Bell City, Louisiana facts for kids

Bell City is an unincorporated community located in the southeast corner of Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is part of the Lake Charles metropolitan area.

Bell City is in Calcasieu Parish, however the documented statistics are for ZIP Code 70630 which has segments in two parishes, Calcasieu and Cameron. The 70630 ZIP Code is at latitude 30.098 and longitude -93.013. Bell City is in the Central Time Zone (UTC -6 hours) and observes daylight saving time. According to the 2000 United States Census, the population in ZIP Code 70630 was 892 with 385 housing units; a land area of 143.85 sq. miles; a water area of 2.75 sq. miles; and a population density of 6.20 people per sq. mile.

History 1902

The 1902 Welsh Rice Belt Journal says:

“The new town, on the Lacassine extension of the Louisiana Western (R.R.), has been named Bell City, after A. E. Bell of this place, one of the founders and promoters of the town that will henceforth bear his name.”

“Sites for a railroad depot, post office and a large school building have been donated and the work of building will begin as soon as proper arrangements can be made and the material hauled to the ground. Twelve lots have been sold , on which business houses will be erected , and scores of residence lots have been sold. The town has been nicely laid off and the work of grading the streets is now in progress.”

“Messrs. P. W. Daniels and I. E. Wesson, of this city, are at present erecting a large feed store and implement warehouse, and it is only a matter of a short time until Bell City will be one of the busiest little places in this section”.

“The new town is located fifteen miles southwest of Welsh , and is in the midst of a rice growing section and will be a boon to that portion of Calcasieu. The building of the new railroad from Lake Charles to Lake Arthur will open a new country adapted to rice culture and adds considerably to the area of the cultivation of that cereal in southwest Louisiana.”

Events and Charters

About 1895 Christian College was built on the present site of the Bell City ball park by Martin and Willie Hebert and Dallas and Dan Hayes. It consisted of at least four buildings; two dormitories, one for teachers and workers, and one for classrooms.

1907 Jan 17 The Charter of Bell City Mercantile Co. with a capital stock of $10,000 for conducting general merchandise business. Isaac Derouen is president, Stephen E. Stine is vice president, Placide Derouen in Secretary and treasurer. Along with Paul W. Daniels they are the first board of directors.

1908 Mar 24 The Charter of Bell City College with a domicile at Bell City, Louisiana was filed with the district clerk.

1909 May 31 The Railroad Commission reports Louisiana Western railway is to build a combination depot at Bell City

1918 The present Bell City School began operation. LD Bayne was first principal, followed by TS Cooley, Thompson, James Dent and Stanford Cox who was principal for 32 years.

During World War II (1939–1945), a prisoner of war camp was erected in the center of Bell City, furnishing laborers for area farmers whose sons and farm hands had gone off to war.

1944 April 4 The Bell City Library opened and was originally housed in the Bell City Elementary School with operating hours from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Tuesdays and Fridays. Mrs. Max Johnston was the first Branch Manager. In August 1944, the Library moved into a small office owned by Andrew Delaney, husband of the Library's Branch Manager, Hanan V. Delaney. It was housed in the office until 1990 when the Capitol Improvement Program allowed purchase of land, renovation and expansion of a new building. Work was completed and the new library opened in January 1994.
The Calcasieu Parish Public Library merged the Bell City and Hayes branches on December 28. The merger of the two branches, which are 1.2 miles apart, a two-minute trip by car, enables more enhanced service to the area. The last day of operation for the Bell City branch was December 23, 2009.

1950 Jun 05 A Charter for the official Association of Lions Clubs was presented to the Bell City-Hayes-Holmwood Lions Club at the Bell City High gymnasium.

1951 Jan 28 The Broussard Dairy, at Bell City, received grade A rating for their pasteurization plant.

Climate

Residents of Bell City always stay aware of the possibility of evacuations during the official hurricane season from June 1 to November 30.

On average, the warmest month is July with an average high of 91°F. The highest recorded temperature was 105°F in 2000.

On average, the coolest month is January with an average low of 41°F. The lowest recorded temperature was 11°F in 1951.

The maximum average precipitation occurs in May with average rainfall of 6.06 inches and the minimum average precipitation occurs in February with average rainfall of 3.27 inches.

Demographics

2000 United States Census Demographic Profile Highlights

Outdoor recreation

Bell City Drainage Ditch allows access to hunting and fishing. It makes up the west border of the Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge which was created in 1937 as a habitat for wintering waterfowl in the coastal prairie of southwestern Louisiana.

Education

K-12 attend Bell City High School, Bell City, La. The 2000 Census recorded 604 adults in Bell City (70630) over the age of 25. Of those, 403 are high school graduates or higher and 64 had bachelor's degrees or higher.