Editing Bethel, Missouri (section)

==History==
Bethel was founded as a Bible  utopian colony in 1844 by Dr [[William Keil]] (1811–1877), a [[Prussia]]n-born preacher.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xcxWsmxRzVEC&pg=PA16 | title=Missouri Roadsides: The Traveler's Companion | publisher=University of Missouri Press | author=Earngey, Bill | year=1995 | pages=16| isbn=9780826210210 }}</ref> 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]].<ref>[http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/aurora/ Aurora], The Oregon Encyclopedia</ref> 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 (Bethel, Missouri)|Bethel Historic District]], bounded by Liberty, King, 1st, and 4th Streets, was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1970.<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref> 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 (Bethel, Missouri)|Elim]] and [[Hebron (Bethel, Missouri)|Hebron]].<ref name="nris"/>