Originally called Acadian Village,[1] the name Westville was chosen because the community was west of the Albion Mines (now Stellarton).

At its peak, during World War I, Westville boasted three underground workings; the Black Diamond, the Acadia, and the Drummond.

Extensive open-pit mining on the Drummond and Acadia sites was carried out throughout the 1980s and 1990s, by Pioneer Coal Limited of Antigonish, Nova Scotia.

One of the Westville baseball teams was crowned Maritime champion in 1927 and the legendary Babe Ruth visited the town in 1936 and hit a ball over the centre field fence.

The five-day event includes a county fair, street parade, and annual guest bands from around the world.