Westville was an
unincorporated community
An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...
in
Simpson County, Mississippi
Simpson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. Its western border is formed by the Pearl River, an important transportation route in the 19th century. As of the 2010 census, the population was 27,503. The county seat is M ...
, United States, located approximately southeast of
Pinola. It is now considered a
ghost town
Ghost Town(s) or Ghosttown may refer to:
* Ghost town, a town that has been abandoned
Film and television
* Ghost Town (1936 film), ''Ghost Town'' (1936 film), an American Western film by Harry L. Fraser
* Ghost Town (1956 film), ''Ghost Town'' ...
.
History
The settlement was named for Colonel Cato West.
Westville was designated as the
county seat
A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...
in 1824 and served to 1900, when the seat was moved to
Mendenhall. In 1905, the seat was briefly returned to Westville, but was returned to Mendenhall the next year.
Westville was incorporated in 1836.
The courthouse was built in 1827, but it was destroyed by fire a few years later. It was rebuilt in brick, and burned down again. It was rebuilt a second time, again in brick.
After the county seat moved to Mendenhall, Westville declined markedly. It was essentially abandoned later in the century.
References
{{Simpson County, Mississippi
Ghost towns in Mississippi