History

This guide was created by Katzman & Sugden, LLC to help our clients learn more about the local area. Founded in 1814, Belleville Illinois, celebrated its 200th Anniversary in 2014. The city origins can be traced back to George Blair; who donated one acre of land on March 10th, 1814 for a Public Square. As a result, the county seat of St. Clair County IL was moved from Cahokia IL to Belleville IL. At the time, Belleville IL was the more centrally located settlement in comparison to Cahokia. Learn More on Belleville here

Mr. Blair was given the honor of naming the town and county seat, and on August 8, 1814, the court of St. Clair County IL recognized the name he had given to the new city. He chose Belleville; a French word meaning “beautiful city”. Belleville was officially incorporated as a village in 1819, and became a city in 1850. History states that Mr. Blair named the city Belleville because he believed that a French name would attract new residents.

After the Civil War, Belleville IL became a thriving manufacturing center producing nails, printing presses, iron castings, agricultural equipment, and stoves. During this era Belleville IL became known as “The Stove Capital of the World.” The first brewery in Illinois was also established in Belleville.

By 1874, some local Belleville farmers had become coal miners. This was due to large amounts of coal deposits discovered in St. Clair County IL. One hundred shaft mines were in operation in and around Belleville. The coal brought the steam railroad to town, which allowed for the transport of many tons of coal to be shipped daily from Belleville to St. Louis on the west side of the Mississippi River, for use in its industries, homes and businesses.

The “Old Belleville Historic District,” was defined and recognized in 1974 and is the city’s first historic district. The Belleville Public Library is recognized as the oldest in Illinois. The National Civic League recognized Belleville in 2011 as one of the ten recipients of the All-America City Award.