The neighbourhood got its start in the late nineteenth century, when published flyers proclaimed "Move to Westboro", and offered prospective residents "views of the Laurentian Mountains".

This slightly creative name for the distant geological formation along the Eardley Escarpment is now better known as the Gatineau Hills, which are visible across the Ottawa River.

The Maplelawn Garden, boasting the second oldest building in Ottawa (built in 1831) and designated a National Historic Site, is located at the western edge of the village.

That street was renamed Roosevelt Avenue for similar reasons post WW II.

The neighbourhood also boasts a concentration of outdoors and sport stores including Mountain Equipment Co-op, Vancouver-based Lululemon Athletica, and Bushtukah, and is close to cycling trails and whitewater rapids in the Ottawa River.

The influx of these outdoor and sports stores, along with a number of boutiques, restaurants and coffee shops on Richmond Road are a significant contributor to the gentrification that Westboro underwent in the 2000s.

Westfest, a free Canadian arts and music festival, was held in Westboro from 2004 to 2015 during the second weekend in June, and featured a variety of local and national performers.