Belleville, Michigan Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Belleville, Michigan

City

City of Belleville

Aerial view of Belleville

Flag

Seal

Motto(s):

"Quality Living"

Location within Wayne County

Belleville, Michigan

Location in Michigan

Belleville, Michigan

Location in the United States

United States

1847

Incorporated

1905 (village)
1946 (city)

Government

• Type

Council–manager

Area

• City

1.18 sq mi (3.07 km²)

• Land

1.13 sq mi (2.93 km²)

• Water

0.05 sq mi (0.14 km²)

Elevation

673 ft (205 m)

Population

(2020)

• City

4,008

• Density

3,540.64/sq mi (1,366.73/km²)

• Metro

4,285,832 (Metro Detroit)

Time zone

UTC-5 (EST)

• Summer (DST)

UTC-4 (EDT)

ZIP code(s)

48111, 48112

Area code(s)

734

FIPS code

26-07020

GNIS feature ID

0621058

Welcome to Belleville Sign

Belleville is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. A western suburb of Detroit, Belleville is located roughly 29 miles (46.7 km) southwest of downtown Detroit, and 18 miles (29.0 km) southeast of Ann Arbor, and is completely surrounded by Van Buren Township. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 3,991.

Belleville Lake is the city's principal geographic feature, and the city is also home to the National Strawberry Festival.

History
Geography
Demographics
- 2010 census
Arts and culture
Gallery
See also

History

The community was named in honor of landowner James Bell by adroitly choosing the French word for "beautiful town". The hamlet was platted in 1847 with the main thoroughfares still used today designated Main, Liberty, and High Street. About 1881, the Belleville depot on the Detroit line of the Wabash Railroad began serving travelers from across the region and the country.

Belleville was established as a village in 1905, when its governance separated from Van Buren Township by an act of the State Legislature. Located on the Huron River which was a natural trade route, the village had long been a thriving center for lumber businesses with saw mills located along the shores of the river. The large expanses of woodlands were removed to make way for farmland, industry and increasing population.

To generate more electrical power in the region, in early 1926 the Detroit Edison Company built the French Landing Dam on the river east of Belleville, thereby creating Belleville Lake. Belleville Lake is the largest inland lake in Wayne County, stretching 6 miles and covering 1,200 acres. The traditional downtown is nestled on the southern shore of Belleville Lake. Belleville achieved city status on 14 May 1946.

Techno music produced in the mid-to-late 1980s by Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson (collectively known as The Belleville Three), along with Eddie Fowlkes, Blake Baxter, James Pennington and others is viewed as the first wave of techno from Detroit.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.20 square miles (3.11 km²), of which 1.14 square miles (2.95 km²) is land and 0.06 square miles (0.16 km²) (5.00%) is water.

Belleville Lake was created by damming the Huron River when the French Landing Dam and Powerhouse was built in 1925 in neighboring Van Buren Township.

Belleville skyline from Columbia Court

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1880	314	—
1890	367	16.9%
1910	486	—
1920	626	28.8%
1930	758	21.1%
1940	1,286	69.7%
1950	1,722	33.9%
1960	1,921	11.6%
1970	2,406	25.2%
1980	3,366	39.9%
1990	3,270	−2.9%
2000	3,997	22.2%
2010	3,991	−0.2%
2020	4,008	0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census 2012 Estimate

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 3,991 people, 1,755 households, and 1,005 families living in the city. The population density was 3,500.9 inhabitants per square mile (1,351.7/km²). There were 1,965 housing units at an average density of 1,723.7 per square mile (665.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.6% White, 14.1% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 1.0% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.8% of the population.

There were 1,755 households, of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.8% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.7% were non-families. 36.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.95.

The median age in the city was 40 years. 21.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.4% were from 25 to 44; 28.2% were from 45 to 64; and 14.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.7% male and 53.3% female.

Arts and culture

Festivals

Belleville hosts an annual festival, called the National Strawberry Festival. The Strawberry Festival generates considerable media coverage. People from all over Wayne County come to celebrate Belleville's economic supporter, the strawberry.

Points of interest

In the 1930s, Belleville had a reputation as a resort community where the wealthy of Detroit maintained getaway estates. Henry Ford and Charles Lindbergh once owned summer cottages on Belleville Lake, in the neighborhood of Harmony Lane.

Music

The city has been called the birthplace of techno music, namely having been home to Derrick May, Juan Atkins and Kevin Saunderson, commonly known as The Belleville Three, who were instrumental in its creation.

Education

Belleville is in the Van Buren Public Schools district. Belleville High School, Owen Intermediate, and Edgemont Elementary are located within the city limits of Belleville.