Belleville, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Belleville is a city in Wayne County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. The population was 3,991 at the 2010 census. It is the sister city
of Machynlleth
, Wales
. Belleville is 15 miles (24.1 km) southeast of Ann Arbor and 29 miles (46.7 km) southwest of Detroit.
, the city has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), of which 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²), or 3.42%, is water. Edison Lake (the proper name of Belleville Lake) was created by damming up the Huron River
in two places. The Huron River flows into Lake Erie
.
of 2000, there were 3,997 people, 1,842 households, and 1,022 families residing in the city. The population density
was 3,520.3 per square mile (1,353.7/km²). There were 1,931 housing units at an average density of 1,700.7 per square mile (654.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.54% White, 7.88% African American, 0.40% Native American, 1.18% Asian, 0.95% from other races
, and 2.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.53% of the population.
There were 1,842 households out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were married couples
living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.5% were non-families. 37.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,196, and the median income for a family was $56,071. Males had a median income of $47,759 versus $30,145 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $25,927. About 3.5% of families and 6.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 and over.
music, namely having been home to Derrick May, Juan Atkins
and Kevin Saunderson
, commonly known as the Belleville Three, who were instrumental in its creation.
During Belleville's annual Strawberry Festival, bands from all around perform in the downtown and make it a very large cultural exchange area.
The Belleville High School Marching Band is one of the three largest marching band
s in the United States, with almost 300 members on the field at one time. There are over 300 people in the band program, which includes Freshmen Band, two Concert Bands, a Symphony Band and a Jazz Band. The Symphony Band has received various national honors, and performs at a consistently advanced level, especially for a high school ensemble.
Belleville is in the Van Buren Public Schools
District. The district has six elementary schools (Elwell, Savage, Rawsonville, Tyler, Haggerty, and Edgemont), two middle schools (North Middle School and South Middle School), Belleville High School
, and the Van Buren Alternative Educational School.
, Carolina Panther defensive tackle Kris Jenkins
, his brother Green Bay Packer defensive end Cullen Jenkins
, Buffalo Bill linebacker Kevin Harrison
, and retired San Francisco 49er All-Pro linebacker Frank Nunley
.
Former Los Angeles Dodger and Boston Red Sox outfielder Billy Ashley
attended Belleville High School.
and Charles Lindbergh
once owned summer cottages on Belleville Lake, in the neighborhood of Harmony Lane.
Wayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. The population was 3,991 at the 2010 census. It is the sister city
Town twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
of Machynlleth
Machynlleth
Machynlleth is a market town in Powys, Wales. It is in the Dyfi Valley at the intersection of the A487 and the A489 roads.Machynlleth was the seat of Owain Glyndŵr's Welsh Parliament in 1404, and as such claims to be the "ancient capital of Wales". However, it has never held any official...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. Belleville is 15 miles (24.1 km) southeast of Ann Arbor and 29 miles (46.7 km) southwest of Detroit.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 city has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), of which 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²), or 3.42%, is water. Edison Lake (the proper name of Belleville Lake) was created by damming up the Huron River
Huron River (Michigan)
The Huron River is a river in southeastern Michigan, rising out of the Huron Swamp in Indian Springs Metropark in northern Oakland County and flowing into Lake Erie on the boundary between Wayne County and Monroe County...
in two places. The Huron River flows into Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
.
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 3,997 people, 1,842 households, and 1,022 families residing in the city. 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 3,520.3 per square mile (1,353.7/km²). There were 1,931 housing units at an average density of 1,700.7 per square mile (654.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.54% White, 7.88% African American, 0.40% Native American, 1.18% Asian, 0.95% 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...
, and 2.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.53% of the population.
There were 1,842 households out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% 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, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.5% were non-families. 37.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,196, and the median income for a family was $56,071. Males had a median income of $47,759 versus $30,145 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 city was $25,927. About 3.5% of families and 6.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 and over.
Music
The city has been called the birthplace of technoTechno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
music, namely having been home to Derrick May, Juan Atkins
Juan Atkins
Juan Atkins is an American musician. He is widely credited as the originator of techno music, specifically Detroit techno along with Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson...
and Kevin Saunderson
Kevin Saunderson
Kevin Saunderson is an American electronic music producer. At the age of nine he moved to Belleville, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit where he attended Belleville High School and befriended two students, Derrick May and Juan Atkins...
, commonly known as the Belleville Three, who were instrumental in its creation.
During Belleville's annual Strawberry Festival, bands from all around perform in the downtown and make it a very large cultural exchange area.
The Belleville High School Marching Band is one of the three largest marching band
Marching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
s in the United States, with almost 300 members on the field at one time. There are over 300 people in the band program, which includes Freshmen Band, two Concert Bands, a Symphony Band and a Jazz Band. The Symphony Band has received various national honors, and performs at a consistently advanced level, especially for a high school ensemble.
Media
Despite its small size the Belleville area is served by four weekly newspapers, the Belleville-Area Independent, the Belleville Lake Current, the Belleville View, and the Belleville Enterprise.Education
Van Buren Public Schools
The Van Buren Public Schools is a school district headquartered in Belleville, Michigan.-Secondary schools:* Belleville High School * North Middle School * South Middle School -Primary schools:...
District. The district has six elementary schools (Elwell, Savage, Rawsonville, Tyler, Haggerty, and Edgemont), two middle schools (North Middle School and South Middle School), Belleville High School
Belleville High School (Belleville, Michigan)
Belleville High School is a public high school located in Belleville, Michigan and the only zoned high school in the Van Buren School District.- History :...
, and the Van Buren Alternative Educational School.
Sports
Several current players in the NFL attended Belleville High School, including former Michigan Wolverine and current Denver Bronco linebacker Ian GoldIan Gold
Ian Maurice Gold is a former American football linebacker of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan....
, Carolina Panther defensive tackle Kris Jenkins
Kris Jenkins
Kristopher Rudy-Charles Jenkins is a former American football nose tackle who played for the Carolina Panthers and New York Jets of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Panthers in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
, his brother Green Bay Packer defensive end Cullen Jenkins
Cullen Jenkins
Cullen Darome Jenkins is an American football defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . He was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2003...
, Buffalo Bill linebacker Kevin Harrison
Kevin Harrison
Kevin Alexander Harrison was an American football linebacker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
, and retired San Francisco 49er All-Pro linebacker Frank Nunley
Frank Nunley
Frank Hembre Nunley is a former American football player. He played college football for the University of Michigan and spent ten seasons in the National Football League , all with the San Francisco 49ers...
.
Former Los Angeles Dodger and Boston Red Sox outfielder Billy Ashley
Billy Ashley
Billy Manual Ashley in Trenton, Michigan, is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.Ashley was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 3rd round of the 1988 MLB Draft. He started his professional career with the Gulf Coast Dodgers in 1988 and 1989...
attended Belleville High School.
Points of interest
In the 1930s, Belleville had a reputation as a resort community where the wealthy of Detroit maintained getaway estates. Henry FordHenry Ford
Henry Ford was an American industrialist, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, and sponsor of the development of the assembly line technique of mass production. His introduction of the Model T automobile revolutionized transportation and American industry...
and Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Augustus Lindbergh was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist.Lindbergh, a 25-year-old U.S...
once owned summer cottages on Belleville Lake, in the neighborhood of Harmony Lane.