[3] Early evidence of settlement in the area of West Calder is indicated by the presence of Castle Greg, a Roman fortlet to the south-east of the village in neighboring Harburn.

[4] In the medieval period, the area was part of Calder Comitis, a large parish under ownership by the Earls of Fife.

[3][5] The rectangular building, with a square belfry was abandoned in the 1880s following construction of the West Kirk of Calder and is now a roofless ruin.

[13] There were several early cooperative associations in the village, known as friendly societies, which were founded in 1799 and 1812, however they eventually ceased operation.

[5] The principal West Calder Co-operative Society (WCCS) was founded in 1875 by a group of shale miners.

[13] The former WCCS Co-operative building of the town at 13 to 19 Main Street was built in 1913 to a design by William Baillie.

[16] In 1879, William Ewart Gladstone visited the village and made a key speech on foreign policy and free trade.

[20] It sits opposite the library in a small garden and consists of a square base, with memorial plaques, crowned by a stone obelisk.

The Railway Inn is a Category C listed public house on the Main Street, with an octagonal corner exterior and preserved late 19th century interior, built circa 1895.

[26] In March 2021, permission was given for construction of one of the largest subsidy-free onshore wind projects in the UK, at Longhill farm just outside the village and due for completion in late 2022.

[27] Freeport village was a shopping and retail centre to the north of West Calder that was built in 1996 and closed in the early 2000s.

The 'Five Sisters' group of shale bings to the north of West Calder is a local landmark and scheduled monument.

The description includes information on the topics such as the character and manners of the people, agriculture and produce, the ecclesiastical state of the parish, diseases affecting the local populace and details of the poor funds.

[citation needed] The Shale Trail is a 16 mile walking and cycling historical route between West Calder and Winchburgh, via Livingston and Broxburn using the Union Canal.

[34] The trail identifies areas of local history, primarily focusing on the extinct oil shale production industry.

[38] The new school cost £32 million and was opened by Gordon Brown, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

[15][42][43] Built of red and grey Ashlar stone, the building is a fine example of the Art Nouveau style, with detailing around the entrance and pedimented Venetian windows.

The club is run for the enjoyment and promotion of radio controlled model aircraft flying in the area.