Digitaal Dorp Westergeest

Already in 1333 AD the church of Gheast was named. (see also "The church")
Till 1350 Westergeest is part of the grieternij (predecessor of the municipally) Dantumadeel, to which also Kollumerland belonged to. Later this area became independent and was called Oostbroeksterland. To its borders was "Colmerland". These two united later on. In 1749, because of the introduction of a new tax in the grieternij Kollumerland and Nieuwkruisland, the tax per head of the family is determined. This gives us a nice insight in the composition of the population of Westergeest in those times. Of 106 families 14 are considered to poor to pay taxes. The remaining 92 are divided into poor, austere, common, reasonable and well-to-do.

Description:	Determined taxes:
1 poor widow 4 poor workers 11 austere workers 1 austere worker's wive 10 common workers 3 people with a small farm 3 austere farmers 20 common farmers 1 common farmer's wive (widow) 9 well-to-do farmers 1 well-to-to farmer's wive (widow) 1 inmate 2 carpenters 1 innkeeper's wive 1 innkeeper 2 cobbler 1 assistant 1 schoolmaster in austere state 1 cartwright 1 smith 1 woodsalesman 6 single men 1 well-to-do landlord	3 4-6 6-10 11-14 25 18-22 28-50 30 50-70 48 8 4-6 20 10 10 11 11 14 14 20 6-30 45

The number of inhabitants is 463. In 1840 this amounts to 985 and in 1884 there are 1462 inhabitants.
From 1811 until 1816 Westergeest is an independent municipality (with Oudwoude). This is still seen in the cadastral name of the area.

Middle ages up to about 1900 AD