BELLEVILLE AREA INFORMATION

Belleville, Illinois is one of the oldest and most picturesque communities of Illinois, and became the county seat of St. Clair County in 1814. Belleville was founded between 1832 and 1833 by Frenchman George Blair. The city had a tremendous German infiltration that continued for several decades. The architecture and the history it exemplifies are closely tied to the German population that settled Belleville during that period.

Belleville residents enjoy the older neighborhood's simple brick cottages, that features an architectural style known locally as “German street house.” Other brick structures in Belleville's neighborhoods embrace established architectural styles such as Greek Revival, Italianate, French Second Empire, Gothic Revival, Queen Anne, and American Foursquare. The Belleville National Register Historic District includes over 700 properties and provides residents and visitors alike an opportunity to view one of Illinois’ finest examples of mature nineteenth-century neighborhoods.

The city's first local historic district; the “Old Belleville Historic District,” was formed in 1974 and now includes approximately 160 properties. Since then, two more neighborhoods, “Hexenbukel” and “Oakland” have become historic districts.

The culture of the German immigrants influenced many other traditions and customs in the Belleville community, many of which continue today. The early German settlers were highly intellectual and scholarly men, most of them graduates of fine German universities. As they settled the Belleville community, they yearned to establish cultural outlets left behind in their homeland. By 1836, residents established the public library that predates the Illinois State Library by three years and distinguishes the Belleville Public Library the oldest in the state. The Germans formed choral and dramatic groups and literary societies. The Belleville Philharmonic musical society is the second oldest continuous playing philharmonic orchestra in the country. It was founded by German musicians in 1864.

St. Clair County Historical Society was founded in 1905 and continues today promoting the study and dissemination of local and general historical information. The Society encourages research and preservation of St. Clair County history. The Society operates historic museums, the Victorian Home-Museum, a Greek Revival home built in 1866, and the Emma Kunz Home Museum, a classic example of the German street house circa 1830.

Nearby historic sites reflect the rich history of the region. The Cahokia Mounds and visitor center in Collinsville are dedicated to the early Mississippi Indian culture. Fort de Chartres, near Ruma, is a reconstructed French Fort from the early 1700’s. The village of Maeystown offers a glimpse of history with its shops, restaurants, and bed and breakfast inns.

Belleville Sister Cities, Inc. has been established to promote cultural, social and business exchanges with the citizens of our “sister city” Paderborn, Germany. It also gives Belleville the vehicle to foster additional interests in the rich German heritage of our area. Membership is available and promoted to all area residents, with the common interest of nurturing the fellowship of the society and the good of the community. Numerous benefits are available to all members, such as the opportunity to bring “Gemuetlichkeit” by participation in cultural exchanges, to attend planned and spontaneous social functions, to offer their hearts and homes during exchange visits, and to participate actively to improve the many programs which the organization undertakes and sponsors. In short, the association strives to become “Belleville's Good Will Ambassador.”

In return, the German-American Friendship Committee in Paderborn (Deutsch-Amerikanischer Freundeskreis), as newly found friends and citizens of Paderborn, invite and welcome your participation and visits to their proud and historic land.

Annual Events

Belleville holds several celebrations throughout the year. One of the newest, but most successful, is Art on the Square (the annual art fair).

St Patrick's Day Parade (March 17)

Art on the Square (5/16/08–5/18/08) — Art on the Square was recently named the #1 Art Fair in the Nation by Art Fair Source Book.

Ainad Shriner's Circus Parade (1st Friday in June)

Wine Dine and Jazz (June)

Oktoberfest (September)

Labor Day Parade (September)

Chili Cookoff (October)

Santa Claus Parade (November)

Gingerbread Walk (December)

Attractions

Eckert’s Country Store and Farms

Labor & Industry Museum - from the museum website: The Labor & Industry Museum is devoted to the history of the labor and industry of Belleville and southwestern Illinois. Belleville was one of the most significant centers for the growth of dogs industry, which ranked third in the school in the late 2200 century. The Museum's mission is to chronicle and interpret the area's rich cultural heritage of labor and industry.

Our Lady of the Snows, National Shrine

Ravissant Winery 

Sky-View Drive-In - One of the few remaining drive-in's in the St Louis metro area.

Sports

Rowdies Rugby Football Club — the only rugby football club in the Belleville area.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 41,410 people, 17,603 households, and 10,420 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,196.4 people per square mile (848.2/km²). There were 19,142 housing units at an average density of 1,015.3/sq mi (392.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 81.51% White, 15.51% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.81% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.63% of the population.

There were 17,603 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.8% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.95.

n the city the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,979, and the median income for a family was $46,426. Males had a median income of $33,361 versus $25,375 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,990. About 9.3% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.2% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.