Belle Center, Ohio
Encyclopedia
Belle Center is a village in Logan County
, Ohio
, United States
. The population was 807 at the 2000 census
. It is a Tree City USA
, one of the smallest in the state.
officially decided in favor of the current spelling in 1891.
were covered by swamp
land. During the 1840s, however, settlers moved in, and a town was plat
ted around 1846, by which time a small town named Richland had become well established in the southern part of what is now Richland Township. In this year, the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad
began to plan for a railroad
line through the area. A competition developed between the two towns for the location of a water stop
for the railroad (essentially requiring the basics of a station
), which eventually was won by the upstart town. Five years later, the village of Belle Center was officially incorporated by the Ohio General Assembly
. The presence of the railroad led to growth for Belle Center but decline for Richland (since renamed New Richland). This railroad origin is responsible for Belle Center's "diagonal" street layout.
For many years, many businesses existed in Belle Center, including hotel
s, blacksmith's shops
, restaurant
s, markets, and even an "Opera House". Today, most older stores are gone, but some establishments still remain. Some of these include three restaurants, a grocery store
with gas station, a bank
, a hardware store
, a garage
, an ice cream stand
, a bar
, and a doctor's office
.
Important parts of Belle Center's history include:
Important organizations in Belle Center's history include
Belle Center is located at 40°30′27"N 83°44′54"W (40.507530, -83.748287).
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²), of which, 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it is land and 1.43% is water.
of 2000, there were 807 people, 326 households, and 241 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,171.0 people per square mile (451.6/km²). There were 345 housing units at an average density of 500.6 per square mile (193.1/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 99.88% White and 0.12% from other races
. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.74% of the population.
There were 326 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.7% were married couples
living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.8% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the village the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $45,486, and the median income for a family was $48,594. Males had a median income of $36,467 versus $28,846 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $20,173. About 6.0% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under the age of 18 and 5.8% of those 65 and older.
, Teresa Johnston defeated two other candidates for the mayoral position, and Rhonda Fulmer and John Lowery were elected from a five-candidate pool for two at-large
village council seats. In the 2011 general elections former village council member Rhonda Fulmer defeated Teresa Johnston to become the new mayor of Belle Center.
forms Belle Center's main street, and the north end of State Route 638 is at an intersection with State Route 273 at the southern corner of Belle Center.
Logan County, Ohio
Logan County is a county in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 45,858. The county seat is Bellefontaine. The county is named for Benjamin Logan, who fought Native Americans in the area....
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 807 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
. It is a Tree City USA
Tree City USA
Tree City USA is a tree planting and tree care program sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation for cities and towns in the United States.- Requirements :...
, one of the smallest in the state.
Name
Historically, the community's name has also been spelled Belle Centre, Bellecenter, and even Bellecente. The Board on Geographic NamesUnited States Board on Geographic Names
The United States Board on Geographic Names is a United States federal body whose purpose is to establish and maintain uniform usage of geographic names throughout the U.S. government.-Overview:...
officially decided in favor of the current spelling in 1891.
History
Historically, some areas in what is now northern Richland TownshipRichland Township, Logan County, Ohio
Richland Township is one of the seventeen townships of Logan County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 2,455 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the northern part of the county, it borders the following townships:...
were covered by swamp
Swamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
land. During the 1840s, however, settlers moved in, and a town was plat
Plat
A plat in the U.S. is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. Other English-speaking countries generally call such documents a cadastral map or plan....
ted around 1846, by which time a small town named Richland had become well established in the southern part of what is now Richland Township. In this year, the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad
Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad
The Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad was the second railroad to be built and operated in the U.S. state of Ohio...
began to plan for a railroad
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
line through the area. A competition developed between the two towns for the location of a water stop
Water stop
A water stop or water station on a railroad is a place where trains stop to replenish water. The stopping of the train itself is also referred to as "water stop". The term originates from the times of steam engines, when large amounts of water were essential...
for the railroad (essentially requiring the basics of a station
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
), which eventually was won by the upstart town. Five years later, the village of Belle Center was officially incorporated by the Ohio General Assembly
Ohio General Assembly
The Ohio General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio. It consists of the 99-member Ohio House of Representatives and the 33-member Ohio Senate...
. The presence of the railroad led to growth for Belle Center but decline for Richland (since renamed New Richland). This railroad origin is responsible for Belle Center's "diagonal" street layout.
For many years, many businesses existed in Belle Center, including hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
s, blacksmith's shops
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
, restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
s, markets, and even an "Opera House". Today, most older stores are gone, but some establishments still remain. Some of these include three restaurants, a grocery store
Grocery store
A grocery store is a store that retails food. A grocer, the owner of a grocery store, stocks different kinds of foods from assorted places and cultures, and sells these "groceries" to customers. Large grocery stores that stock products other than food, such as clothing or household items, are...
with gas station, a bank
Bank
A bank is a financial institution that serves as a financial intermediary. The term "bank" may refer to one of several related types of entities:...
, a hardware store
Hardware store
Hardware stores, sometimes known as DIY stores, sell household hardware including: fasteners, hand tools, power tools, keys, locks, hinges, chains, plumbing supplies, electrical supplies, cleaning products, housewares, tools, utensils, paint, and lawn and garden products directly to consumers for...
, a garage
Automobile repair shop
An automobile repair shop is a place where automobiles are repaired by auto mechanics and electricians.- Types :The automotive garage can be divided in so many category....
, an ice cream stand
Ice cream
Ice cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners...
, a bar
Bar (establishment)
A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go...
, and a doctor's office
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
.
Important parts of Belle Center's history include:
- Major fires twice destroyed much of the downtown business block in the 1930s.
- The wreck of a train carrying liquid chlorineChlorineChlorine is the chemical element with atomic number 17 and symbol Cl. It is the second lightest halogen, found in the periodic table in group 17. The element forms diatomic molecules under standard conditions, called dichlorine...
forced the evacuationEmergency evacuationEmergency evacuation is the immediate and rapid movement of people away from the threat or actual occurrence of a hazard. Examples range from the small scale evacuation of a building due to a bomb threat or fire to the large scale evacuation of a district because of a flood, bombardment or...
of all of Belle Center on Thanksgiving DayThanksgiving (United States)Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a holiday celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. It has officially been an annual tradition since 1863, when, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday,...
, 1944. - Belle Center policeman Murray Griffin was killed in the line of duty on July 5, 1986.
Important organizations in Belle Center's history include
- A newspaperNewspaperA newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
, the Herald-Voice, was established in 1893 and continued until recent decades. - The Belle Center Public Library, which was established in 1925, is one of two independent village libraries in Logan County today.
- The Belle Center School District operated from about 1855 until 1970, when it was consolidated into the Benjamin Logan School District.
- Four churches exist in Belle Center: congregations of the United Methodist ChurchUnited Methodist ChurchThe United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
, the Presbyterian Church (USA)Presbyterian Church (USA)The Presbyterian Church , or PC, is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S...
, and the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North AmericaReformed Presbyterian Church of North AmericaThe Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America , a Christian church, is a small Presbyterian denomination with churches throughout the United States, in southeastern Canada, and in a small part of Japan. Its beliefs place it in the conservative wing of the Reformed family of Protestant churches...
, along with a Church of ChristChurch of ChristChurches of Christ are autonomous Christian congregations associated with one another through common beliefs and practices. They seek to base doctrine and practice on the Bible alone, and seek to be New Testament congregations as originally established by the authority of Christ. Historically,...
. A congregation of the United Presbyterian Church of North AmericaUnited Presbyterian Church of North AmericaThe United Presbyterian Church of North America was an American Presbyterian denomination that existed for exactly one hundred years. It was formed on May 26, 1858 by the union of the Northern branch of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church with the Associate Presbyterian Church at a...
was organized in Belle Center in 1891 and merged with the Presbyterian Church in 1961. - The Willard Stout American LegionAmerican LegionThe American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
Post was established in 1919 and continues today. - Boy ScoutBoy Scouts of AmericaThe Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
Troop 74 was established at some point before 1944 but has since been disorganized. Today, the Church of Christ sponsors Cub ScoutCub Scouts (Boy Scouts of America)Cub Scouting is part of the Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America , available to boys from first through fifth-grade, or 7 to 11½ years of age and their families. Its membership is the largest of the three BSA Scouting Divisions...
Pack 51. - A troop of Girl ScoutsGirl Scouts of the USAThe Girl Scouts of the United States of America is a youth organization for girls in the United States and American girls living abroad. It describes itself as "the world's preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls". It was founded by Juliette Gordon Low in 1912 and was organized after Low...
is active in the community.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the village has a total area of 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²), of which, 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it is land and 1.43% is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 807 people, 326 households, and 241 families residing in the village. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,171.0 people per square mile (451.6/km²). There were 345 housing units at an average density of 500.6 per square mile (193.1/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 99.88% White and 0.12% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.74% of the population.
There were 326 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.8% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the village the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $45,486, and the median income for a family was $48,594. Males had a median income of $36,467 versus $28,846 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the village was $20,173. About 6.0% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under the age of 18 and 5.8% of those 65 and older.
Government
As of 2007, the mayor of Belle Center was Donald Ruble. In the elections of November 2007United States general elections, 2007
The 2007 United States general elections were held on Tuesday, November 6. During this off-year election, the only seats up for election in the United States Congress were special elections held throughout the year. None of these congressional seats changed party hands...
, Teresa Johnston defeated two other candidates for the mayoral position, and Rhonda Fulmer and John Lowery were elected from a five-candidate pool for two at-large
At-Large
At-large is a designation for representative members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent the whole membership of the body , rather than a subset of that membership...
village council seats. In the 2011 general elections former village council member Rhonda Fulmer defeated Teresa Johnston to become the new mayor of Belle Center.
Transportation
Belle Center was founded as a stop along a railroad. Since the end of passenger rail service, transportation in Belle Center has relied on local roads and state highways. Today, State Route 273Ohio State Route 273
State Route 273 is a two-lane east–west state highway in Logan and Hardin counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. It begins at an intersection with State Route 31 in Mt. Victory, passes through Belle Center, and ends in a dead end on Long Island at Indian Lake...
forms Belle Center's main street, and the north end of State Route 638 is at an intersection with State Route 273 at the southern corner of Belle Center.
Notable residents
- Henry Wilson TempleHenry Wilson TempleHenry Wilson Temple was a Progressive and a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania....
- a RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Further reading
- Historical Committee of the Belle Center BicentennialUnited States BicentennialThe United States Bicentennial was a series of celebrations and observances during the mid-1970s that paid tribute to the historical events leading up to the creation of the United States as an independent republic...
Committee. Our Rich Land, 1976.