Belle Center

History

Historically, some areas in what is now northern Richland Township were covered by swampland. During the 1840s, however, settlers moved in, and a town was platted around 1846, by which time a small town named Richland had become well established in the southern part of what is now Richland Township. In this year, the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad began to plan for a railroad line through the area. A competition developed between the two towns for the location of a water stop for the railroad (essentially requiring the basics of a station), which eventually was won by the upstart town. Five years later, the village of Belle Center was officially incorporated by the Ohio General Assembly. The presence of the railroad led to growth for Belle Center but decline for Richland (since renamed New Richland). This railroad origin is responsible for Belle Center's "diagonal" street layout. Belle Center was named for its relatively central location between the cities of Bellefontaine and Kenton. Historically, the community's name has also been spelled Belle Centre, Bellecenter, and even Bellecente. The Board on Geographic Names officially decided in favor of the current spelling in 1891.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , of which, is land and is water.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,200
• European Starling

  Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  3,934
• Turkey Vulture

  Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,791
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  3,677
• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  3,410
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  3,349
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,231
• House Sparrow

  Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,120

Most recent

• M 2.9 — 2023-12-09
  5 km W of Jackson Center, Ohio
• M 2.6 — 2015-06-12
  6 km NW of Convoy, Ohio
• M 2.8 — 2008-09-30
  5 km SW of Kettlersville, Ohio
• M 2.5 — 2006-08-15
  3 km NE of Fort Shawnee, Ohio
• M 2.8 — 2006-05-12
  2 km E of Lima, Ohio
• M 2.5 — 2004-01-30
  2 km S of Rockford, Ohio