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Bellefontaine, Ohio

Bellefontaine (/bɛlˈfntən/ bel-FOWN-tən[4]) is a city in, and the county seat of, Logan County, Ohio, United States,[5] located 48 miles (77 km) northwest of Columbus. The population was 14,115 at the 2020 Census. It is the principal city of the Bellefontaine micropolitan area, which includes all of Logan County. The highest point in Ohio, Campbell Hill, is within the city limits.

Bellefontaine, Ohio
Logan County courthouse in Bellefontaine
Nickname: 
The Peak of Ohio
Detailed map of Bellefontaine
Bellefontaine
Bellefontaine
Coordinates: 40°22′10″N 83°45′18″W / 40.36944°N 83.75500°W / 40.36944; -83.75500
CountryUnited States
StateOhio
CountyLogan
Founded1817
Government
 • MayorBen Stahler (R)[citation needed]
Area
 • Total10.10 sq mi (26.17 km2)
 • Land10.10 sq mi (26.17 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation1,240 ft (380 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total14,115
 • Density1,397.11/sq mi (539.42/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
43311
Area codes937, 326
FIPS code39-05130[3]
GNIS feature ID2394116[2]
Websiteci.bellefontaine.oh.us

History edit

The name Bellefontaine means "beautiful spring" in French, and is purported to refer to several springs in the area.[6] However, locally, the original French pronunciation is not used, and it is pronounced "bell fountain."

Blue Jacket's Town edit

Around 1777, the Shawnee war chief Blue Jacket (Weyapiersenwah) built a settlement here, known as "Blue Jacket's Town". Blue Jacket and his band had previously occupied a village along the Scioto River, but the American Revolutionary War had reached the Ohio Country. Blue Jacket and other American Indians who took up arms against the American revolutionaries relocated in order to be closer to their British allies at Detroit.

After the United States gained independence, its forces continued warfare against former Indian allies of the British. Blue Jacket's Town was destroyed in Logan's Raid, conducted by Kentucky militia in 1786 at the outset of the Northwest Indian War. The expedition was led by Benjamin Logan, namesake of Logan County. Blue Jacket and his followers relocated further northwest to the Maumee River.[7]

Beginning in the 1800s, American Revolutionary War veterans and others from Virginia and elsewhere began settling in the area of Blue Jacket's Town. Bellefontaine is on or near the edge of the Virginia Military District, where the cash-poor government granted tracts of land to veterans in payment for their services during the war. The Treaty of Greenville defined lands to be held by European Americans as separate from those to be held by natives but it was poorly administered in the area and whites frequently encroached on native lands.[7]

Railroads edit

Bellefontaine was platted by European Americans in 1820 and incorporated by the legislature in 1835.[8][9][10] In 1837, the Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad built the first railroad to Bellefontaine. This began its reputation as a railroading town. In the 1890s the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway (also called the Big Four Railroad) built a main terminal in the city. This terminal boasted the largest roundhouse between New York and St. Louis.[11]

Though railroading hit hard times and the industry went through radical restructuring in the late 20th century, and the Big Four terminal ceased operations in 1983, Bellefontaine remains a landmark on America's railways. The city is now just a thoroughfare for CSX.

Automotive transportation edit

 
Court Avenue, looking East from South Main St.

In 1891, Bellefontaine became the location of the first concrete street in America. George Bartholomew invented a process for paving using Portland cement, which until then had been used in stone construction. A small section of Main Street, on the west side of the Logan County Courthouse, was the first to be paved using that process. When that proved successful, Court Avenue, which runs along the south side of the courthouse, was paved with concrete. While Main Street is now paved with asphalt, Court Avenue has retained its original concrete pavement for more than 100 years. At its centennial, the street was closed to vehicular traffic and a statue of Bartholomew placed at its Main Street end; it became a pedestrian way. Since then one lane has been reopened for eastbound traffic.

In 1979, Honda began manufacturing motorcycles in the nearby city of Marysville, Ohio. Since that time, Honda's operations in the Bellefontaine area have greatly expanded. Bellefontaine is a central location among Honda operations in Marysville, East Liberty, Russells Point, Anna, and Troy, Ohio. Honda is Bellefontaine's largest employer in the early 21st century.

U.S. Route 68 intersects with State Routes 47 and 540 in Bellefontaine. U.S. Route 33, a freeway that has interchanges with US 68 and SR 540, skirts the northern edge of the city.

Campbell Hill edit

 
View westward from the U.S. Route 68 bridge over U.S. Route 33 on the north side of the city, near Campbell Hill.

To European settlers, Campbell Hill was first known as Hogue's Hill, perhaps a misspelling of Solomon Hoge's surname, the person who first deeded the land in 1830. In 1898, the land was sold to Charles D. Campbell, in whose name Campbell Hill is now known. Campbell sold the hill and surrounding land to August Wagner.

In 1950, the family of August Wagner deeded Campbell Hill and the surrounding 57.5 acres to the U.S. government. The government stationed the 664th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron on the hill in 1951. This military unit was responsible for monitoring for possible aerospace attacks from the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The 664th AC&WS and similar military units were eventually superseded by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (or NORAD). The base in Bellefontaine was closed in 1969.

The Ohio Hi-Point Vocational-Technical District opened a school atop the hill in 1974. The school is now known as the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center.

Revitalization edit

In 2012 local real estate developer Small Nation purchased and renovated the former J.C. Penney building. Since then, the organization invested over $33 million in renovating over 56 downtown buildings and attracting new businesses to the area.[12][13] The investment into the properties created roughly 200 jobs in the city.[13] In 2018, Bellefontaine was classified as an Opportunity Zone to further attract investors to the area.[14] Neighboring areas have begun using Bellefontaine as a model to attract more investment in their own towns.[15]

In 2022, Bellefontaine was named one of Ohio's Best Hometowns by Ohio Magazine for its downtown redevelopment efforts, thriving sense of community and appreciation for preserving local history.[16]

In 2022, Bellefontaine's Christmas parade included a drag queen and over 60 residents opposed their appearance at a City Council meeting,[17] prompting drag queens and supporters attending a later council meeting in support.[18] In 2023, the opposing residents began pushing for a city ordinance that would classify drag performances as ‘adult entertainment,' making it one of the first municipalities in Ohio to do so.[19] The Ohio Supreme Court unanimously ruled to remove the measure from the ballot when petitioners changed the ballot language after circulating petitions.[20]

Geography edit

According to the 2010 census, the city has a total area of 10.04 square miles (26.0 km2), all land.[21]

Climate edit

The city of Bellefontaine is at the convergence of the humid subtropical (Köppen Cfa) and humid continental (Köppen Dfa) climate zones according to the Köppen climate map. The region is characterized by four distinct seasons. Winters are cool to cold with mild periods, and summers are generally hot and muggy, with significant precipitation year-round. The city is too far south to experience lake effect snow from the Great Lakes region, however it does experience more snow than surrounding areas due to the city's elevation. Traditionally, Bellefontaine's elevation excludes it from tornadoes and floods that affect the majority of the Miami Valley.

Climate data for Bellefontaine, Ohio, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1894–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 71
(22)
72
(22)
85
(29)
90
(32)
97
(36)
101
(38)
106
(41)
104
(40)
98
(37)
90
(32)
80
(27)
71
(22)
106
(41)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 57.0
(13.9)
60.5
(15.8)
69.8
(21.0)
78.6
(25.9)
85.8
(29.9)
90.7
(32.6)
90.7
(32.6)
89.4
(31.9)
88.5
(31.4)
81.3
(27.4)
68.2
(20.1)
59.7
(15.4)
92.4
(33.6)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 33.5
(0.8)
37.1
(2.8)
47.5
(8.6)
60.7
(15.9)
71.3
(21.8)
79.5
(26.4)
82.6
(28.1)
81.3
(27.4)
76.0
(24.4)
63.7
(17.6)
49.9
(9.9)
38.4
(3.6)
60.1
(15.6)
Daily mean °F (°C) 25.5
(−3.6)
28.4
(−2.0)
38.0
(3.3)
49.8
(9.9)
60.9
(16.1)
69.7
(20.9)
72.8
(22.7)
71.4
(21.9)
65.2
(18.4)
53.1
(11.7)
41.0
(5.0)
31.0
(−0.6)
50.6
(10.3)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 17.6
(−8.0)
19.7
(−6.8)
28.5
(−1.9)
38.8
(3.8)
50.6
(10.3)
59.9
(15.5)
63.0
(17.2)
61.5
(16.4)
54.4
(12.4)
42.5
(5.8)
32.1
(0.1)
23.6
(−4.7)
41.0
(5.0)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −4.4
(−20.2)
1.3
(−17.1)
10.0
(−12.2)
22.9
(−5.1)
35.5
(1.9)
45.8
(7.7)
52.5
(11.4)
50.5
(10.3)
40.5
(4.7)
28.4
(−2.0)
17.5
(−8.1)
5.1
(−14.9)
−7.7
(−22.1)
Record low °F (°C) −27
(−33)
−21
(−29)
−12
(−24)
9
(−13)
23
(−5)
34
(1)
41
(5)
38
(3)
25
(−4)
11
(−12)
−6
(−21)
−22
(−30)
−27
(−33)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.04
(77)
2.46
(62)
3.20
(81)
4.11
(104)
4.31
(109)
4.96
(126)
4.45
(113)
3.90
(99)
3.18
(81)
2.82
(72)
3.13
(80)
3.08
(78)
42.64
(1,082)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 14.5 12.1 12.7 13.4 13.6 12.5 10.6 9.0 9.4 10.0 10.5 13.1 141.4
Source 1: NOAA[22]
Source 2: National Weather Service[23]

Demographics edit

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1820170
183026656.5%
184047578.6%
18501,222157.3%
18602,599112.7%
18703,18222.4%
18803,99825.6%
18904,2456.2%
19006,64956.6%
19108,23823.9%
19209,33613.3%
19309,5432.2%
19409,8082.8%
195010,2324.3%
196011,42411.6%
197011,255−1.5%
198011,7984.8%
199012,1422.9%
200013,0697.6%
201013,3702.3%
202014,1155.6%
Sources:[3][24][25]

[26] As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 13,069 people, 5,319 households, and 3,436 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,491.3 inhabitants per square mile (575.8/km2). There were 5,722 housing units at an average density of 652.9 per square mile (252.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.82% White, 5.13% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.93% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 2.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.12% of the population.

There were 5,319 households, of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the city the population was spread out, with 28.1% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,189, and the median income for a family was $43,778. The per capita income for the city was $20,917. About 19.9% of families and 23.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.9% of those under the age of 18 and 10.9% of those ages 65 and older.

2010 census edit

As of the census[27] of 2010, there were 13,370 people, 5,415 households, and 3,420 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,331.7 inhabitants per square mile (514.2/km2). There were 6,115 housing units at an average density of 609.1 per square mile (235.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.1% White, 4.3% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.9% of the population.

There were 5,415 households, of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples living together, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.8% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.01.

The median age in the city was 34.8 years. 27.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.3% were from 25 to 44; 24.7% were from 45 to 64; and 12.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.

Micropolitan statistical area edit

Bellefontaine is the center of the Bellefontaine Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. This micropolis consists solely of Logan County, Ohio. The 2000 census[3] found 46,005 people in the micropolis, making it the 260th most populous such area in the United States. Among all U.S. statistical areas (CBSAs), the Bellefontaine micropolis ranks 622nd. In Ohio, the Bellefontaine micropolis is the 37th most populous CBSA, and the 21st most populous micropolitan statistical area.

By comparison, the least populous metropolitan area in the United States, Carson City, Nevada, has 52,457 residents. The least populous metropolitan area in Ohio is Sandusky, with 79,555 residents. The Bellefontaine micropolis is not as populous as these, but does have a greater population than some micropolitan statistical areas traditionally considered to be small regional cities. (Examples: El Dorado, Arkansas; Clovis, New Mexico; and Red Wing, Minnesota.)

Though official definitions of micropolitan statistical areas did not exist until 2003, the area now constituting the Bellefontaine micropolis grew in population by 8.7 percent between 1990 and 2000.

Arts and culture edit

Sites of interest edit

 
St. Patrick's Catholic Church.
 
Sign declaring McKinley Street to be the "World's Shortest Street".
 
Historic Holland Theatre.
  • McKinley Street — Whether or not this is the shortest street in the world is a point of contention. The sign at the street's south end (at the intersection of Columbus Ave.) once made such a claim, although Ebenezer Place, in Wick, Scotland, has held the official record since November 2006.[28] The City of Bellefontaine's website places the length of McKinley Street at "about 20 feet", and while the city's website does not make the claim of the world's shortest street, it does cite McKinley Street as "the shortest street in America". The street sign's undersign reads "Shortest Street In America" as of May 2, 2020.
  • Court Avenue - A small street in downtown, located adjacent to the Logan County Courthouse. It is known for being the first street in the United States to be paved with concrete.[29]
  • Holland Theater - This theater is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It opened in the 1930s as a live theater, but was later converted to a 5-screen megaplex before closing in 1998. In recent years, it has been reopened for live events and performances serving Bellefontaine and the surrounding area. In 2019, after extensive renovations lasting about a year, The Holland Theater was reopened for performances.
  • Campbell Hill, the highest elevated point in Ohio.
  • The first brokerage house of Edward D. Jones houses an office of the brokerage he started.
  • First United Methodist Church, where preacher Norman Vincent Peale got his start.

Logan County Historical Society edit

The Logan County Historical Society and museum was first housed in the McBeth School, built in 1919 as the last of the four elementary schools to be built in Bellefontaine at the turn of the century. The building was sold at public auction in 1957 to the Church of God. In 1971 McBeth School was purchased by the Logan County Historical Society for use as the Logan County Historical Museum. The historical society eventually grew out of the 3-story building and moved to its current home closer to Downtown. McBeth School has been adapted for use as an apartment building.[30]

Today the museum includes the Orr mansion, former home of the local Orr family; as well as an extension to the mansion that includes history exhibits from around the county. The Mansion portion of the building has been completely restored by the historical society. Day-to-day operations in the museum and The Logan County Historical Society are supported by a Logan County tax levy and donations received from visitors to the museum.

Government edit

Bellefontaine has an elected mayor and city council style of government.

Local edit

  • Mayor Ben Stahler (R) [31]

City Council edit

Bellefontaine City Council Members serve 2 year terms. The city has 4 wards and 3 At-Large seats.[32][33]

Position/Ward Name Party
President Zebulon Wagner R
1 John Aler R
2 Jordan Reser R
3 Peter DeSomma R
4 Mick Lile R
At-Large Deb Baker R
At-Large Jenna James R
At-Large Kyle Springs R

Education edit

The Bellefontaine City Schools operate one elementary school, one intermediate school, one middle school, and one high school in the area.[34] These schools have a combined enrollment of 2,840. In addition, the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center, located atop Campbell Hill, offers both secondary and post-secondary education. Enrolled at Ohio Hi-Point are 505 students. The neighboring Benjamin Logan Local School District campus also has a Bellefontaine address.

Several colleges and universities operate satellite campuses in the Bellefontaine area. These include:

Bellefontaine has a public library, a branch of Logan County Libraries.[35]

Media edit

The city is served by both print publishing and radio broadcasting.

The Bellefontaine Examiner is the daily local newspaper. It is the latest in a series of newspapers which have been published in Bellefontaine since 1831. It has a current daily circulation of approximately 9500 copies.[36]

Operating currently are WPKO, an FM radio station, WPKO HD2, a second FM radio station, and its sister station WBLL, an AM radio station. These stations are owned and operated by V-Teck Communications.[37]

Two Christian radio stations WKEN, an FM radio station operating on FM frequency of 88.5 and WSOH, an FM radio station operating on FM frequency of 88.9. These stations are owned and operated by Soaring Eagle Promotions, Inc.[38]

Infrastructure edit

Transportation edit

The Bellefontaine Regional Airport is located about 5 miles from the downtown business district. The airport replaced the Bellefontaine Municipal Airport in 2002 and is one of 2 new airports opened to the public in Ohio in the past 30 years.[39]

U.S. 68 passes north-south through Bellefontaine. U.S. 33 passes through the north side of Bellefontaine. Ohio State Route 47 passes through the city.

Bellefontaine had been part of the New York Central Railroad's St. Louis - Indianapolis - Cleveland corridor of passenger trains.[40] Up to 1966, the New York Central ran the Southwestern Limited (St. Louis - New York City via Cleveland) through Bellefontaine. The city was also a crossing point for the New York Central's Detroit - Cincinnati trains. The last of these (Ohio Special southbound, Michigan Special northbound) ended in 1958 or 1959.[41] The final train running through Bellefontaine, the Penn Central's Indianapolis - Cleveland remnant of the Southwestern Limited, ended in 1971, upon Amtrak taking up private companies' long distance passenger operations.

Notable people edit

 
Historical marker in downtown Bellefontaine marking the site of Blue Jacket's Town

References edit

  1. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Bellefontaine, Ohio
  3. ^ a b c d "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ "E.W. Scripps School of Journalism Ohio Pronunciation Guide | Ohio University". www.ohio.edu. Ohio University. 2016. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  5. ^ . National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  6. ^ Ohio History Central
  7. ^ a b Ohio History, Vol. 12, pg 169 2009-04-29 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ History of Bellefontaine 2004-10-12 at the Wayback Machine, City of Bellefontaine. Accessed 2009-10-31.
  9. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Bellefontaine, Ohio
  10. ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Bellefontaine" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 3 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
  11. ^ Trostel, Scott D. (2005). The Columbus Avenue Miracle: Bellefontaine, Ohio's WW II Serviceman's Free Canteen. Cam-Tech Publishing. ISBN 0-925436-50-X.
  12. ^ "Downtown Bellefontaine nominated for HGTV series". Peak of Ohio. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  13. ^ a b STAFF, BELLEFONTAINE EXAMINER (February 29, 2020). "Thinking small yields big downtown expansion". Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  14. ^ "Opportunity Zone | Logan County Chamber of Commerce". www.logancountyohio.com. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  15. ^ Sanctis, Matt. "Urbana looks to Bellefontaine as model of redevelopment". springfield-news-sun. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  16. ^ Shiffler, Matt. "Best Hometowns 2022: Bellefontaine". www.ohiomagazine.com. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  17. ^ "Christmas parade dominates public comments". Peak of Ohio. January 24, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  18. ^ Editor, Ken Schneck (he/him) (January 25, 2023). "Ohioans show up in force to address city council to argue for drag queen, inclusion in holiday parade". The Buckeye Flame. Retrieved July 1, 2023. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  19. ^ Kendall, Crawford (June 14, 2023). "Bellefontaine's debate around drag queens". WOSU News. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  20. ^ "Election 2023: Ohio Supreme Court scraps proposed drag show ban from city's ballot". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  21. ^ "2010 Census U.S. Gazetteer Files for Places – Ohio". United States Census. Archived from the original on July 2, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  22. ^ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Bellefontaine, OH". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  23. ^ "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Cincinnati". National Weather Service. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  24. ^ "Number of Inhabitants: Ohio" (PDF). 18th Census of the United States. U.S. Census Bureau. 1960. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  25. ^ "Ohio: Population and Housing Unit Counts" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  26. ^ https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/bellefontainecityohio/PST045219 [dead link]
  27. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
  28. ^ "Street measures up to new record". BBC News. November 1, 2006. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
  29. ^ Cracked street's hereafter splits Bellefontaine 2011-05-23 at the Wayback Machine, The Columbus Dispatch, 2008-06-01. Accessed 2008-10-10.
  30. ^ "Logan County Historical Society," Published History of Logan County, 1982
  31. ^ "Mayor's Office". City of Bellefontaine. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  32. ^ "November 3rd Election Results (Audio included) | Peak of Ohio". Peak of Ohio News. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  33. ^ Logan County Board of Elections http://www.electionsonthe.net/oh/logan/electoff/city.pdf. Retrieved November 10, 2015. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  34. ^ . Archived from the original on 13 October 2007. Retrieved 21 September 2007.
  35. ^ "Branches". Logan County Libraries. April 9, 2010. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  36. ^ "Echo Media V3 Print Media Experts".
  37. ^ "FM Query Results -- Audio Division (FCC) USA".
  38. ^ "FM Query Results -- Audio Division (FCC) USA". transition.fcc.gov. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  39. ^ "AOPA's Boyer takes part in Ohio airport grand opening" (Press release). Aircraft owners and Pilots Association (USA). August 16, 2002. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  40. ^ New York Central timetable, Tables 3, 4, 18, 19 https://streamlinermemories.info/NYC/NYC47-12TT.pdf
  41. ^ New York Central timetable, October 1958, Table 24

External links edit

  • City website

bellefontaine, ohio, bellefontaine, fown, tən, city, county, seat, logan, county, ohio, united, states, located, miles, northwest, columbus, population, 2020, census, principal, city, bellefontaine, micropolitan, area, which, includes, logan, county, highest, . Bellefontaine b ɛ l ˈ f aʊ n t en bel FOWN ten 4 is a city in and the county seat of Logan County Ohio United States 5 located 48 miles 77 km northwest of Columbus The population was 14 115 at the 2020 Census It is the principal city of the Bellefontaine micropolitan area which includes all of Logan County The highest point in Ohio Campbell Hill is within the city limits Bellefontaine OhioCityLogan County courthouse in BellefontaineFlagSealLogoNickname The Peak of OhioDetailed map of BellefontaineBellefontaineShow map of OhioBellefontaineShow map of the United StatesCoordinates 40 22 10 N 83 45 18 W 40 36944 N 83 75500 W 40 36944 83 75500CountryUnited StatesStateOhioCountyLoganFounded1817Government MayorBen Stahler R citation needed Area 1 Total10 10 sq mi 26 17 km2 Land10 10 sq mi 26 17 km2 Water0 00 sq mi 0 00 km2 Elevation 2 1 240 ft 380 m Population 2020 Total14 115 Density1 397 11 sq mi 539 42 km2 Time zoneUTC 5 Eastern EST Summer DST UTC 4 EDT ZIP code43311Area codes937 326FIPS code39 05130 3 GNIS feature ID2394116 2 Websiteci bellefontaine oh us Contents 1 History 1 1 Blue Jacket s Town 1 2 Railroads 1 3 Automotive transportation 1 4 Campbell Hill 1 5 Revitalization 2 Geography 2 1 Climate 3 Demographics 3 1 2010 census 3 2 Micropolitan statistical area 4 Arts and culture 4 1 Sites of interest 4 2 Logan County Historical Society 5 Government 5 1 Local 5 1 1 City Council 6 Education 7 Media 8 Infrastructure 8 1 Transportation 9 Notable people 10 References 11 External linksHistory editThe name Bellefontaine means beautiful spring in French and is purported to refer to several springs in the area 6 However locally the original French pronunciation is not used and it is pronounced bell fountain Blue Jacket s Town edit Around 1777 the Shawnee war chief Blue Jacket Weyapiersenwah built a settlement here known as Blue Jacket s Town Blue Jacket and his band had previously occupied a village along the Scioto River but the American Revolutionary War had reached the Ohio Country Blue Jacket and other American Indians who took up arms against the American revolutionaries relocated in order to be closer to their British allies at Detroit After the United States gained independence its forces continued warfare against former Indian allies of the British Blue Jacket s Town was destroyed in Logan s Raid conducted by Kentucky militia in 1786 at the outset of the Northwest Indian War The expedition was led by Benjamin Logan namesake of Logan County Blue Jacket and his followers relocated further northwest to the Maumee River 7 Beginning in the 1800s American Revolutionary War veterans and others from Virginia and elsewhere began settling in the area of Blue Jacket s Town Bellefontaine is on or near the edge of the Virginia Military District where the cash poor government granted tracts of land to veterans in payment for their services during the war The Treaty of Greenville defined lands to be held by European Americans as separate from those to be held by natives but it was poorly administered in the area and whites frequently encroached on native lands 7 Railroads edit Bellefontaine was platted by European Americans in 1820 and incorporated by the legislature in 1835 8 9 10 In 1837 the Mad River amp Lake Erie Railroad built the first railroad to Bellefontaine This began its reputation as a railroading town In the 1890s the Cleveland Cincinnati Chicago and St Louis Railway also called the Big Four Railroad built a main terminal in the city This terminal boasted the largest roundhouse between New York and St Louis 11 Though railroading hit hard times and the industry went through radical restructuring in the late 20th century and the Big Four terminal ceased operations in 1983 Bellefontaine remains a landmark on America s railways The city is now just a thoroughfare for CSX Automotive transportation edit nbsp Court Avenue looking East from South Main St In 1891 Bellefontaine became the location of the first concrete street in America George Bartholomew invented a process for paving using Portland cement which until then had been used in stone construction A small section of Main Street on the west side of the Logan County Courthouse was the first to be paved using that process When that proved successful Court Avenue which runs along the south side of the courthouse was paved with concrete While Main Street is now paved with asphalt Court Avenue has retained its original concrete pavement for more than 100 years At its centennial the street was closed to vehicular traffic and a statue of Bartholomew placed at its Main Street end it became a pedestrian way Since then one lane has been reopened for eastbound traffic In 1979 Honda began manufacturing motorcycles in the nearby city of Marysville Ohio Since that time Honda s operations in the Bellefontaine area have greatly expanded Bellefontaine is a central location among Honda operations in Marysville East Liberty Russells Point Anna and Troy Ohio Honda is Bellefontaine s largest employer in the early 21st century U S Route 68 intersects with State Routes 47 and 540 in Bellefontaine U S Route 33 a freeway that has interchanges with US 68 and SR 540 skirts the northern edge of the city Campbell Hill edit nbsp View westward from the U S Route 68 bridge over U S Route 33 on the north side of the city near Campbell Hill To European settlers Campbell Hill was first known as Hogue s Hill perhaps a misspelling of Solomon Hoge s surname the person who first deeded the land in 1830 In 1898 the land was sold to Charles D Campbell in whose name Campbell Hill is now known Campbell sold the hill and surrounding land to August Wagner In 1950 the family of August Wagner deeded Campbell Hill and the surrounding 57 5 acres to the U S government The government stationed the 664th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron on the hill in 1951 This military unit was responsible for monitoring for possible aerospace attacks from the Soviet Union during the Cold War The 664th AC amp WS and similar military units were eventually superseded by the North American Aerospace Defense Command or NORAD The base in Bellefontaine was closed in 1969 The Ohio Hi Point Vocational Technical District opened a school atop the hill in 1974 The school is now known as the Ohio Hi Point Career Center Revitalization edit In 2012 local real estate developer Small Nation purchased and renovated the former J C Penney building Since then the organization invested over 33 million in renovating over 56 downtown buildings and attracting new businesses to the area 12 13 The investment into the properties created roughly 200 jobs in the city 13 In 2018 Bellefontaine was classified as an Opportunity Zone to further attract investors to the area 14 Neighboring areas have begun using Bellefontaine as a model to attract more investment in their own towns 15 In 2022 Bellefontaine was named one of Ohio s Best Hometowns by Ohio Magazine for its downtown redevelopment efforts thriving sense of community and appreciation for preserving local history 16 In 2022 Bellefontaine s Christmas parade included a drag queen and over 60 residents opposed their appearance at a City Council meeting 17 prompting drag queens and supporters attending a later council meeting in support 18 In 2023 the opposing residents began pushing for a city ordinance that would classify drag performances as adult entertainment making it one of the first municipalities in Ohio to do so 19 The Ohio Supreme Court unanimously ruled to remove the measure from the ballot when petitioners changed the ballot language after circulating petitions 20 Geography editAccording to the 2010 census the city has a total area of 10 04 square miles 26 0 km2 all land 21 Climate edit The city of Bellefontaine is at the convergence of the humid subtropical Koppen Cfa and humid continental Koppen Dfa climate zones according to the Koppen climate map The region is characterized by four distinct seasons Winters are cool to cold with mild periods and summers are generally hot and muggy with significant precipitation year round The city is too far south to experience lake effect snow from the Great Lakes region however it does experience more snow than surrounding areas due to the city s elevation Traditionally Bellefontaine s elevation excludes it from tornadoes and floods that affect the majority of the Miami Valley Climate data for Bellefontaine Ohio 1991 2020 normals extremes 1894 present Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high F C 71 22 72 22 85 29 90 32 97 36 101 38 106 41 104 40 98 37 90 32 80 27 71 22 106 41 Mean maximum F C 57 0 13 9 60 5 15 8 69 8 21 0 78 6 25 9 85 8 29 9 90 7 32 6 90 7 32 6 89 4 31 9 88 5 31 4 81 3 27 4 68 2 20 1 59 7 15 4 92 4 33 6 Mean daily maximum F C 33 5 0 8 37 1 2 8 47 5 8 6 60 7 15 9 71 3 21 8 79 5 26 4 82 6 28 1 81 3 27 4 76 0 24 4 63 7 17 6 49 9 9 9 38 4 3 6 60 1 15 6 Daily mean F C 25 5 3 6 28 4 2 0 38 0 3 3 49 8 9 9 60 9 16 1 69 7 20 9 72 8 22 7 71 4 21 9 65 2 18 4 53 1 11 7 41 0 5 0 31 0 0 6 50 6 10 3 Mean daily minimum F C 17 6 8 0 19 7 6 8 28 5 1 9 38 8 3 8 50 6 10 3 59 9 15 5 63 0 17 2 61 5 16 4 54 4 12 4 42 5 5 8 32 1 0 1 23 6 4 7 41 0 5 0 Mean minimum F C 4 4 20 2 1 3 17 1 10 0 12 2 22 9 5 1 35 5 1 9 45 8 7 7 52 5 11 4 50 5 10 3 40 5 4 7 28 4 2 0 17 5 8 1 5 1 14 9 7 7 22 1 Record low F C 27 33 21 29 12 24 9 13 23 5 34 1 41 5 38 3 25 4 11 12 6 21 22 30 27 33 Average precipitation inches mm 3 04 77 2 46 62 3 20 81 4 11 104 4 31 109 4 96 126 4 45 113 3 90 99 3 18 81 2 82 72 3 13 80 3 08 78 42 64 1 082 Average precipitation days 0 01 in 14 5 12 1 12 7 13 4 13 6 12 5 10 6 9 0 9 4 10 0 10 5 13 1 141 4 Source 1 NOAA 22 Source 2 National Weather Service 23 Demographics editHistorical population CensusPop Note 1820170 183026656 5 184047578 6 18501 222157 3 18602 599112 7 18703 18222 4 18803 99825 6 18904 2456 2 19006 64956 6 19108 23823 9 19209 33613 3 19309 5432 2 19409 8082 8 195010 2324 3 196011 42411 6 197011 255 1 5 198011 7984 8 199012 1422 9 200013 0697 6 201013 3702 3 202014 1155 6 Sources 3 24 25 26 As of the census 3 of 2000 there were 13 069 people 5 319 households and 3 436 families residing in the city The population density was 1 491 3 inhabitants per square mile 575 8 km2 There were 5 722 housing units at an average density of 652 9 per square mile 252 1 km2 The racial makeup of the city was 90 82 White 5 13 African American 0 15 Native American 0 93 Asian 0 04 Pacific Islander 0 53 from other races and 2 40 from two or more races Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1 12 of the population There were 5 319 households of which 34 1 had children under the age of 18 living with them 45 7 were married couples living together 14 4 had a female householder with no husband present and 35 4 were non families 30 5 of all households were made up of individuals and 11 9 had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older The average household size was 2 43 and the average family size was 3 01 In the city the population was spread out with 28 1 under the age of 18 10 0 from 18 to 24 29 1 from 25 to 44 19 9 from 45 to 64 and 12 9 who were 65 years of age or older The median age was 33 years For every 100 females there were 90 9 males For every 100 females age 18 and over there were 86 4 males The median income for a household in the city was 37 189 and the median income for a family was 43 778 The per capita income for the city was 20 917 About 19 9 of families and 23 6 of the population were below the poverty line including 38 9 of those under the age of 18 and 10 9 of those ages 65 and older 2010 census edit As of the census 27 of 2010 there were 13 370 people 5 415 households and 3 420 families residing in the city The population density was 1 331 7 inhabitants per square mile 514 2 km2 There were 6 115 housing units at an average density of 609 1 per square mile 235 2 km2 The racial makeup of the city was 90 1 White 4 3 African American 0 2 Native American 1 2 Asian 0 5 from other races and 3 7 from two or more races Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1 9 of the population There were 5 415 households of which 35 2 had children under the age of 18 living with them 41 1 were married couples living together 15 9 had a female householder with no husband present 6 1 had a male householder with no wife present and 36 8 were non families 30 6 of all households were made up of individuals and 12 1 had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older The average household size was 2 44 and the average family size was 3 01 The median age in the city was 34 8 years 27 1 of residents were under the age of 18 9 1 were between the ages of 18 and 24 26 3 were from 25 to 44 24 7 were from 45 to 64 and 12 8 were 65 years of age or older The gender makeup of the city was 48 4 male and 51 6 female Micropolitan statistical area edit Bellefontaine is the center of the Bellefontaine Micropolitan Statistical Area as defined by the U S Census Bureau This micropolis consists solely of Logan County Ohio The 2000 census 3 found 46 005 people in the micropolis making it the 260th most populous such area in the United States Among all U S statistical areas CBSAs the Bellefontaine micropolis ranks 622nd In Ohio the Bellefontaine micropolis is the 37th most populous CBSA and the 21st most populous micropolitan statistical area By comparison the least populous metropolitan area in the United States Carson City Nevada has 52 457 residents The least populous metropolitan area in Ohio is Sandusky with 79 555 residents The Bellefontaine micropolis is not as populous as these but does have a greater population than some micropolitan statistical areas traditionally considered to be small regional cities Examples El Dorado Arkansas Clovis New Mexico and Red Wing Minnesota Though official definitions of micropolitan statistical areas did not exist until 2003 the area now constituting the Bellefontaine micropolis grew in population by 8 7 percent between 1990 and 2000 Arts and culture editSites of interest edit nbsp St Patrick s Catholic Church nbsp Sign declaring McKinley Street to be the World s Shortest Street nbsp Historic Holland Theatre McKinley Street Whether or not this is the shortest street in the world is a point of contention The sign at the street s south end at the intersection of Columbus Ave once made such a claim although Ebenezer Place in Wick Scotland has held the official record since November 2006 28 The City of Bellefontaine s website places the length of McKinley Street at about 20 feet and while the city s website does not make the claim of the world s shortest street it does cite McKinley Street as the shortest street in America The street sign s undersign reads Shortest Street In America as of May 2 2020 Court Avenue A small street in downtown located adjacent to the Logan County Courthouse It is known for being the first street in the United States to be paved with concrete 29 Holland Theater This theater is listed on the National Register of Historic Places It opened in the 1930s as a live theater but was later converted to a 5 screen megaplex before closing in 1998 In recent years it has been reopened for live events and performances serving Bellefontaine and the surrounding area In 2019 after extensive renovations lasting about a year The Holland Theater was reopened for performances Campbell Hill the highest elevated point in Ohio The first brokerage house of Edward D Jones houses an office of the brokerage he started First United Methodist Church where preacher Norman Vincent Peale got his start Logan County Historical Society edit The Logan County Historical Society and museum was first housed in the McBeth School built in 1919 as the last of the four elementary schools to be built in Bellefontaine at the turn of the century The building was sold at public auction in 1957 to the Church of God In 1971 McBeth School was purchased by the Logan County Historical Society for use as the Logan County Historical Museum The historical society eventually grew out of the 3 story building and moved to its current home closer to Downtown McBeth School has been adapted for use as an apartment building 30 Today the museum includes the Orr mansion former home of the local Orr family as well as an extension to the mansion that includes history exhibits from around the county The Mansion portion of the building has been completely restored by the historical society Day to day operations in the museum and The Logan County Historical Society are supported by a Logan County tax levy and donations received from visitors to the museum Government editBellefontaine has an elected mayor and city council style of government Local edit Mayor Ben Stahler R 31 City Council edit Bellefontaine City Council Members serve 2 year terms The city has 4 wards and 3 At Large seats 32 33 Position Ward Name Party President Zebulon Wagner R 1 John Aler R 2 Jordan Reser R 3 Peter DeSomma R 4 Mick Lile R At Large Deb Baker R At Large Jenna James R At Large Kyle Springs REducation editThe Bellefontaine City Schools operate one elementary school one intermediate school one middle school and one high school in the area 34 These schools have a combined enrollment of 2 840 In addition the Ohio Hi Point Career Center located atop Campbell Hill offers both secondary and post secondary education Enrolled at Ohio Hi Point are 505 students The neighboring Benjamin Logan Local School District campus also has a Bellefontaine address Several colleges and universities operate satellite campuses in the Bellefontaine area These include Ohio State University Urbana University Clark State Community College Bellefontaine has a public library a branch of Logan County Libraries 35 Media editThe city is served by both print publishing and radio broadcasting The Bellefontaine Examiner is the daily local newspaper It is the latest in a series of newspapers which have been published in Bellefontaine since 1831 It has a current daily circulation of approximately 9500 copies 36 Operating currently are WPKO an FM radio station WPKO HD2 a second FM radio station and its sister station WBLL an AM radio station These stations are owned and operated by V Teck Communications 37 Two Christian radio stations WKEN an FM radio station operating on FM frequency of 88 5 and WSOH an FM radio station operating on FM frequency of 88 9 These stations are owned and operated by Soaring Eagle Promotions Inc 38 Infrastructure editTransportation edit The Bellefontaine Regional Airport is located about 5 miles from the downtown business district The airport replaced the Bellefontaine Municipal Airport in 2002 and is one of 2 new airports opened to the public in Ohio in the past 30 years 39 U S 68 passes north south through Bellefontaine U S 33 passes through the north side of Bellefontaine Ohio State Route 47 passes through the city Bellefontaine had been part of the New York Central Railroad s St Louis Indianapolis Cleveland corridor of passenger trains 40 Up to 1966 the New York Central ran the Southwestern Limited St Louis New York City via Cleveland through Bellefontaine The city was also a crossing point for the New York Central s Detroit Cincinnati trains The last of these Ohio Special southbound Michigan Special northbound ended in 1958 or 1959 41 The final train running through Bellefontaine the Penn Central s Indianapolis Cleveland remnant of the Southwestern Limited ended in 1971 upon Amtrak taking up private companies long distance passenger operations Notable people edit nbsp Historical marker in downtown Bellefontaine marking the site of Blue Jacket s Town Matthew Anderson member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and the Wisconsin State Senate George Bartholomew inventor Sami Callihan professional wrestler Julius Chambers journalist and travel writer Bethany Dillon singer Allan W Eckert author Jim Flora artist Melville J Herskovits anthropologist Livingston Hopkins cartoonist Kin Hubbard cartoonist and journalist Blue Jacket Weyapiersenwah Shawnee chief Edward D Jones investment banker Austin Eldon Knowlton architect William Lawrence politician Republican The Mills Brothers singing group spent their youth here Don Otten professional basketball player Virginia Sharpe Patterson writer Norman Vincent Peale minister and author Frederick Plum 1920 olympian Ralph Lane Polk publisher Ed Ratleff professional basketball player Louie Vito Olympic snowboarder Samuel D Wonders Engineer and businessmanReferences edit ArcGIS REST Services Directory United States Census Bureau Retrieved September 20 2022 a b U S Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System Bellefontaine Ohio a b c d U S Census website United States Census Bureau Retrieved January 31 2008 E W Scripps School of Journalism Ohio Pronunciation Guide Ohio University www ohio edu Ohio University 2016 Retrieved October 22 2022 Find a County National Association of Counties Archived from the original on July 12 2012 Retrieved June 7 2011 Ohio History Central a b Ohio History Vol 12 pg 169 Archived 2009 04 29 at the Wayback Machine History of Bellefontaine Archived 2004 10 12 at the Wayback Machine City of Bellefontaine Accessed 2009 10 31 U S Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System Bellefontaine Ohio Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Bellefontaine Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 3 11th ed Cambridge University Press Trostel Scott D 2005 The Columbus Avenue Miracle Bellefontaine Ohio s WW II Serviceman s Free Canteen Cam Tech Publishing ISBN 0 925436 50 X Downtown Bellefontaine nominated for HGTV series Peak of Ohio Retrieved October 21 2020 a b STAFF BELLEFONTAINE EXAMINER February 29 2020 Thinking small yields big downtown expansion Retrieved October 21 2020 Opportunity Zone Logan County Chamber of Commerce www logancountyohio com Retrieved October 21 2020 Sanctis Matt Urbana looks to Bellefontaine as model of redevelopment springfield news sun Retrieved October 21 2020 Shiffler Matt Best Hometowns 2022 Bellefontaine www ohiomagazine com Retrieved August 14 2023 Christmas parade dominates public comments Peak of Ohio January 24 2023 Retrieved July 1 2023 Editor Ken Schneck he him January 25 2023 Ohioans show up in force to address city council to argue for drag queen inclusion in holiday parade The Buckeye Flame Retrieved July 1 2023 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a last has generic name help Kendall Crawford June 14 2023 Bellefontaine s debate around drag queens WOSU News Retrieved July 1 2023 Election 2023 Ohio Supreme Court scraps proposed drag show ban from city s ballot The Columbus Dispatch Retrieved November 3 2023 2010 Census U S Gazetteer Files for Places Ohio United States Census Archived from the original on July 2 2016 Retrieved October 19 2012 U S Climate Normals Quick Access Station Bellefontaine OH National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Retrieved February 24 2023 NOAA Online Weather Data NWS Cincinnati National Weather Service Retrieved February 24 2023 Number of Inhabitants Ohio PDF 18th Census of the United States U S Census Bureau 1960 Retrieved April 26 2020 Ohio Population and Housing Unit Counts PDF U S Census Bureau Retrieved November 22 2013 https www census gov quickfacts fact table bellefontainecityohio PST045219 dead link U S Census website United States Census Bureau Retrieved January 6 2013 Street measures up to new record BBC News November 1 2006 Retrieved April 26 2010 Cracked street s hereafter splits Bellefontaine Archived 2011 05 23 at the Wayback Machine The Columbus Dispatch 2008 06 01 Accessed 2008 10 10 Logan County Historical Society Published History of Logan County 1982 Mayor s Office City of Bellefontaine Retrieved June 16 2015 November 3rd Election Results Audio included Peak of Ohio Peak of Ohio News Retrieved November 10 2015 Logan County Board of Elections http www electionsonthe net oh logan electoff city pdf Retrieved November 10 2015 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty title help Bellefontaine City Schools Archived from the original on 13 October 2007 Retrieved 21 September 2007 Branches Logan County Libraries April 9 2010 Retrieved February 26 2018 Echo Media V3 Print Media Experts FM Query Results Audio Division FCC USA FM Query Results Audio Division FCC USA transition fcc gov Retrieved November 28 2017 AOPA s Boyer takes part in Ohio airport grand opening Press release Aircraft owners and Pilots Association USA August 16 2002 Retrieved November 7 2014 New York Central timetable Tables 3 4 18 19 https streamlinermemories info NYC NYC47 12TT pdf New York Central timetable October 1958 Table 24External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bellefontaine Ohio City website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bellefontaine Ohio amp oldid 1223298171, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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