Bethel

History

Bethel was founded as a Bible utopian colony in 1844 by Dr William Keil (1811–1877), a Prussian-born preacher. He and his followers, who were almost exclusively German immigrants to America, believed that the Book of Acts required that Christians hold all property and means of production in common and they organized their Colony accordingly. Traditionally male work was communally performed; however, traditionally female work was still individualized and performed in single family households. By 1850, the Bethel Colony had a population of 500; by 1860, 600. It owned thousands of sheep, cattle and horses, and had over 3,500 acres under cultivation. It was the commercial center of the region. However, the construction of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad threatened Dr. Keil's theocracy. In 1855, he led his some of his followers westward over the Oregon Trail, to eventually settle Aurora, Oregon and form the Aurora Colony. Other wagon trains followed in subsequent years. The remainder of the Bethel Colony retained their communal ownership of property and shared means of production until three years after his death in 1877. In 1880, the property was divided among the remaining members, thus ending Missouri's most successful communal experiment. The Bethel Historic District, bounded by Liberty, King, 1st, and 4th Streets, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. At least twenty of the buildings constructed by the Bethel Colony are still extant. These houses are on exhibit to visitors and to the public. Also listed on the National Register of Historic Places are nearby Elim and Hebron.

Geography

Bethel is located at (39.877205, -92.024433). According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Red-headed Woodpecker

  Melanerpes erythrocephalus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  52
• Turkey Vulture

  Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  46
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  43
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  42
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  40
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  29
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  29
• Red-tailed Hawk

  Buteo jamaicensis (Gmelin, 1788) · Aves
  24

Most recent

• M 2.59 — 2022-12-05
  4 km SW of Madison, Missouri
• M 2.9 — 2004-02-08
  6 km SSW of Stoutsville, Missouri