Bellefontaine, Ohio
Encyclopedia
Bellefontaine
is a city in and the county seat
of Logan County
, Ohio
, United States
. The population was 13,069 at the 2000 census
. It is the center of the Bellefontaine Micropolitan Statistical Area
, as defined by the United States Census Bureau
in 2003. The highest point in Ohio, Campbell Hill, is within the city limits of Bellefontaine.
, and is purported to refer to several springs in the area.
(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 with the coming of the American Revolutionary War
to 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. 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
.
Beginning in the 1800s, 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
, and the Treaty of Greenville
delineating lands to be held by Americans from those to be held by natives was poorly administered in the area.
is a theater in Bellefontaine that 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 events and performances for Bellefontaine and the surrounding area.
ted in 1820 and incorporated in 1835. In 1837, the Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad built the first railroad in Bellefontaine. This began Bellefontaine's reputation as a railroading town. This reputation was cemented in the 1890s, when the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad (also called the Big Four Railroad) built a main terminal in the city. This terminal also boasted the largest roundhouse between New York and St. Louis
.
Though railroading hit hard times 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 at the junction of CSX lines going to Cleveland
, Indianapolis
, and Dayton
.
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 then paved. While Main Street is now paved with asphalt, Court Avenue has retained its original concrete pavement for over 100 years. At its centennial, the street was closed and a statue of Bartholomew placed at its Main Street end, although since then one lane has been reopened for eastbound traffic.
In 1979, Honda
began manufacturing motorcycles
in the Columbus suburb of Marysville, Ohio
. Since that time, Honda's operations in the Bellefontaine area have greatly expanded, and Bellefontaine is now centrally located to Honda operations in Marysville, East Liberty
, Russells Point
, Anna
, and Troy, Ohio
. It follows, then, that Honda is presently Bellefontaine's largest employer.
Today, Bellefontaine is centered at the intersection of U.S. Route 68
with State Routes 47
and 540. U.S. Route 33
, a freeway that has interchanges
with US 68 and SR 540, skirts the northern edge of the city.
To European settlers, Campbell Hill was first known as Hogue's Hill, perhaps a misspelling of the name of the person who first deeded the land in 1830, Solomon Rogue. 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, who was the original brewer of Augustiner and Gambrinus beers. (These brands are now the trademarks of the Gambrinus Company of San Antonio, Texas
, though the company has stopped production of these beers.)
In 1950, the family of August Wagner deeded Campbell Hill and the surrounding 57.5 acres to the U.S. government
. The government then 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), and 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
.
and city council
style of government.
Adam Brannon, two-term incumbent Republican
Robert C. Lentz, and independent
Tim Barnett. Brannon defeated Lentz by a slim margin, while Barnett was a moderate distance behind them.
Former Councilwoman at Large Terri Knox (R) was defeated in this election.
The first meeting of the council, composed of these members, was held on 8 January 2008. David Haw was elected president pro tempore
of the council.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 8.8 square miles (22.8 km²), all land.
was 1,491.3 people per square mile (576.0/km²). There were 5,722 housing units at an average density of 652.9 per square mile (252.2/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. 1.12% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 5,319 households out 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 $36,029, and the median income for a family was $42,126. Males had a median income of $34,637 versus $22,849 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,781. 14.6% of the population and 12.9% of families were below the poverty line. 20.7% of those under the age of 18 and 7.0% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
consists solely of Logan County, Ohio
. The 2000 census
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.
Also:
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 around donations received from visitors to the museum. Donations also can be contributed to the society to be used in historical displays. Recent donations include the 1950s era "house call" bag from local doctor George E. Nixon.
,one intermediate school, one middle school
, and one high school
in the area. 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:
in the past 30 years. The Bellefontaine Regional Airport
is the only airport in the area that can cater to large planes. The closest airport that can compare in size is the Union County Airport
in Marysville, Ohio
.
Operating currently are WPKO
, an FM radio
station, and its sister station WBLL
, an AM radio
station. These stations are owned and operated by
V-Tech Communications.
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.
is a city in and the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Logan County
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 13,069 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 the center of the Bellefontaine Micropolitan Statistical Area
United States micropolitan area
United States Micropolitan Statistical Areas , as defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget, are urban areas in the United States based around a core city or town with a population of 10,000 to 49,999. The micropolitan area designation was created in 2003...
, as defined by 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...
in 2003. The highest point in Ohio, Campbell Hill, is within the city limits of Bellefontaine.
History
The name Bellefontaine means "beautiful spring" in FrenchFrench language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, and is purported to refer to several springs in the area.
Blue Jacket's Town
Around 1777, the Shawnee war leader Blue JacketBlue Jacket
Blue Jacket or Weyapiersenwah was a war chief of the Shawnee people, known for his militant defense of Shawnee lands in the Ohio Country...
(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
Scioto River
The Scioto River is a river in central and southern Ohio more than 231 miles in length. It rises in Auglaize County in west central Ohio, flows through Columbus, Ohio, where it collects its largest tributary, the Olentangy River, and meets the Ohio River at Portsmouth...
, but with the coming of the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
to the Ohio Country
Ohio Country
The Ohio Country was the name used in the 18th century for the regions of North America west of the Appalachian Mountains and in the region of the upper Ohio River south of Lake Erie...
, Blue Jacket and other American Indians
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
who took up arms against the American revolutionaries
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
relocated in order to be closer to their British allies at Detroit. Blue Jacket's Town was destroyed in Logan's Raid
Logan's Raid
Logan's Raid was a military expedition early in the Northwest Indian War. In the fall of 1786, under orders from George Rogers Clark, General Benjamin Logan led a force of Federal soldiers and mounted Kentucky militia against several Shawnee towns in the Ohio Country along the Mad River, protected...
, conducted by Kentucky militia in 1786 at the outset of the Northwest Indian War
Northwest Indian War
The Northwest Indian War , also known as Little Turtle's War and by various other names, was a war fought between the United States and a confederation of numerous American Indian tribes for control of the Northwest Territory...
. The expedition was led by Benjamin Logan
Benjamin Logan
Benjamin Logan was an American pioneer, soldier, and politician from Shelby County, Kentucky. As colonel of the Kentucky County militia of Virginia during the American Revolutionary War, he was second-in-command of militia in Kentucky. Logan was a leader in Kentucky's efforts to become a state...
, namesake of Logan County. Blue Jacket and his followers relocated further northwest to the Maumee River
Maumee River
The Maumee River is a river in northwestern Ohio and northeastern Indiana in the United States. It is formed at Fort Wayne, Indiana by the confluence of the St. Joseph and St. Marys rivers, and meanders northeastwardly for through an agricultural region of glacial moraines before flowing into the...
.
Beginning in the 1800s, Revolutionary War veterans and others from Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and elsewhere began settling in the area of Blue Jacket's Town. Bellefontaine is on or near the edge of the Virginia Military District
Virginia Military District
The Virginia Military District was an approximately 4.2 million acre area of land in what is now the state of Ohio that was reserved by Virginia to use as payment for veterans of the American Revolutionary War....
, and the Treaty of Greenville
Treaty of Greenville
The Treaty of Greenville was signed at Fort Greenville , on August 3, 1795, between a coalition of Native Americans & Frontiers men, known as the Western Confederacy, and the United States following the Native American loss at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. It put an end to the Northwest Indian War...
delineating lands to be held by Americans from those to be held by natives was poorly administered in the area.
Holland Theater
The Holland TheaterHolland Theater
The Holland Theater was a movie theater that operated from 1931 until 1998 in Bellefontaine, Ohio, United States. Like many historic theaters, the Holland ultimately went out of business after a newer, more technologically advanced cinema, was introduced to the town.Built with the capability for...
is a theater in Bellefontaine that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. 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 events and performances for Bellefontaine and the surrounding area.
The railroads
Bellefontaine was platPlat
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 in 1820 and incorporated in 1835. In 1837, the Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad built the first railroad in Bellefontaine. This began Bellefontaine's reputation as a railroading town. This reputation was cemented in the 1890s, when the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad (also called the Big Four Railroad) built a main terminal in the city. This terminal also boasted the largest roundhouse between New York and St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
.
Though railroading hit hard times 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 at the junction of CSX lines going to Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, and Dayton
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
.
Automotive transportation
In 1891, Bellefontaine became the location of the first concreteConcrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
street in America. George Bartholomew
George Bartholomew
George Bartholomew was an American inventor who is credited with the invention of concrete pavement. In 1886, Bartholomew moved to Bellefontaine, Ohio, after having learned about cement production. Bartholomew found a good source of limestone and clay in the area; from this, he hoped to create an...
invented a process for paving using Portland cement
Portland cement
Portland cement is the most common type of cement in general use around the world because it is a basic ingredient of concrete, mortar, stucco and most non-specialty grout...
, 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 then paved. While Main Street is now paved with asphalt, Court Avenue has retained its original concrete pavement for over 100 years. At its centennial, the street was closed and a statue of Bartholomew placed at its Main Street end, although since then one lane has been reopened for eastbound traffic.
In 1979, Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
began manufacturing motorcycles
Marysville Motorcycle Plant
Marysville Motorcycle Plant is a Honda manufacturing facility located approximately six miles northwest of Marysville, Ohio. The assembly plant opened in 1979 as Honda's first production facility in the United States on the original U.S...
in the Columbus suburb of Marysville, Ohio
Marysville, Ohio
Marysville is a city in and the county seat of Union County, Ohio, United States. The population was 15,942 at the 2000 census, and the Census Bureau estimated that it had risen to 17,621 by 2006.Marysville's longtime slogan is "Where the Grass is Greener"...
. Since that time, Honda's operations in the Bellefontaine area have greatly expanded, and Bellefontaine is now centrally located to Honda operations in Marysville, East Liberty
East Liberty, Ohio
East Liberty is a census-designated place located in southern Perry Township, Logan County, Ohio, United States. It is located just off of U.S. Route 33, east of Bellefontaine and about an hour northwest of Columbus...
, Russells Point
Russells Point, Ohio
Russells Point is a village located in Logan County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,619 at the 2000 census. It is situated on Indian Lake.-Geography:Russells Point is located at ....
, Anna
Anna, Ohio
Anna is a village in Shelby County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,319 at the 2000 census.Anna is the location of a Honda Motor Co., Ltd plant that builds the GM L66 engine and Honda J engine....
, and Troy, Ohio
Troy, Ohio
* - Sports :In addition to Troy High School athletics, Troy is home to the Miami Valley Silverbacks indoor football team of the Continental Indoor Football League....
. It follows, then, that Honda is presently Bellefontaine's largest employer.
Today, Bellefontaine is centered at the intersection of U.S. Route 68
U.S. Route 68
U.S. Route 68 is an east–west United States highway that runs for from northwest Ohio to western Kentucky. The highway's western terminus is at U.S. Route 62 in Reidland, Kentucky. Its eastern terminus is at Interstate 75 in Findlay, Ohio...
with State Routes 47
Ohio State Route 47
Ohio State Route 47 is a state highway running from the Indiana border at Union City to Waldo, about ten miles south of Marion. In Bellefontaine, State Route 47 follows the path of different streets from Main Street and Sandusky Avenue to the intersection just north of Mary Rutan Hospital, about...
and 540. U.S. Route 33
U.S. Route 33
U.S. Route 33 is a United States federal highway that runs northwest-southeast for 709 miles from northern Indiana to Richmond, Virginia, passing through Ohio and West Virginia en route. Although most odd-numbered U.S...
, a freeway that has interchanges
Interchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
with US 68 and SR 540, skirts the northern edge of the city.
Campbell Hill and US military operations
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, though the company has stopped production of these beers.)
In 1950, the family of August Wagner deeded Campbell Hill and the surrounding 57.5 acres to the U.S. government
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
. The government then stationed the 664th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron on the hill in 1951. This military unit was responsible for monitoring for possible aerospace
Aerospace
Aerospace comprises the atmosphere of Earth and surrounding space. Typically the term is used to refer to the industry that researches, designs, manufactures, operates, and maintains vehicles moving through air and space...
attacks from the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
. The 664th AC&WS and similar military units were eventually superseded by the North American Aerospace Defense Command
North American Aerospace Defense Command
North American Aerospace Defense Command is a joint organization of Canada and the United States that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty, and defense for the two countries. Headquarters NORAD is located at Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, Colorado...
(or NORAD), and 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
Ohio Hi-Point Career Center
The Ohio Hi-Point Career Center is a career-technical school that provides career-technical training to high school students and adults in west-central Ohio...
.
Law and government
Bellefontaine has an elected mayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
and city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
style of government.
Mayor
In November 2007, three candidates competed for the position of mayor: DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Adam Brannon, two-term incumbent Republican
Republican 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...
Robert C. Lentz, and independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
Tim Barnett. Brannon defeated Lentz by a slim margin, while Barnett was a moderate distance behind them.
City council
The Bellefontaine City Council consists of one president, four ward council members, and three council members at-large. In November 2007, the following members were elected:- Council President Richard Vicario (RRepublican 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...
), without opposition - First Ward Councilman David Haw (DDemocratic Party (United States)The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
), incumbent, over Ernest Bailey (IIndependent (politician)In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
) - Second Ward Councilwoman Diane Hager (R), incumbent, without opposition
- Third Ward Councilman Brian Evans (D), incumbent, without opposition
- Fourth Ward Councilman Jerry Pitzer (D), incumbent, over Jonathan Kunze (R)
- Councilman at Large Mark Fissel (D)
- Councilman at Large David Henry (R), incumbent
- Councilman at Large Don Horn (R), incumbent
Former Councilwoman at Large Terri Knox (R) was defeated in this election.
The first meeting of the council, composed of these members, was held on 8 January 2008. David Haw was elected president pro tempore
Pro tempore
Pro tempore , abbreviated pro tem or p.t., is a Latin phrase which best translates to "for the time being" in English. This phrase is often used to describe a person who acts as a locum tenens in the absence of a superior, such as the President pro tempore of the United States Senate.Legislative...
of the council.
Administration
In November 2007, the following administrators were elected:- City Auditor Robert Storm (R), over Edward Loe (I)
- City Law Director Howard Traul (R), incumbent, without opposition
Geography
Bellefontaine is located at 40°21′39"N 83°45′29"W (40.360878, -83.758126).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 city has a total area of 8.8 square miles (22.8 km²), all land.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 13,069 people, 5,319 households, and 3,436 families residing in the city. The population densityPopulation 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 1,491.3 people per square mile (576.0/km²). There were 5,722 housing units at an average density of 652.9 per square mile (252.2/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. 1.12% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 5,319 households out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% 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, 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
Median household income
The median household income is commonly used to generate data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of households earning less than the median household income and the other half earning more...
for a household in the city was $36,029, and the median income for a family was $42,126. Males had a median income of $34,637 versus $22,849 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 $17,781. 14.6% of the population and 12.9% of families were below the poverty line. 20.7% of those under the age of 18 and 7.0% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Micropolitan statistical area
Bellefontaine is the center of the Bellefontaine Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. This micropolisUnited States micropolitan area
United States Micropolitan Statistical Areas , as defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget, are urban areas in the United States based around a core city or town with a population of 10,000 to 49,999. The micropolitan area designation was created in 2003...
consists solely of Logan County, Ohio
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....
. The 2000 census
Census
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...
found 46,005 people in the micropolis, making it the 260th most populous such area in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Among all U.S. statistical areas (CBSAs
Core based statistical area
A Core Based Statistical Area is a U.S. geographic area defined by the Office of Management and Budget based around an urban center of at least 10,000 people and adjacent areas that are socioeconomically tied to the urban center by commuting. Areas defined on the basis of these standards applied...
), the Bellefontaine micropolis ranks 622nd. In 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...
, the Bellefontaine micropolis is the 37th most populous CBSA, and the 21st most populous micropolitan statistical area.
By comparison, the least populous metropolitan area
Metropolitan area
The term metropolitan area refers to a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure, and housing. A metropolitan area usually encompasses multiple jurisdictions and municipalities: neighborhoods, townships,...
in the United States, Carson City, Nevada
Carson City, Nevada
The Consolidated Municipality of Carson City is the capital of the state of Nevada. The words Consolidated Municipality refer to a series of changes in 1969 which abolished Ormsby County and merged all the settlements contained within its borders into Carson City. Since that time Carson City has...
, has 52,457 residents. The least populous metropolitan area in Ohio is Sandusky
Sandusky, Ohio
Sandusky is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Erie County. It is located in northern Ohio and is situated on the shores of Lake Erie, almost exactly half-way between Toledo to the west and Cleveland to the east....
, 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
El Dorado, Arkansas
El Dorado , a multi-cultural arts center: South Arkansas Arts Center , an award-winning renovated downtown, and numerous sporting, shopping, and dining opportunities. El Dorado is the population, cultural, and business center of the 7,300 mi² regional area...
; Clovis, New Mexico
Clovis, New Mexico
Clovis is the county seat of Curry County, New Mexico, United States. Its population was 32,667 at the 2000 census; according to 2010 Census Bureau estimates, the population had risen to 37,775....
; and Red Wing, Minnesota
Red Wing, Minnesota
Red Wing is a city in Goodhue County, Minnesota, United States, on the Mississippi River. The population was 16,459 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Goodhue County....
.)
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.
Sites of interest
- McKinley Street — Whether or not this is the shortest street in the world is the point of some contention. The sign at the street's south end (at the intersection of Columbus Ave.) makes such a claim, although Ebenezer PlaceEbenezer Place, WickEbenezer Place, in Wick, Caithness, Scotland, is credited by the Guinness Book of Records as being the world's shortest street at .In 2006 it surpassed the previous record set by Elgin Street, Bacup, Lancashire. The street has only one address: the front door of No...
, in WickWick, HighlandWick is an estuary town and a royal burgh in the north of the Highland council area of Scotland. Historically, it is one of two burghs within the county of Caithness, of which Wick was the county town. The town straddles the River Wick and extends along both sides of Wick Bay...
, ScotlandScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, has held the official record since November 2006. The City of Bellefontaine's website places the length of McKinley Street at "about 20 feet", and while 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".
- Court AvenueCourt AvenueCourt Avenue is a small street in downtown Bellefontaine, Ohio, United States, located adjacent to the Logan County Courthouse. Constructed in 1891, it is known for being the first street in the United States to be paved with concrete.-Early history:...
- 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.
Also:
- Campbell Hill
- First brokerage house of Edward D. JonesEdward D. JonesEdward D. Jones, Sr. was an investment banker born in St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated from Bellefontaine High School in Bellefontaine, Ohio in 1913, then from New York University in 1916....
, still houses an office of the brokerage he started. - First 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...
, where Norman Vincent PealeNorman Vincent PealeDr. Norman Vincent Peale was a minister and author and a progenitor of the theory of "positive thinking".-Early life and education:...
got his start. - Schine's Holland TheatreHolland TheaterThe Holland Theater was a movie theater that operated from 1931 until 1998 in Bellefontaine, Ohio, United States. Like many historic theaters, the Holland ultimately went out of business after a newer, more technologically advanced cinema, was introduced to the town.Built with the capability for...
, on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Logan County Historical Society
The Logan County Historical Society and museum is located in Bellefontaine. The original museum was housed in the McBeth School. McBeth school was 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 and 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 Bellefontaine. McBeth School is now used as an apartment building.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 around donations received from visitors to the museum. Donations also can be contributed to the society to be used in historical displays. Recent donations include the 1950s era "house call" bag from local doctor George E. Nixon.
Education
The Bellefontaine City Schools operate three elementary schoolsPrimary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
,one intermediate school, one middle school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
, and one high school
Bellefontaine High School
Bellefontaine High School is a public high school in Bellefontaine, Ohio, United States. It is the only high school in the Bellefontaine City Schools district. They are members of the Central Buckeye Conference and were formerly members of the Western Buckeye League....
in the area. These schools have a combined enrollment of 2,840. In addition, the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center
Ohio Hi-Point Career Center
The Ohio Hi-Point Career Center is a career-technical school that provides career-technical training to high school students and adults in west-central Ohio...
, located atop Campbell Hill, offers both secondary and post-secondary
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
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 UniversityOhio State UniversityThe Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
- Urbana UniversityUrbana UniversityUrbana University is a private university specializing in liberal arts education. Urbana is located in Urbana, Ohio, approximately one hour west of Columbus and one hour northeast of Dayton.-History:...
Bellefontaine Regional Airport
Bellefontaine has a Regional airport located about 5 miles from the downtown business district. The airport replaced the Bellefontaine Municipal Airport in 2002. It is one of 2 new airports opened to the public in OhioOhio
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...
in the past 30 years. The Bellefontaine Regional Airport
Bellefontaine Regional Airport
Bellefontaine Regional Airport is a public airport located three miles west of the central business district of Bellefontaine, a city in Logan County, Ohio, United States. It is owned by the City of Bellefontaine. It is a corporate and general aviation airport operated by Midwest Corporate Air...
is the only airport in the area that can cater to large planes. The closest airport that can compare in size is the Union County Airport
Union County Airport (Ohio)
Union County Airport is a public airport located one mile southeast of the central business district of Marysville, a city in Union County, Ohio, United States. It is owned by the Union County Airport Authority.- Facilities and aircraft :...
in Marysville, Ohio
Marysville, Ohio
Marysville is a city in and the county seat of Union County, Ohio, United States. The population was 15,942 at the 2000 census, and the Census Bureau estimated that it had risen to 17,621 by 2006.Marysville's longtime slogan is "Where the Grass is Greener"...
.
Media
The city is served by both print publishing and radio broadcasting.Operating currently are WPKO
WPKO-FM
WPKO-FM is an American radio station in Bellefontaine, Ohio. It is programmed in a Hot AC radio format, and is almost entirely locally produced...
, an FM radio
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
station, and its sister station WBLL
WBLL (AM)
WBLL is an American radio station in Bellefontaine, Ohio. It currently broadcasts with Talk programming, along with certain sporting events...
, an AM radio
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
station. These stations are owned and operated by
V-Tech Communications.
The Bellefontaine Examiner
Bellefontaine Examiner
The Bellefontaine Examiner is a daily newspaper published at Bellefontaine, Ohio, United States. The newspaper covers international and national, regional and local topics, with a focus on stories affecting the surrounding Logan County...
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.
Notable natives and residents
- George BartholomewGeorge BartholomewGeorge Bartholomew was an American inventor who is credited with the invention of concrete pavement. In 1886, Bartholomew moved to Bellefontaine, Ohio, after having learned about cement production. Bartholomew found a good source of limestone and clay in the area; from this, he hoped to create an...
- inventor - Julius ChambersJulius ChambersJulius Chambers, F.R.G.S.,There is disparity about an unused first name. The Americana Vol.4 calls him Charles Julius Chambers, Dictionary of American Biography and The Delta Kappa Epsilon Quarterly call him James Julius Chambers. Regardless of the correct name, he used neither one in...
- journalist and travel writer - Bethany DillonBethany DillonBethany Dillon is a Contemporary Christian music artist. She is now married to contemporary Christian recording artist Shane Barnard of Shane & Shane.-Childhood:...
- singer - Allan W. EckertAllan W. EckertAllan W. Eckert was an American historian, historical novelist, and naturalist.-Biography:Eckert was born in Buffalo, New York and raised in the Chicago, Illinois area, but had been a long-time resident of Bellefontaine, Ohio, near where he attended university...
- author - Jim FloraJim FloraJames "Jim" Flora , best known for his distinctive and idiosyncratic album cover art for RCA Victor and Columbia Records during the 1940s and 1950s, was also a prolific commercial illustrator from the 1940s to the 1970s and the author/illustrator of 17 popular children's books...
- artist - Melville J. HerskovitsMelville J. HerskovitsMelville Jean Herskovits was an American anthropologist who firmly established African and African American studies in American academia. The son of Jewish immigrants, he obtained a Bachelor of Philosophy at the University of Chicago in 1923 and obtained his Master's and Ph.D...
- anthropologist - Kin HubbardKin HubbardFrank McKinney Hubbard was an American cartoonist, humorist, and journalist better known by his pen name "Kin" Hubbard....
- cartoonist and journalist - Blue JacketBlue JacketBlue Jacket or Weyapiersenwah was a war chief of the Shawnee people, known for his militant defense of Shawnee lands in the Ohio Country...
"Weyapiersenwah" - ShawneeShawneeThe Shawnee, Shaawanwaki, Shaawanooki and Shaawanowi lenaweeki, are an Algonquian-speaking people native to North America. Historically they inhabited the areas of Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Western Maryland, Kentucky, Indiana, and Pennsylvania...
chief - Edward D. JonesEdward D. JonesEdward D. Jones, Sr. was an investment banker born in St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated from Bellefontaine High School in Bellefontaine, Ohio in 1913, then from New York University in 1916....
- investment banker - Austin Eldon KnowltonAustin Eldon KnowltonAustin Eldon Knowlton was trained as an architect but spent most of his career in the construction industry. His company designed, financed and built more than 160 college and university buildings on every major college campus in Ohio and more than 200 elementary and secondary school buildings...
- architect - William LawrenceWilliam Lawrence (Ohio)William Lawrence was a Republican politician from Ohio. He was most noted for being a US Representative, and was influential in attempting to impeach Andrew Johnson, creating the United States Department of Justice, helping to create the American Red Cross, and ratifying the Geneva...
- politician (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...
) - Norman Vincent PealeNorman Vincent PealeDr. Norman Vincent Peale was a minister and author and a progenitor of the theory of "positive thinking".-Early life and education:...
- minister and author - Louie VitoLouie VitoLouis "Louie" Vito is an American professional snowboarder.-Early life:Louis Vito was born in Columbus, Ohio and raised in Bellefontaine, growing up outside Mad River Mountain. He attended the Stratton Mountain School in Vermont and turned pro in 2005...
- professional snowboarder