Editing Bell, Florida

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
|name                     = Bell, Florida
|official_name            = Town of Bell
|other_name               = 
|native_name              = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
|nickname                 = 
|settlement_type          = [[Town (Florida)|Town]]
|motto                    = "In God We Trust"<ref name="BellHistory">{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241227174555/http://www.townofbellflorida.com/about-bell.php |date=December 27, 2024 |title=About the Town of Bell }}</ref>
|image_skyline            = Bell depot town hall01.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Bell Town Hall, which originally served as a [[Seaboard Air Line Railroad]] train depot. 
|image_flag               = 
|flag_size                = 
|image_seal               = 
|seal_size                = 
|image_shield             = 
|shield_size              = 
|image_blank_emblem       = 
|blank_emblem_type        = 
|blank_emblem_size        = 
|image_map                = Gilchrist_County_Florida_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Bell_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Gilchrist County, Florida|Gilchrist County]] and the state of [[Florida]]
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
|image_dot_map            = 
|dot_mapsize              = 
|dot_map_caption          = 
|dot_x                    = 
|dot_y                    = 
|pushpin_map              = <!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->
|pushpin_label_position   = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
|pushpin_map_caption      = 
|pushpin_mapsize          = 
<!-- Location ------------------>
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = {{flag|United States}}
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = {{flag|Florida}}
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Florida|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = {{noflag|[[Gilchrist County, Florida|Gilchrist]]}}
|subdivision_type3        = 
|subdivision_name3        = 
|subdivision_type4        = 
|subdivision_name4        = 
<!-- Politics ----------------->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = [[Council-manager government|Council-Manager]]
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]<ref>{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241227121232/http://www.townofbellflorida.com/elected-officials.php
|date=December 27, 2024 |title=Elected Officials}}</ref>
|leader_name              = Elizabeth Estes
|leader_title1            = [[City Council|Councilors]]
|leader_name1             = Gary Blakenship,<br>Michael Moore,<br>Christopher Sandlin,<br>Derek Sanders, and<br>Kris Beasley
|leader_title2            = [[City Manager|Town Manager]]<br>and [[City Clerk|Town Clerk]]
|leader_name2             = Michelle Rose
|leader_title3            = [[City Attorney|Town Attorney]]
|leader_name3             = David M. Lang Jr.
|leader_title4            = 
|leader_name4             = 
|established_title        = [[Plat|Founded]]
|established_date         = {{circa|Early 1890s|lk=yes}}<ref name="BellHistory"/>
|established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2        = August 18, 1902<ref name="BellHistory"/>
|established_title3       = [[Municipal corporation|Reincorporated]]
|established_date3        = 1903<ref name=BellInc>{{Cite web|title=MUNICIPAL DIRECTORY: Town of Bell|url=https://www.floridaleagueofcities.com/research-resources/municipal-directory|website=www.floridaleagueofcities.com}}</ref><ref name=BellReinc>{{Cite web|title=FLORIDA CITIES BY INCORPORATION YEAR WITH INCORPORATION & DISSOLUTION INFO|url=https://www.flcities.com/docs/default-source/research-institute-reports/2020citiesbyincorporationwithinfo.pdf?sfvrsn=5009d6d5_0|website=www.flcities.com}}</ref>
<!-- Area    --------------------->
|area_magnitude           = 
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_12.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=October 31, 2021}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 4.24
|area_land_km2            = 4.24
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 1.64
|area_land_sq_mi          = 1.64
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
|area_water_percent       = 
|area_urban_km2           = 
|area_urban_sq_mi         = 
|area_metro_km2           = 
|area_metro_sq_mi         = 
|area_blank1_title        = 
|area_blank1_km2          = 
|area_blank1_sq_mi        = 
<!-- Population   ----------------------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_note          = 
|population_total         = 518
|population_density_km2   = 122.11
|population_density_sq_mi = 316.24
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_metro_km2     = 
|population_density_metro_sq_mi   = 
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|population_density_blank1_km2    = 
|population_density_blank1_sq_mi  = 
<!-- General information  --------------->
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|coordinates              = {{coord|29|45|16|N|82|51|42|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes      = <!--for references: use <ref> </ref> tags-->
|elevation_m              = 21
|elevation_ft             = 69
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 32619
|area_code                = [[Area code 352|352]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 12-04975<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0278410<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|accessdate=January 31, 2008|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=October 25, 2007}}</ref>
|website                  = [https://web.archive.org/web/20250104204819/http://townofbellflorida.com/ https://townofbellflorida.com/]
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|pop_est_footnotes        = 
|population_est           = 
}}

'''Bell''' is a town in [[Gilchrist County, Florida]], United States. The town is situated in the northern part of the county, and located in [[North Florida]]. The population was 518 at the 2020 US Census, up from 456 at the 2010 US Census. It is part of the [[Gainesville, Florida]] [[Gainesville metropolitan area, Florida|Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
The town was founded in the 1890s, named after a beauty contest winner, Bell Fletcher. In the early 1900s, a railway was built, passing through the town on its route between [[Starke, Florida|Starke]] and [[Wannee, Florida|Wannee]]. A train depot was built circa 1905, and the restored depot building is now the town hall.<ref name="BellHistory"/> The '''''Town of Bell''''' was officially incorporated as a municipality on August 18, 1902.<ref name="BellHistory"/> It was reincorporated in 1903.<ref name=BellInc/><ref name=BellReinc/>

On September 18, 2014, a 51-year-old ex-convict, Don Charles Spirit, shot and murdered his daughter Sarah and her six children. He then committed suicide after police officers responded to the scene of the crime.<ref name="Florida man kills 6 grandkids, daughter">[https://edition.cnn.com/2014/09/18/us/florida-deadly-shooting "Florida man kills 6 grandkids, daughter"]</ref><ref name="Florida man kills his daughter and her six children">[https://www.bbc.com/news/business-29266609 "Florida man kills his daughter and her six children"]</ref><ref name="Don Spirit Kills Daughter, Six Grandchildren in Bell, Florida">[https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/don-spirit-kills-daughter-six-grandchildren-bell-florida-n206861 "Don Spirit Kills Daughter, Six Grandchildren in Bell, Florida"]</ref>

==Geography==
The exact coordinates for the Town of Bell is located at {{coord|29|45|16|N|82|51|42|W|type:city}} (29.754443, –82.861712).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

[[U.S. Route 129]] is the town's Main Street; it leads north {{convert|18|mi}} to [[Branford, Florida|Branford]] and south {{convert|10|mi|0}} to [[Trenton, Florida|Trenton]], the Gilchrist County seat.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|1.6|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

==Climate==
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. According to the [[Köppen climate classification]], the Town of Bell has a [[humid subtropical climate]] zone (''Cfa'').
{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = Bell, Florida, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 2000&ndash;2019
|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 81
|Feb record high F = 86
|Mar record high F = 89
|Apr record high F = 92
|May record high F = 104
|Jun record high F = 100
|Jul record high F = 100
|Aug record high F = 98
|Sep record high F = 96
|Oct record high F = 93
|Nov record high F = 87
|Dec record high F = 84

| Jan high F = 64.9
| Feb high F = 68.4
| Mar high F = 74.6
| Apr high F = 79.7
| May high F = 86.1
| Jun high F = 89.7
| Jul high F = 89.9
| Aug high F = 89.7
| Sep high F = 87.3
| Oct high F = 80.2
| Nov high F = 73.1
| Dec high F = 67.2
|year high F = 79.2
|Jan mean F = 52.5
|Feb mean F = 55.9
|Mar mean F = 61.0
|Apr mean F = 66.5
|May mean F = 73.6
|Jun mean F = 79.3
|Jul mean F = 80.3
|Aug mean F = 80.4
|Sep mean F = 77.8
|Oct mean F = 69.3
|Nov mean F = 60.5
|Dec mean F = 54.9
|year mean F = 67.7
| Jan low F = 40.0
| Feb low F = 43.3
| Mar low F = 47.4
| Apr low F = 53.3
| May low F = 61.2
| Jun low F = 68.8
| Jul low F = 70.7
| Aug low F = 71.0
| Sep low F = 68.4
| Oct low F = 58.4
| Nov low F = 48.0
| Dec low F = 42.6
|year low F = 56.1

|Jan record low F = 17
|Feb record low F = 19
|Mar record low F = 21
|Apr record low F = 32
|May record low F = 41
|Jun record low F = 56
|Jul record low F = 58
|Aug record low F = 61
|Sep record low F = 52
|Oct record low F = 30
|Nov record low F = 20
|Dec record low F = 17

|precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 4.05
| Feb precipitation inch = 3.92
| Mar precipitation inch = 3.66
| Apr precipitation inch = 2.40
| May precipitation inch = 3.40
| Jun precipitation inch = 6.57
| Jul precipitation inch = 7.83
| Aug precipitation inch = 9.18
| Sep precipitation inch = 4.92
| Oct precipitation inch = 3.51
| Nov precipitation inch = 2.36
| Dec precipitation inch = 2.56
|year precipitation inch = 54.36
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 8.4
| Feb precipitation days = 7.2
| Mar precipitation days = 7.1
| Apr precipitation days = 5.8
| May precipitation days = 6.1
| Jun precipitation days = 13.0
| Jul precipitation days = 16.3
| Aug precipitation days = 16.4
| Sep precipitation days = 11.0
| Oct precipitation days = 6.7
| Nov precipitation days = 5.6
| Dec precipitation days = 7.5
| year precipitation days = 111.1
|Jan snow inch =
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|unit snow days = 0.1 in
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|source 1 = NOAA<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00080598&format=pdf
| title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| accessdate = June 24, 2021
}}</ref>
|source 2 = XMACIS2<ref name = XMACIS2>
{{cite web
|url = https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = xmACIS2
|access-date = May 1, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 243
|1920= 146
|1930= 168
|1940= 183
|1950= 108
|1960= 134
|1970= 227
|1980= 227
|1990= 267
|2000= 349
|2010= 456
|2020= 518
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2010 and 2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Bell racial composition'''<br> (Hispanics excluded from racial categories)<br> (''NH = Non-Hispanic'')<br>
!Race
!Pop 2010<ref>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Bell town, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Bell+town;+Florida+&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2020<ref>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Bell town, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Bell+town;+Florida+&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|398
|335
|87.28%
|64.67%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|2
|16
|0.44%
|3.09%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|2
|4
|0.44%
|0.77%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|4
|6
|0.88%
|1.16%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] or [[Native Hawaiian]] (NH)
|0
|2
|0.00%
|0.39%
|-
|[[Other races (U.S. Census)|Some other race]] (NH)
|0
|2
|0.00%
|0.39%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races/Multiracial]] (NH)
|1
|23
|0.22%
|4.44%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|49
|130
|10.75%
|25.10%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''456'''
|'''518'''
|
|
|-
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 518 people, 191 households, and 130 families residing in the town.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Bell town, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Bell+town;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 456 people, 211 households, and 112 families residing in the town.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Bell town, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Bell+town;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2010.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 349 people, 125 households, and 91 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|213.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 149 housing units at an average density of {{convert|91.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the town was 95.99% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.01% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.29% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.43% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.29% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.43% of the population.

In 2000, there were 125 households, out of which 43.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 16.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.21.

In 2000, in the town, the population was spread out, with 30.4% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 16.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.1 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the town was $30,156, and the median income for a family was $30,987. Males had a median income of $21,250 versus $23,125 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $11,790.  About 13.1% of families and 17.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 19.4% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65.

==Education==
There are several schools that serve the Bell area and are, in turn, served by the [[Gilchrist County School District]].<br />
These schools include:
*Bell Elementary
*[[Bell Middle/High School (Florida)|Bell Middle/High School]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20250104204819/http://townofbellflorida.com/ Town of Bell official website]

{{Gilchrist County, Florida}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Gilchrist County, Florida]]
[[Category:Gainesville metropolitan area, Florida]]
[[Category:Towns in Florida]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 1890s]]