Bellville, Ohio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bellville, Ohio
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Village
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Downtown Bellville on Main Street in 2008.
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Location of Bellville, Ohio
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Location of Bellville in Richland County
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| Country | United States |
| State | Ohio |
| County | Richland |
| Founded | 1808 |
| Incorporated | 1841 (village) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Ohio Statutory Village |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.87 sq mi (7.44 km2) |
| • Land | 2.85 sq mi (7.38 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,152 ft (351 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,963 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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1,986 |
| • Density | 688.53/sq mi (265.84/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
44813
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| Area code(s) | 419 |
| FIPS code | 39-05284 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2398083 |
Bellville is a small village located in Richland County, Ohio. It is part of the larger Mansfield area. In 2020, about 1,963 people lived there.
Contents
History of Bellville
Early Settlers and Founding
The first people to settle in Bellville arrived in 1808. James McCluer and Jonathan Oldfield traveled from what is now Fredericktown. They followed a path created by a tornado. McCluer bought the land and built the first cabin with Oldfield. This cabin was on what is now Ankneytown Road.
Even though McCluer owned the land, Robert Bell is known as the founder of the village. Other early settlers included Thomas and Bridget O'Leary.
Village Development
In 1815, McCluer sold the land to Robert Bell. Bell then started to plan the village of Bellville. Streets like Main Street, Ogle Street, and Durbin Road began to take shape. The village had 48 lots, and one of the first buildings was a tavern.
The first post office opened in Bellville in 1824. Before this, people had to travel far to send letters. The first church was built in 1834, but church services had been held since 1814. Before the church was built, people used their homes for church and school. This first church was The Methodist Episcopal Church. Robert Bell and preacher William Oldfield helped organize it.
Schools and Education
The first school in Bellville started in 1818, soon after McCluer built his cabin. At first, only boys could attend school. They often had to travel long distances. Girls usually stayed home to help with chores.
By 1857, a proper school was built where the Clear Fork Elementary buildings are today. These buildings are no longer used for school.
Growth and Commerce
Bellville's businesses grew in the 1870s. An electric plant was built near the current bike trail and flour mill. The B&O railroad also ran along the path of the bike trail. Two hotels, Hotel Lefevre and Hotel Norris, opened.
In 1877, the town hall was built. It was used for meetings and as a jail. The famous bandstand in the center of Bellville was built in 1879. A doctor's office for tuberculosis patients also opened. Over time, Bellville had many shops. These included blacksmith shops, hardware stores, a bakery, grocery stores, barber shops, dentists, and the Exchange bank, which opened in 1872.
The Gold Rush in Bellville
Bellville was also known for its part in the gold rush. James C. Lee found the first gold on Dead Man's Run. This discovery brought many people to the area to look for gold. The gold found was very pure, but not much more was discovered after that.
Geography of Bellville
Bellville is located at 40°37′32″N 82°31′5″W / 40.62556°N 82.51806°W. It sits along the Clear Fork of the Mohican River.
The United States Census Bureau says the village covers about 2.75 square miles (7.12 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 2.74 square miles (7.10 square kilometers), is land. Only a small part, about 0.01 square miles (0.03 square kilometers), is water.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 720 | — | |
| 1880 | 971 | 34.9% | |
| 1890 | 941 | −3.1% | |
| 1900 | 1,039 | 10.4% | |
| 1910 | 1,056 | 1.6% | |
| 1920 | 998 | −5.5% | |
| 1930 | 987 | −1.1% | |
| 1940 | 1,199 | 21.5% | |
| 1950 | 1,355 | 13.0% | |
| 1960 | 1,621 | 19.6% | |
| 1970 | 1,685 | 3.9% | |
| 1980 | 1,714 | 1.7% | |
| 1990 | 1,568 | −8.5% | |
| 2000 | 1,773 | 13.1% | |
| 2010 | 1,918 | 8.2% | |
| 2020 | 1,963 | 2.3% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 1,986 | 3.5% | |
| Sources: | |||
Bellville in 2010
According to the census from 2010, Bellville had 1,918 people. There were 826 households, and 529 of these were families. The village had about 700 people per square mile (270 people per square kilometer). There were 882 homes, with about 322 homes per square mile (124 homes per square kilometer).
Most people in Bellville were White (97.7%). A small number were African American (0.5%), Native American (0.2%), or Asian (0.1%). About 1.5% of people were of two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people made up 0.5% of the population.
About 27.6% of households had children under 18 living with them. More than half (51.0%) were married couples. About 9.7% were households led by a woman without a husband. About 3.4% were led by a man without a wife. The average household had 2.32 people, and the average family had 2.94 people.
The average age in the village was 42.8 years old. About 23.4% of residents were under 18. About 20.5% were 65 or older. The village had slightly more females (51.9%) than males (48.1%).
Education in Bellville
Bellville is part of the Clear Fork Valley Local School District. Bellville Elementary School is located within the village. Clear Fork Middle School and Clear Fork High School are just outside Bellville.
The village also has a public library. It is a branch of the Mansfield–Richland County Public Library.
Notable People from Bellville
- Duncan Spears Casper - An important pioneer in the Mormon faith.
- Levi H. Dowling - A preacher who wrote a book called The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ.
- Francis Celeste Le Blond - He represented Ohio in the U.S. Congress from 1963 to 1967.
- John W. Leedy - He was the 14th Governor of Kansas.
See also
In Spanish: Bellville (Ohio) para niños
