield: Struggles to Success about Westfield High School debuted.[3]
Early in businessman A. G. Gaston's career he worked in the mines around Westfield. After his return from military service in Europe during World War I, he "was as a labourer with the Tennessee Coal & Iron Co. in Westfield, Alabama where his interest in entrepreneurship began to surface."[5]
Built for the Tennessee Coal & Iron Co. (TCI), Westfield was subsequently purchased by U.S. Steel. The community was planned to be developed as a predominantly African-American steel worker community. It was home to Westfield High School. In 1969, it was described as a model of company-owned community with various amenities noted.[6]
In 2013 the film Westfield: Struggles to Success about Westfield High School debuted.[7]