In the late 1800's, West City was a small settlement adjoining Benton on the west. In the early 1900's many immigrants from Poland, Lithuania and England settled in the West City area to work in the many coal mines.

March 29, 1911, 33 citizens led by John Mulkey and represented by their Attorney Robert Hickman, presented a petition to Judge Thomas J. Layman, of the Franklin County Court, to incorporate West City, Illinois as a Village. At that time there were 350 inhabitants. An election was held April 15, 1911 and six Trustees where elected. They were: Ed McIntire, J.J. Sanders, L. I. Tombly, Ben Fletcher, Marshall Moore, and Jack Adams. On June 1, 1911, Judge Layman declared West City to be duly and legally organized under the general laws of the State of Illinois as the Village of West City.

When Congress passed the Volstead (Prohibition) Act in 1919, West City became notorious for bootlegging and gambling. The Birger and Shelton gangs vied for control of the wide-open village. In April 1923, Joe Adams, a bigly man (280-300 lbs.) and roadhouse operator, was elected Mayor of the Village of West City Leslie Reed was elected City Clerk John Lairsey served as Treasurer and R. E. Neunlist was Village Attorney. The six elected Trustees were as follows: Bruce Panchard, C. C. Gant, George Clinton, H. E. Stewart, W.R. Rogers, and R. N. Long. Mayor Adams aligned himself with the Shelton's and became the bitter enemy of Charlie Birger. On December 12, 1926, two of Birger's hired young assassins knocked on Mayor Adams door and informed his wife they had a message for him. When the Mayor came to the door, they gunned him down in front of his wife Beulah and young daughter Arian. Sheriff Jim Pritchard gathered evidence and arrested Charlie Birger for the murder of Mayor Joe Adams. He was tried in Benton, Franklin County, and found guilty and hanged by the neck on April 19, 1927, at 9:48 a.m.

After the sensational downfall of the Birger gang and the repeal of the Volstead Act, the Village of West City earned much of their income from legitimate taverns and nightclubs. During the 40's and 50's this proved to be a very lucrative business.

In spite of, or because of the notorious reputation West City endured during the 20's, there were Churches established by the God-fearing West City residents. Prospect, later called First Baptist, was the only organized Church in the corporate limits of West City until 1921. Later Trinity Baptist and Harmony Freewill Baptist were established. Trinity Baptist is no longer in existence.

At one time there were three schools in West City limits; Old Jordon, Washington School and New Jordon located on South Central Street across the street from the present West City Village Hall. The folks of West City wanted their children educated.