Editing Bellefonte, Arkansas

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Bellefonte
| settlement_type    = [[Town]]
| image_skyline      = 
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = 
| image_seal         = 
| image_map          = File:Boone County Arkansas Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Bellefonte Highlighted 0504900.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Bellefonte in Boone County, Arkansas.
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Arkansas|County]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_name1  = [[Arkansas]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Boone County, Arkansas|Boone]]
| government_type    = Council government
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Joe Hefley
| established_date1  = 1882
| established_title1 = Initially [[Municipal Corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date2  = 1963
| established_title2 = Re-Incorporated
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 1.61
| area_total_sq_mi   = 0.62
| area_land_km2      = 1.61
| area_land_sq_mi    = 0.62
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00
| elevation_ft       = 1093
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 411
| population_metro   = 
| population_density_km2 = 255.21
| population_density_sq_mi = 660.77
| timezone           = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset         = -6
| coordinates        = {{coord|36|12|00|N|93|02|49|W|region:US-AR_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| timezone_DST       = CDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -5
| postal_code_type   = 
| postal_code        = 
| area_code          = 
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 05-04900
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2405236<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2405236}}</ref>
| footnotes          = 
| website            = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
| 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_05.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 29, 2021}}</ref>
}}
'''Bellefonte''' is a town in [[Boone County, Arkansas]], United States. The population was 530 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]]. It is part of the [[Harrison, Arkansas|Harrison]] [[Harrison micropolitan area|Micropolitan Statistical Area]]. Bellefonte gained national attention in 2013 when the city's mayor, James Wiggs, was recognized as the oldest active mayor in the United States at 90 years of age.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|1.5|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, all land.

===List of highways===

*[[Image:US 62 (1961).svg|20px]] [[Image:US 412.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 62 in Arkansas|US 62]]/[[U.S. Route 412 in Arkansas|US 412]]
*[[Image:US 65 (1961).svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 65]]
*[[File:Arkansas 206.svg|25px]] [[Arkansas Highway 206]]

==History==
The area known as Bellefonte was originally settled by a few families. The community expanded when two stores were established. The community got its name as campers noted the beautiful springs. It was suggested the area be called "Bellefonte", [[French language|French]] for "beautiful fountains."

As there were no church organizations in the settlement, services were originally held in private homes. Circuit riders generally provided the services.

Bellefonte grew rapidly by the second half of the 1860s. A post office was established.

By the early 1870s, what was referred to as "North Arkansas College" (not to be confused with the modern community college by the same name in [[Harrison, Arkansas]]) was founded and students from all over the state attended. In modern times, this would be considered a high school. A grade school was also established in Bellefonte around the same time.

Bellefonte continued to grow, becoming a large town. A number of businesses developed and a town square was built.  (By 1939, the town square was gone.)  Businesses included doctors' offices, drugstores, a livery stable, various general stores, a leather factory, saloons, a cotton gin and a flour mill.

When [[Boone County, Arkansas|Boone County]] was formed, Bellefonte was the largest town, larger than relatively new [[Harrison, Arkansas|Harrison]]. Bellefonte expected it should have the county seat. After arguing and a vote, Harrison ultimately won.

Bellefonte became an incorporated town in 1882. In that year it was also damaged by a significant fire due to buildings being close together. In the same year, the North Arkansas College building burned. Bellefonte stopped being an incorporated town after this great fire, not re-incorporating until 1963.<ref name="AREnc">{{cite encyclopedia | title=Bellefonte (Boone County) | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture | publisher=Central Arkansas Library System }}</ref>

By 1898 things had gotten better. Around 1901, the [[Missouri and North Arkansas Railroad]] ran through Bellefonte. This temporarily brought in business. There were various fires in 1912, which stifled Bellefonte until 1929 when things began to pick up a bit.

The Depression was directly felt in Bellefonte from 1930 to 1933. It took until 1935 for signs of relief.<ref>{{Citation
  | last = Stark
  | first = Louise
  | title = History of Bellefonte
  | journal = 
  | volume = 
  | issue = 
  | pages = 1–8
  | year = 1939 }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 296
|1970= 300
|1980= 393
|1990= 361
|2000= 400
|2010= 530
|2020= 411
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{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><br>2018 Estimate<ref name="2018 Pop Estimate">{{cite web|title=Population Estimates|url=https://census.gov/data/tables/2018/demo/popest/total-cities-and-towns.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=June 8, 2018}}</ref>
}}

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 2010, there were 530 people, 197&nbsp;households, and 124&nbsp;families residing in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|261.8|/km2|/mi2|disp=preunit|people|people|abbr=on}}. There were 173&nbsp;housing units at an average density of {{convert|113.2|/km2|/mi2|disp=preunit|units|units|abbr=on}}. The racial makeup of the town was 97.80% [[white people|white]] and 1.30% of [[two or more races]].

There were 157 households, out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.8% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65&nbsp;years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 29.3% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65&nbsp;years of age or older. The median age was 31&nbsp;years. For every 100&nbsp;females there were 90.5&nbsp;males. For every 100&nbsp;females age&nbsp;18 and over, there were 96.5&nbsp;males.

The median income for a household in the town was $27,917, and the median income for a family was $30,729. Males had a median income of $24,500 versus $18,000 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $12,958. About 13.7% of families and 18.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 32.4% of those under age&nbsp;18 and 3.6% of those age&nbsp;65 or over.

In modern times, Bellefonte first appeared in the US Census in 1970. It also appeared in 1880. This says nothing about when the community began; it merely identifies when it was recognized in the US Census.

==School district==
Bellefonte, along with [[Everton, Arkansas|Everton]] and [[Valley Springs, Arkansas|Valley Springs]], is within the [[Valley Springs School District]].<ref>{{Cite map
  |publisher = US Census Bureau
  |title = School District Reference Map (2010 Census): Boone County, AR
  |url = http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st05_ar/c05009_boone/DC10SD_C05009_001.pdf
  |accessdate = June 28, 2011 }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=7079 Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture entry]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121019102914/http://www2.census.gov/geo/pvs/bas/bas11/st05_ar/incplace/p0504900_bellefonte/BAS11P10500004900_001.pdf Map of Bellefonte] (US Census Bureau)
* [http://bchrs.org/ Boone County Historical and Railroad Society, Inc.]
* [http://local.arkansas.gov/local.php?agency=Bellefonte Town government information]
* [http://valley.k12.ar.us/ Valley Springs School District]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120525140201/http://censtats.census.gov/data/AR/1600504900.pdf Detailed 2000 US Census statistics]
* [http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st05_ar/c05009_boone/DC10SD_C05009_001.pdf Boone County School District Reference Map (US Census Bureau, 2010)]

{{Boone County, Arkansas}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Boone County, Arkansas]]
[[Category:Towns in Arkansas]]
[[Category:Harrison, Arkansas micropolitan area]]