Belo, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Belo
|
|
|---|---|
Little Dove United Baptist Church
|
|
 Belo
Location in West Virginia
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Mingo |
| Elevation | 663 ft (202 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| FIPS code | 1553854 |
Belo is a small, unincorporated community located in Mingo County, West Virginia, United States. An "unincorporated community" means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. The community once had its own post office, but it is now closed.
How Belo Got Its Name
The story of how Belo got its name is quite unique and interesting! It all started in the 1930s when the United States government was setting up the first post office in the community.
The Role of E.E. Dempsey
A local businessman named E.E. Dempsey played a big part in naming the community. Mr. Dempsey owned a general store, which was a place where people could buy all sorts of goods. His wife, Lummie Vernatter Dempsey, was chosen to be the first postmistress. This meant she would be in charge of the new post office.
A Clever Suggestion
The Postal Service told Mrs. Dempsey that she needed to come up with a name for the community. This name was important for the post office to be officially recognized. After trying to think of a good name, Mrs. Dempsey told her husband she was stuck.
Mr. Dempsey then had a clever idea. He pointed out that their community was "below" several other places. It was below Myrtle, below Lenore, below Logan, and even below Charleston. So, he suggested they simply call it "Below."
The Final Name: Belo
When the official paperwork was filed, the "w" was dropped from "Below." This is how the community officially became known as "Belo." Many people credit Mr. Dempsey with coming up with this simple yet memorable name for the area.
