Belpre, Ohio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Belpre, Ohio
|
|
|---|---|
The Captain Jonathan Stone House (1799) is the oldest existing building in Belpre.
|
|
| Motto(s):
"Excellent Community, Excellent People"
|
|
Location of Belpre in Washington County
|
|
 Belpre, Ohio
Location in Ohio
Belpre, Ohio
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Ohio |
| County | Washington |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.57 sq mi (9.24 km2) |
| • Land | 3.48 sq mi (9.03 km2) |
| • Water | 0.08 sq mi (0.21 km2) |
| Elevation | 659 ft (201 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 6,728 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
|
6,614 |
| • Density | 1,930.56/sq mi (745.42/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
45714
|
| Area code(s) | 740 |
| FIPS code | 39-05424 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1087127 |
| Website | https://www.cityofbelpre.com/ |
Belpre is a city in Washington County, Ohio, United States. It sits right along the Ohio River, across from Parkersburg, West Virginia. The name "Belpre" comes from a French phrase, "Belle Prairie," which means "beautiful meadow." This name was given by French trappers who explored the area long ago.
In 2020, about 6,728 people lived in Belpre. The city is part of the larger Marietta micropolitan area. It is located about 14 miles (22 km) downriver from Marietta. In 1870, a very long bridge, the Parkersburg Bridge (CSX), was built across the Ohio River, connecting Belpre to West Virginia.
Contents
History of Belpre
The first group of settlers arrived in Belpre in 1788. Later, in 1845, a railroad company called the Belpre and Cincinnati Railroad was started. Its plan was to connect Belpre to Cincinnati. However, the destination was changed to Marietta, and the railroad's name changed in 1851.
For a while, people had to travel by steamboat to get between Marietta and Parkersburg, Virginia. Parkersburg got railroad service in 1857. This was just before the western part of Virginia became a separate state, West Virginia, in 1861, during the American Civil War. Eventually, Belpre and Marietta were also connected by rail. Today, this train line is still used to transport coal.
Building the Parkersburg Bridge
From 1868 to 1870, the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad built the Parkersburg Bridge (CSX). This bridge connected West Virginia and Belpre, helping the railroad reach St. Louis, Missouri. The bridge was designed by Jacob Linville. When it was finished in 1870, it was said to be the longest bridge in the world, stretching about 7,140 feet (2,176 meters).
The bridge was very important for Belpre. It brought more trade to the town and made it easier to ship Ohio coal to the East Coast. It also improved travel and access on both sides of the Ohio River.
Belpre's Growth and Changes
Belpre grew differently from some of the bigger industrial cities in eastern Ohio. The city's population reached its highest point in 1980. Since then, the number of people living in Belpre has slightly decreased. This is partly because some heavy industries have become less active. However, Belpre's population has remained fairly steady compared to other industrial cities that have seen much larger drops in residents. A smaller community nearby, called Rockland, has also become part of Belpre.
Geography and Climate
Belpre covers a total area of about 3.57 square miles (9.24 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Belpre's Climate
The weather in Belpre usually has warm temperatures and rain spread out throughout the year. According to climate experts, Belpre has a Humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers and mild winters.
| Climate data for Belpre, Ohio | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 41 (5) |
44 (7) |
54 (12) |
65 (18) |
75 (24) |
83 (28) |
86 (30) |
85 (29) |
79 (26) |
67 (19) |
55 (13) |
44 (7) |
65 (18) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 32 (0) |
35 (2) |
43 (6) |
54 (12) |
63 (17) |
72 (22) |
75 (24) |
74 (23) |
68 (20) |
56 (13) |
45 (7) |
36 (2) |
54 (12) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 24 (−4) |
25 (−4) |
33 (1) |
42 (6) |
52 (11) |
61 (16) |
65 (18) |
63 (17) |
56 (13) |
45 (7) |
36 (2) |
27 (−3) |
44 (7) |
| Average precipitation inches (cm) | 3 (7.6) |
2.7 (6.9) |
3.6 (9.1) |
3.3 (8.4) |
3.8 (9.7) |
4.1 (10) |
4.4 (11) |
3.7 (9.4) |
2.9 (7.4) |
2.4 (6.1) |
2.8 (7.1) |
2.9 (7.4) |
39.5 (100) |
| Source: Weatherbase | |||||||||||||
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 911 | — | |
| 1880 | 901 | −1.1% | |
| 1890 | 1,007 | 11.8% | |
| 1910 | 1,249 | — | |
| 1920 | 1,317 | 5.4% | |
| 1930 | 1,724 | 30.9% | |
| 1940 | 1,717 | −0.4% | |
| 1950 | 2,451 | 42.7% | |
| 1960 | 5,418 | 121.1% | |
| 1970 | 7,189 | 32.7% | |
| 1980 | 7,193 | 0.1% | |
| 1990 | 6,796 | −5.5% | |
| 2000 | 6,660 | −2.0% | |
| 2010 | 6,441 | −3.3% | |
| 2020 | 6,728 | 4.5% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 6,614 | 2.7% | |
| Sources: | |||
Belpre's Population in 2010
In 2010, there were 6,441 people living in Belpre. These people lived in 3,053 households, and 1,788 of these were families. The city had about 712 people per square mile.
- Many households (41.6%) were married couples living together.
- Some households (13.4%) had a female head of the house without a husband.
- About 24.1% of households had children under 18 living there.
- About 35.5% of all households were individuals living alone.
- Around 15.8% of households had someone aged 65 or older living by themselves.
The average age of people in Belpre was 44.7 years old.
- 18.8% of residents were under 18.
- 20.7% of residents were 65 years or older.
- The population was made up of 46.7% males and 53.3% females.
Education in Belpre
The Belpre City School District manages the schools in the area.
- It has one elementary school.
- It also has one high school.
Belpre has a public library, which is a part of the Washington County Public Library system.
See also
In Spanish: Belpre (Ohio) para niños
