In 1711, the heirs of the patentees joined in a second division of the lands in twelve lots with immutable boundaries, which were subsequently divided up.

[6][7] In 1848 the village of West Farms was described as "pleasantly situated at the head of the navigable waters of the Bronx, three miles from the East river, and twelve from New York".

The railroad depot of the Harlem & Westchester Rail Road stood a mile north of the village, where there were four churches, "4 taverns, a temperance house, 12 stores of different kinds, and a post office."

Rail service to the city was on an almost hourly schedule, and West Farms was developing into a railroad suburb like Yonkers, which bounded it on the north.

[10] Poet Joseph Rodman Drake found inspiration in the views of Long Island Sound and is buried nearby.

Almost half the population lives below the poverty line and receives public assistance (AFDC, Home Relief, Supplemental Security Income, and Medicaid).

[15] Based on data from the 2010 United States Census, the population of West Farms-Bronx River was 35,011, an increase of 469 (1.4%) from the 34,542 counted in 2000.

[21] In 2018, an estimated 31% of West Farms and Belmont residents lived in poverty, compared to 25% in all of the Bronx and 20% in all of New York City.

[23] West Farms and Belmont are patrolled by the 48th Precinct of the NYPD, located at 450 Cross Bronx Expressway.

[25] West Farms has significantly higher drop out rates and more incidents of violence in its schools than in other parts of the city.

[18]: 14 The concentration of fine particulate matter, the deadliest type of air pollutant, in West Farms and Belmont is 0.008 milligrams per cubic metre (8.0×10−9 oz/cu ft), more than the city average.

[18]: 13  In West Farms and Belmont, 36% of residents are obese, 22% are diabetic, and 32% have high blood pressure—compared to the citywide averages of 24%, 11%, and 28% respectively.

[33] The United States Postal Service operates the West Farms Station at 362 Devoe Avenue.

[34] West Farms and Belmont generally have a lower rate of college-educated residents than the rest of the city as of 2018[update].

[18]: 6  The percentage of West Farms and Belmont students excelling in math rose from 19% in 2000 to 44% in 2011, and reading achievement increased from 25% to 30% during the same time period.

[35] West Farms and Belmont's rate of elementary school student absenteeism is more than the rest of New York City.

[19]: 24 (PDF p. 55) [18]: 6  Additionally, 61% of high school students in West Farms and Belmont graduate on time, lower than the citywide average of 75%.