Bellefonte, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bellefonte, Kentucky
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Location of Bellefonte in Greenup County, Kentucky.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Greenup |
| Incorporated | July 3, 1951 |
| Government | |
| • Type | City Commission |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.89 sq mi (2.29 km2) |
| • Land | 0.88 sq mi (2.28 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 636 ft (194 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 920 |
| • Density | 1,044.27/sq mi (403.35/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
41101
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| FIPS code | 21-05374 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0486804 |
Bellefonte is a small city in Greenup County, Kentucky, United States. It is known for being a quiet, mostly residential area with nice neighborhoods and tree-lined streets. In 2020, about 920 people lived there.
Bellefonte is considered a suburb of nearby Ashland. It is part of a larger group of cities called the Huntington-Ashland Metropolitan Statistical Area. This area includes parts of West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio.
The city was officially formed on July 3, 1951. It started with only 275 residents and grew throughout the second half of the 20th century. Bellefonte is known for its upscale homes.
A hospital named Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital is located nearby in Russell. It got its name from being close to Bellefonte. Years ago, a big company called Ashland Inc. had its main offices near the hospital. These buildings are now used for doctors' offices and other hospital services.
Contents
Exploring Bellefonte's Location and Landscape
Bellefonte is located in the eastern part of Greenup County. It shares a border with the city of Russell to the north. To the southeast, it borders an area called Westwood in Boyd County.
How Big is Bellefonte?
According to the United States Census Bureau, Bellefonte covers about 0.89 square miles (2.3 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a very small part being water. The city sits on a flat area about 100 feet higher than the nearby Ohio River valley.
The History Behind Bellefonte's Name
The land where Bellefonte now stands was once a large farm. In 1918, it was divided into lots and sold. The area was named after an old iron furnace called the Bellefonte Furnace. This furnace operated from 1826 to 1893.
You can still see parts of the old furnace today. Its hand-cut limestone blocks are used as a retaining wall along Oxcart Road. This is near the Community Presbyterian Church, which is built on the original site of the furnace.
The name "Bellefonte" comes from French words. "Belle" means 'beautiful', and "fonte" refers to 'melting' or 'foundry', which is where metal is made. This name perfectly describes the iron furnace that was once there. Some of the original log homes from the 1800s, built for the furnace workers, are still standing along Route 5. They have been updated into modern homes.
The Unique Flat Land of Bellefonte
Bellefonte is located on a unique strip of flat land. This land is about one mile wide and sits higher than the Ohio River valley. This unusual shape was created by an ancient river called the Teays River. This river was much larger than the Ohio River. It carved a wide valley through the area. Later, during the ice age, this valley was filled with glacial silt.
This flat land stretches from Catlettsburg north to near Wurtland. It includes parts of Ashland, Westwood, Bellefonte, Russell, and Flatwoods. The Ohio River formed its current path after the ice age. This created another valley just northeast of Bellefonte. This entire flat area was once known as "The Flatwoods" in the mid-1800s. The nearby city of Flatwoods kept this name.
People Living in Bellefonte
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 337 | — | |
| 1970 | 966 | 186.6% | |
| 1980 | 908 | −6.0% | |
| 1990 | 838 | −7.7% | |
| 2000 | 837 | −0.1% | |
| 2010 | 888 | 6.1% | |
| 2020 | 920 | 3.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
According to the census from 2000, there were 837 people living in Bellefonte. There were 349 households, which are groups of people living together in one home. Most of the people living in Bellefonte were White (98.57%).
Family Life in Bellefonte
In 2000, about 26.4% of households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (69.3%) were married couples living together. About 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals living alone. The average household had 2.40 people.
The population was spread out by age. About 20.1% were under 18 years old. About 23.4% were 65 years or older. The average age in the city was 48 years old.
Income and Economy
In 2000, the average income for a household in Bellefonte was $73,333. For families, the average income was $81,798. The per capita income (income per person) for the city was $37,813. Very few people (1.8%) were living below the poverty line.
Learning and Schools in Bellefonte
Bellefonte is part of the Russell Independent School District. This district also includes the nearby cities of Russell and Flatwoods. There are no public schools directly within Bellefonte. Children living in Bellefonte usually go to public schools in Russell or Flatwoods. Some also attend private schools in Ashland or other areas.
A long time ago, before 1993, there was a Bellefonte Elementary School in the city. It taught students from kindergarten to fifth grade. However, the school was closed in 1993 as part of a plan to combine elementary schools in the district. The building was later taken down.
See also
In Spanish: Bellefonte (Kentucky) para niños
