Belleville, whose name translates to "Beautiful City" in French, has 42,000 residents that agree the name fits. The city got its name in 1814 when George Blair donated an acre of his land for a town square and an additional twenty-five for the county seat. In 1850 it was incorporated as city. Some say Blair gave the city a French name because he believed it would attract French residents. Ironically, a failed revolution saw many educated Germans leave their home country and end up in Belleville. By 1870 an estimated 90% of the city's residents were of German descent.
After the Civil War, the area became a manufacturing hub, churning out printing presses, iron castings, nails, agricultural equipment, and more. At one point, Belleville was dubbed "The Stove Capital of the World." Later, inspectors found an enormous coal deposit in the county, and many farmers became coal miners. Eventually, the city also became home to the first brewery and the first electric trolley in the state and the candy company that eventually became Jelly Belly.
The impact of the German immigrants on Belleville is obvious as soon as you see the city. Three historic districts are like the Disney World for architecture lovers. The original Old Belleville Historic District was created in 1974, HexenBuckel in 1991, and Oakland in 1995. This bustling town has a strong love of the arts, as evidenced by the annual Art on the Square. This fine art show takes place during the weekend after Mother's Day and has been ranked #1 or #2 art show by Art Fair Source Book since 2002. It is a three-day feast for the senses, showcasing original works by over 100 accomplished artists from around the globe, incredible music and stage performances, and local food and drink. This festival is a can't-miss, and even the kids love creating take-home art projects from the Children's Art Garden section. This is just one of many events Belleville puts on for its community.
If you're more of an outdoorsy type, there are plenty of walking, biking, hiking, and rollerblading trails spread across several parks. You could spend the day taking in the scenery at Bellevue, Lederman, or Stookey Township Park. Lederman has several sports fields for practice or pick-up games, and Stookey has jungle gyms for the little ones. https://www.belleville.net/590/Biking-Walking-Trails Originally opened in 1921 with four Vaudeville acts and a silent film, "The Old Nest," The Lincoln Theater is now a movie theater and performance center. Admission for adults was 27¢ for the balcony and 36¢ for the main floor when they first opened their doors.
From the friendly residents to the amazing historical architecture, Belleville is a place to enjoy. Unfortunately, there are many types of critters here who also enjoy the surroundings like
moles,
foxes, and
raccoons. Luckily for residents of Belleville and the surrounding areas, Veteran's Pride Wildlife Control are the local experts.
Contact us to discuss your problem, and we'll give you an estimate and get started on making your property critter-free.