Westhoff was founded in 1906 as Bello, meaning "Beautiful View," as a tent city of workers building the Texas and New Orleans Railroad. In 1909 it was renamed for Wm. Westhoff, born August 8, 1831, who died March 19, 1911, a local merchant and political leader. For a time the town had three cotton gins and thirteen stores. It remains a farming, ranching, and uranium leasing center inhabited by many ethnic groups.