Belleville is one of the oldest cities in Illinois and was known for being “The Stove Capital of the World.” The city was first settled after the Revolutionary War by veterans who received land grants. Belleville got its name from a landowner, George Blair, in 1814, and the name means “beautiful city” in French. Belleville was incorporated as a village in 1819 and became a city in 1850. Belleville is the county seat of St. Clair County and is located about 15 minutes from downtown St. Louis, MO. The Belleville Philharmonic Society, formed in 1866, is the second oldest philharmonic orchestra in the country. Buddy Ebsen, an actor, comedian, and dancer, whose career spanned seven decades is from Belleville. He’s best known for his role as Jed Clampett in the television sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies and the detective drama Barnaby Jones.
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Belleville, IL Population & Demographics
Belleville has a population of 41,585. The population in Belleville is 52.1% female and 47.9% male. The city is fairly diverse. The 5 largest ethnic groups in Belleville, IL are White (Non-Hispanic) (66.2%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (25.2%), Two or more races (Non-Hispanic) (4.55%), White (Hispanic) (1.66%), and Other (Hispanic) (1.02%). The median age in Belleville is 36.9, so Belleville has many families with young children and many young adults. About 24.4% of Belleville residents have earned a bachelor’s degree, which is slightly above the national average of 20%. The crime rate in Belleville is 30% above the national average. Belleville currently employs 80 full-time police officers at the Belleville Police Department, who work in a variety of areas to make Belleville a safer place to live.
Belleville Cost of Living
It is relatively inexpensive to live in Belleville compared to the rest of the country. The cost of living in Belleville is 16% lower than the national average. Housing prices in Belleville play a major role in that figure due to very low real estate costs. Housing in Belleville is 39% less expensive than the rest of the US! Utilities are 4% lower than the national average and groceries are only 2% higher. Transportation costs are about 10% lower than the national average, which is good for commuters.
The majority of Belleville residents own their homes. The homeownership rate in Belleville is 60%, just below the national average of 64.1%. The housing market in Belleville is considered to be somewhat competitive. On average, homes are selling at 1% over the selling price and stay on the market for 34 days. The median price of a home in Belleville is $155,000 or $89 per square foot. The cost of homes in Belleville has increased by 13.1% over the last year, so now is a good time to buy a home in Belleville before the prices go up even more. Take a look at the many beautiful homes for sale in Belleville, IL.
About 40% of Belleville residents rent homes or apartments. The average rent in Belleville is $907 for a 934 square foot apartment. Rental prices have increased 10% since last year.
Belleville, IL Neighborhoods | Where to Live in Belleville
Some of the most popular neighborhoods in Belleville are Osceola Park, Follett Farms, and Charter Hill. Osceola Park is a popular, affordable neighborhood and the median price for a home there is $255,000. In Follett Farms, you can find beautiful homes for sale ranging from $299.900 to $935.900. Follett Farms has both established homes and new construction to choose from. Charter Hill is a new development in Belleville, featuring luxury, upscale homes that start around $800,000. Charter Hill is conveniently located across from the Kenwood Country Club. There is also plenty of convenient shopping in Belleville including The Shoppes at the Olde Towne Mall and Circa Boutique.
Belleville has three MetroLink stations connecting it to St. Louis and there is an amazing bicycle trail through the city.
Belleville, IL Weather
Belleville has a continental climate with typically cold winters, warm summers, and frequent short fluctuations in temperature, humidity, cloudiness, and wind direction. The summers in Belleville are hot and muggy, with average highs of 91°F and average lows of 68°F. The winters are very cold, windy, and snowy, with the average temperature ranging from 23°F to 43°F. The yearly average temperatures range from 46°F to 69°F. The city gets a good amount of precipitation each year with 41.65 inches of rain, above the national average of 38 inches, so grab your umbrella!. Belleville gets an average of 10 inches of snow each year.
Things to Do in Belleville
Belleville offers plenty of things to do, from outdoor adventures to inside games, that people of all ages can enjoy! Check out the top attractions below in Belleville:
Lincoln Theatre
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The Lincoln Theatre was first opened in 1921 as a vaudeville stage and movie house. Top performers of the day like Ginger Rogers and the Marx Brothers performed there. Today, the Lincoln Theatre screens first-run releases, and on Friday and Saturday nights, an organist plays the auditorium’s pipe organ before shows. The theater also hosts concerts by the Belleville Philharmonic, a children’s theater, and many more types of live entertainment.
103 E Main St, Belleville, IL 62220, (618) 233-0123
Braeutigam Orchards
Braeutigam Orchards started in 1831 as a small farm with a few animals, and over 100 years later, in 1935, they started producing fruit, including apples and pumpkins. The family-owned orchard in Belleville offers jams, jellies, and honey, as well as delicious apple-cider donuts, butter cakes, pies, and turnovers in their on-site bakery. They also conduct ‘picking your own’ product tours.
2795 Turkey Hill Ln, Belleville, IL 62221, (618) 233-4059
Additional Things to do in and around Belleville
The City of Belleville is committed to providing quality parks for all its residents. Belleville currently has 16 parks offering wholesome family recreation, picnic areas, athletic fields, playgrounds, walking trails, a skateboard park, fitness stations, and more.
Belleville Restaurants
Belleville has many great dining options available for you to choose from. Here are two of the top-rated restaurants in Belleville for you to try out:
4204 Main Street Brewing Co.
4204 Main Street Brewing Company is both a steakhouse and a brewery, paying homage to the many German immigrants who settled in the area by continuing the German tradition of brewing. The menu features a variety of favorites, including specialty burgers and hand-cut steaks. They use only Certified Black Angus beef aged 45 days to bring you the best in tenderness and flavor. They also do catering and banquets.
4204 W Main St, Belleville, IL 62226, (618) 416-7261
Papa Vito’s Pizza
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You won’t find Papa Vito’s homemade family recipes anywhere else. Not only do they serve the best signature pizzas in Belleville, but you can also order calzones and sandwiches, like the Philly cheesesteak or the French dip roast beef. You can conveniently order online, and Papa Vito’s does banquets as well.
318 East Washington Street, Belleville, IL 62220, (618) 277-6200
Map of Belleville, IL
Browse through this Belleville map for things to do, places to eat, stores to check out, and more!
Belleville Statistics & Information
Belleville is located in St. Clair County. The area code for Belleville is 618. Belleville’s zip codes are 62220, 62221, 62222, 62223, 62225, and 62226. The elevation of Belleville is 515 feet. Belleville is in the Central Time Zone (CST/CDT) and observes daylight saving time. Belleville is 23.48 square miles in area.
Jobs in Belleville, IL
The median household income in Belleville is $48,099, which is a 4.69% growth from last year! The city currently employs 20,363 residents. The most common jobs held by residents of Belleville by the number of people are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (2,945 people), Sales & Related Occupations (1,653 people), and Food Preparation & Serving Related Occupations (1,482 people). The highest paying industries are Computer & Mathematical Occupations ($79,103), Computer, Engineering, & Science Occupations ($72,667), and Architecture & Engineering Occupations ($65,236). 14.1% of the population in Belleville live below the poverty line, which is higher than the national average of 12.3%. The largest demographic living in poverty are females 25 – 34, followed by females 6 – 11 and females 18 – 24.
Most Belleville residents have an average commute time of 24.9 minutes, which is below the national average of 27.6 minutes. Many Belleville residents commute to St. Louis for work as many job opportunities are there. You can click here to see the directions from Belleville to St.Louis, which is about 24 to 30 minutes away.
Schools in Belleville, IL
Belleville has 14 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, and 4 high schools in the public school system. The top-rated schools in Belleville are Whiteside Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, Central Jr High, West Jr High, and Belleville High School-West. Belleville has 18 private schools from Pre-k through 12th grade, including Zion Lutheran School, Hope Christian Academy, and Mamie O Stookey School. Students will also enjoy access to the free public Belleville Library.
Living in Belleville Tips
- Your kids will enjoy the great school district and free public library
- The weather is cold during the winter, and you can expect a lot of rain and snow
- Shopping in Belleville is convenient
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