View source for Bellville, Ohio

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name          = Bellville, Ohio
| settlement_type        = [[Village (United States)|Village]]
| nickname               = 
| motto                  = 
| image_skyline          = Bellville Ohio.JPG
| imagesize              = 250px
| image_caption          = Downtown Bellville on Main Street in 2008.
| image_flag             = 
| image_seal             = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map              = OHMap-doton-Bellville.png
| mapsize                = 250px
| map_caption            = Location of Bellville, Ohio
| image_map1             = Map of Richland County Ohio Highlighting Bellville Village.png
| mapsize1               = 250px
| map_caption1           = Location of Bellville in Richland County

<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type       = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name       = United States
| subdivision_type1      = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1      = [[Ohio]]
| subdivision_type2      = [[List of counties in Ohio|County]]
| subdivision_name2      = [[Richland County, Ohio|Richland]]

<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes   = 
| government_type        = Ohio Statutory Village
| leader_title           = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name            = Teri L. Brenkus{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}
| leader_title1          = Solicitor
| leader_name1           = Sarah Mussman{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}
| established_title      = Founded
| established_date       = 1808
| established_title2     = Incorporated
| established_date2      = 1841 (village)

<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref              = Imperial
| area_footnotes         = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 20, 2022}}</ref>
| area_magnitude         = 
| area_total_km2         = 7.44
| area_land_km2          = 7.38
| area_water_km2         = 0.06
| area_total_sq_mi       = 2.87
| area_land_sq_mi        = 2.85
| area_water_sq_mi       = 0.02

| population_as_of       = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est         = 1986
| pop_est_as_of          = 2023
 |pop_est_footnotes      = <ref name="2023 est">{{cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Ohio: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2023/cities/totals/SUB-IP-EST2023-POP-39.xlsx |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=24 May 2024}}</ref>
| population_footnotes   = 
| population_total       = 1963
| population_density_km2 = 265.84
| population_density_sq_mi = 688.53

| timezone               = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset             = -5
| timezone_DST           = EDT
| utc_offset_DST         = -4
| elevation_footnotes    = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft           = 1152
| coordinates            = {{coord|40|37|52|N|82|31|05|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type       = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code            = 44813
| area_code              = [[Area code 419|419]]
| blank_name             = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info             = 39-05284<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name            = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info            = 2398083<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2398083}}</ref>
| website                = {{URL|https://villageofbellville.com}}
| footnotes              = 
}}
'''Bellville''' is a [[village (United States)#Ohio|village]] in [[Richland County, Ohio|Richland County]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Ohio]]. It is part of the [[Mansfield, Ohio]] [[Mansfield metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. The population was 1,963 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].

==History==
The first settlers, James McCluer, and Jonathan Oldfield, came to Bellville in 1808. They made their way from what it now known as Fredericktown by a path made from a tornado.<ref name="bellvilleohio.net">{{cite web|url=http://www.bellvilleohio.net/history.htm |title=Brief History of Bellville, Ohio |accessdate=October 22, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022022557/http://www.bellvilleohio.net/history.htm |archivedate=October 22, 2013 }}</ref> McCluer gained ownership of the land and along with Oldfield he built the first cabin in Bellville on what is now known as Ankneytown Road.<ref name="bellvilleohio.net"/> Even though they were the first settlers to the town and McCluer owned the land, Robert Bell was the actual founder of the village. Other early settlers included Thomas and Bridget O'Leary.<ref>http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohrichla/Hist-Bellville1903.htm {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=June 2022}}</ref>

McCluer sold the land to Robert Bell in 1815, and Bell began to shape the village of Bellville.<ref>{{cite book|last=Overman|first=William Daniel|title=Ohio Town Names|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015015361465;view=1up;seq=27|year=1958|publisher=Atlantic Press|location=Akron, OH|page=11}}</ref> The development of Main Street, Ogle Street and Durbin Road began. There were 48 lots in Bellville and a tavern was among the first businesses to be constructed. The first post office came to Bellville in 1824, further helping to put its name on the map.<ref name="bellvilleohio.net"/> 
Before the post office was built, those who lived in the village had to travel a long distance just to send a letter. The first church was constructed in Bellville map in 1834, though church services had taken place since 1814. Up to this point, people’s homes were being used for church and school. The church was The Methodist Episcopal Church and was organized by Bell and preacher William Oldfield.<ref name="bellvilleohio.net"/>

The first school started in Bellville shortly after McCluer settled on the land in his own cabin in 1818.<ref name="bellvilleohio.net"/> At this time school was still limited to boys who had to travel long distances just to get there. Girls had to stay home and tend to household chores. By 1857 a working school started where the Clear Fork Elementary buildings are now.<ref name="bellvilleohio.net"/> Those buildings are no longer used for school related purposes today.
[[File:Bellville Bandstand.jpg|thumb|left|Bellville Bandstand]]
Commerce in the village began to rise in the 1870s. An electric plant started near the current bike trail and flour mill on route 97. The B&O railroad operated through the path of the bike trail as well. Two hotels started called Hotel Lefevre and Hotel Norris. The year 1877 marked the construction of the town hall and was a place for meetings and those who needed to be jailed.<ref name="bellvilleohio.net"/> The popular bandstand which is in the middle of Bellville was built in 1879. A doctor's office was even developed for tuberculosis patients.<ref name="bellvilleohio.net"/> Eventually, there were two blacksmith shops, hardware stores, a bakery, four grocery stores, two harness shops, two barber shops, multiple dentists and the Exchange bank in 1872.<ref name="bellvilleohio.net"/>

Bellville was also well known for being a part of the gold rush. The first gold was panned on Dead Man’s Run, which caused people from all over to come pan for gold.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.roadmuseum.org/9_04_bellville,_ohio.htm |title=9/04: Bellville, Ohio |access-date=October 22, 2013 |archive-date=October 23, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023004905/http://www.roadmuseum.org/9_04_bellville,_ohio.htm |url-status=usurped }}</ref> The gold was discovered by James C. Lee. Even though the gold that was found was almost pure, little more was discovered.

==Geography==
Bellville is located at {{coord|40|37|32|N|82|31|5|W|type:city}} (40.625582, -82.518050),<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> along the [[Clear Fork Mohican River|Clear Fork of the Mohican River]].<ref>[[DeLorme]] (1991).  ''Ohio Atlas & Gazetteer''.  Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme.  {{ISBN|0-89933-233-1}}.</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the village has a total area of {{convert|2.75|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|2.74|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.01|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=January 6, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archivedate=July 2, 2012 }}</ref>

==Demographics==
[[File:Bellville Ohio Village Hall.jpg|thumb|Bellville Village Hall]]
{{US Census population
|1870= 720
|1880= 971
|1890= 941
|1900= 1039
|1910= 1056
|1920= 998
|1930= 987
|1940= 1199
|1950= 1355
|1960= 1621
|1970= 1685
|1980= 1714
|1990= 1568
|2000= 1773
|2010= 1918
|2020= 1963
|estyear=2023
|estimate=1986
|estref=<ref name="2023 est"/>
|footnote=Sources:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=December 24, 2013}}</ref><ref>Data in historical populations table from {{citation|title=US Census, 1890|year = 1891|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=40kUAAAAYAAJ&q=census%20pataskala&pg=RA1-PA151}}; {{citation|title=US Census, 1920|year = 1921|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oei2AAAAIAAJ&q=census+pataskala&pg=PA565}}; {{citation|title=US Census, 1950|year = 1952| publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |isbn = 9780598466846|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=32pQAAAAYAAJ&q=census%20pataskala%201930&pg=SA35-PA18}}; {{citation|title=US Census, 1970|year = 1973|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4j0YAAAAYAAJ&q=1970%20census%20ohio%20%22heath%22&pg=SA37-PA15}}; {{citation|title=US Census, 2000| publisher=DIANE |isbn = 9781428986060|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9A1ElkbD3YcC&q=1990%20census%20ohio&pg=PA21}}; {{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=December 24, 2013}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=January 6, 2013}}</ref> of 2010, there were 1,918 people, 826 households, and 529 families residing in the village. The [[population density]] was {{convert|700.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 882 housing units at an average density of {{convert|321.9|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the village was 97.7% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.5% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.2% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.1% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.5% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.5% of the population.

There were 826 households, of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.0% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.94.

The median age in the village was 42.8 years. 23.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.6% were from 25 to 44; 27% were from 45 to 64; and 20.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 1,773 people, 751 households, and 504 families residing in the village. The population density was {{convert|615.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 799 housing units at an average density of {{convert|277.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the village was 98.82% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.23% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.11% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.23% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.11% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.51% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.90% of the population.

There were 751 households, out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $34,492, and the median income for a family was $47,083. Males had a median income of $36,458 versus $21,800 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the village was $17,923. About 6.2% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 15.8% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
Bellville is located within the [[Clear Fork Valley Local School District]]. Schools in the district that are located in Bellville are Bellville Elementary School. Clear Fork Middle School and [[Clear Fork High School]] are located just outside Bellville.<ref>{{cite web |last=greatschools |url=http://www.greatschools.org/ohio/bellville/Clear-Fork-Valley-Local/ |title=Clear Fork Valley Local School District Profile |accessdate=December 4, 2013 }}</ref>

Bellville has a public library, a branch of the Mansfield–Richland County Public Library.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mrcpl.org/branches | title=Locations | publisher=Mansfield-Richland County Public Library | accessdate=March 3, 2018 | archive-date=March 3, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303164731/https://www.mrcpl.org/branches | url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Notable people==<!--consensus reached to standardize this heading per WP:WikiProject Cities/US Guideline -->
* [[Duncan Spears Casper]] - Mormon pioneer.
* [[Levi H. Dowling]] - Preacher who published [[The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ]].
* [[Francis Celeste Le Blond]] - Represented [[Ohio's 5th congressional district]] from 1963 to 1967.
* [[John W. Leedy]] - 14th [[Governor of Kansas]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [https://villageofbellville.com/ Village website]
* {{Wikivoyage inline|Bellville (Ohio)|Bellville}}

{{Richland County, Ohio}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Villages in Richland County, Ohio]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1808]]
[[Category:1808 establishments in Ohio]]
[[Category:Villages in Ohio]]