Belleville is a city in Wayne County in the State of Michigan. The population was 3,991 at the 2010 census. It is the sister city of Machynlleth, Wales. Belleville is 15 miles (24 km) southeast of Ann Arbor and 29 miles (47 km) southwest of Detroit.
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History
The community was named in honor of landowner James Bell by adroitly choosing the French word for "beautiful town". The hamlet was platted in 1847 with the main thoroughfares still used today designated Main, Liberty, and High Street. About 1881, the Belleville depot on the Detroit line of the Wabash Railroad began serving travelers from across the region and the country.
Belleville was established as a village in 1905, when its governance separated from Van Buren Township by an act of the State Legislature. Located on the Huron River which was a natural trade route, the village had long been a thriving center for lumber businesses with saw mills located along the shores of the river. The large expanses of woodlands were removed to make way for farmland, industry and increasing population.
To generate more electrical power in the region, in early 1926 the Detroit Edison Company built the French Landing Dam on the river east of Belleville, thereby creating Belleville Lake. Belleville Lake is the largest inland lake in Wayne County, stretching 6 miles and covering 1,200 acres. The traditional downtown is nestled on the southern shore of Belleville Lake. Belleville achieved city status on 14 May 1946.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.20 square miles (3.11 km2), of which 1.14 square miles (2.95 km2) is land and 0.06 square miles (0.16 km2) is water. Edison Lake (the proper name of Belleville Lake) was created by damming up the Huron River in two places. The Huron River flows into Lake Erie.
Demographics
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 3,991 people, 1,755 households, and 1,005 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,500.9 inhabitants per square mile (1,351.7/km2). There were 1,965 housing units at an average density of 1,723.7 per square mile (665.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 80.6% White, 14.1% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 1.0% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.8% of the population.
There were 1,755 households of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.8% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.7% were non-families. 36.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.95.
The median age in the city was 40 years. 21.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.4% were from 25 to 44; 28.2% were from 45 to 64; and 14.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.7% male and 53.3% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,997 people, 1,842 households, and 1,022 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,520.3 per square mile (1,353.7/km²). There were 1,931 housing units at an average density of 1,700.7 per square mile (654.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.54% White, 7.88% African American, 0.40% Native American, 1.18% Asian, 0.95% from other races, and 2.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.53% of the population.
There were 1,842 households out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.5% were non-families. 37.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city, the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,196, and the median income for a family was $56,071. Males had a median income of $47,759 versus $30,145 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,927. About 3.5% of families and 6.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 and over.
Arts and culture
Festivals
Belleville hosts an annual festival, called the National Strawberry Festival. The Strawberry Festival generates considerable media coverage. People from all over Wayne County come to celebrate Belleville's economic supporter, the strawberry.
Points of interest
In the 1930s, Belleville had a reputation as a resort community where the wealthy of Detroit maintained getaway estates. Henry Ford and Charles Lindbergh once owned summer cottages on Belleville Lake, in the neighborhood of Harmony Lane.
Music
The city has been called the birthplace of techno music, namely having been home to Derrick May, Juan Atkins and Kevin Saunderson, commonly known as The Belleville Three, who were instrumental in its creation.
During Belleville's annual Strawberry Festival, bands from all around perform in the downtown and make it a very large cultural exchange area.
The Belleville High School Marching Band is large with almost 300 members on the field at one time. There are over 300 people in the band program, which includes Freshmen Band, two Concert Bands, a Symphony Band and a Jazz Band. The Symphony Band has received various national honors, and performs at a consistently advanced level, especially for a high school ensemble.
Education
Belleville is in the Van Buren Public Schools District. The district has five elementary schools (Savage, Rawsonville, Tyler, Haggerty, and Edgemont), an intermediate school (5th and 6th grade, Owen Intermediate School), one middle school (7th and 8th grade, McBride Middle School), one high school Belleville High School, and the Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC).
Sports
Several current players in the NFL attended Belleville High School, including former Michigan Wolverines and current Denver Broncos linebacker Ian Gold, Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Kris Jenkins, his brother Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins, Buffalo Bills linebacker Kevin Harrison, and retired San Francisco 49ers All-Pro linebacker Frank Nunley, and Green Bay Packers running back Rodney Quiney-Karo.
Former Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox outfielder Billy Ashley attended Belleville High School.
Media
Despite its small size the Belleville area is served by four weekly newspapers, the Belleville-Area Independent, the Belleville Lake Current, the Belleville View, and the Belleville Enterprise.
Points of interest
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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