Bellefontaine, Ohio

The name Bellefontaine means "beautiful spring" in French, and is purported to refer to several springs in the area.[http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=1897 Ohio History Central] However, locally, the original French pronunciation is not used, and it is pronounced "bell fountain."

Around 1777, the Shawnee war chief Blue Jacket (Weyapiersenwah) built a settlement here, known as "Blue Jacket's Town". Blue Jacket and his band had previously occupied a village along the Scioto River, but the American Revolutionary War had reached the Ohio Country. Blue Jacket and other American Indians who took up arms against the American revolutionaries relocated in order to be closer to their British allies at Detroit.

After the United States gained independence, its forces continued warfare against former Indian allies of the British. Blue Jacket's Town was destroyed in Logan's Raid, conducted by Kentucky militia in 1786 at the outset of the Northwest Indian War. The expedition was led by Benjamin Logan, namesake of Logan County. Blue Jacket and his followers relocated further northwest to the Maumee River.[http://publications.ohiohistory.org/ohstemplate.cfm?action=detail&Page=0012169.html&StartPage=167&EndPage=179&volume=12&newtitle=Volume%2012%20Page%20167 Ohio History, Vol. 12, pg 169] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429041622/http://publications.ohiohistory.org/ohstemplate.cfm?action=detail&Page=0012169.html&StartPage=167&EndPage=179&volume=12&newtitle=Volume%2012%20Page%20167 |date=2009-04-29 }}

Beginning in the 1800s, American Revolutionary War veterans and others from Virginia and elsewhere began settling in the area of Blue Jacket's Town. Bellefontaine is on or near the edge of the Virginia Military District, where the cash-poor government granted tracts of land to veterans in payment for their services during the war. The Treaty of Greenville defined lands to be held by European Americans as separate from those to be held by natives but it was poorly administered in the area and whites frequently encroached on native lands.

Bellefontaine was platted by European Americans in 1820 and incorporated by the legislature in 1835.[http://www.ci.bellefontaine.oh.us/html/history_of_bellefontaine.html History of Bellefontaine] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041012030246/http://www.ci.bellefontaine.oh.us/html/history_of_bellefontaine.html |date=2004-10-12 }}, City of Bellefontaine. Accessed 2009-10-31.{{gnis|1064407}}{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Bellefontaine|volume=3}}

In 1837, the Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad built the first railroad to Bellefontaine. This began its reputation as a railroading town. In the 1890s the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway (also called the Big Four Railroad) built a main terminal in the city. This terminal boasted the largest roundhouse between New York and St. Louis.{{cite book |last=Trostel |first=Scott D. |title=The Columbus Avenue Miracle: Bellefontaine, Ohio's WW II Serviceman's Free Canteen |year=2005 |publisher=Cam-Tech Publishing |isbn=0-925436-50-X }}

Though railroading hit hard times and the industry went through radical restructuring in the late 20th century, and the Big Four terminal ceased operations in 1983, Bellefontaine remains a landmark on America's railways. The city is now just a thoroughfare for CSX.

File:OldestConcreteStreet.JPG

In 1891, Bellefontaine became the location of the first concrete street in America. George Bartholomew invented a process for paving using Portland cement, which until then had been used in stone construction. A small section of Main Street, on the west side of the Logan County Courthouse, was the first to be paved using that process. When that proved successful, Court Avenue, which runs along the south side of the courthouse, was paved with concrete. While Main Street is now paved with asphalt, Court Avenue has retained its original concrete pavement for more than 100 years. At its centennial, the street was closed to vehicular traffic and a statue of Bartholomew placed at its Main Street end; it became a pedestrian way. Since then one lane has been reopened for eastbound traffic.

In 1979, Honda began manufacturing motorcycles in the nearby city of Marysville, Ohio. Since that time, Honda's operations in the Bellefontaine area have greatly expanded. Bellefontaine is a central location among Honda operations in Marysville, East Liberty, Russells Point, Anna, and Troy, Ohio. Honda is Bellefontaine's largest employer in the early 21st century.

U.S. Route 68 intersects with State Routes 47 and 540 in Bellefontaine. U.S. Route 33, a freeway that has interchanges with US 68 and SR 540, skirts the northern edge of the city.

File:Bellefontaine Summit.jpg bridge over U.S. Route 33 on the north side of the city, near Campbell Hill.]]

To European settlers, Campbell Hill was first known as Hogue's Hill, perhaps a misspelling of Solomon Hoge's surname, the person who first deeded the land in 1830. In 1898, the land was sold to Charles D. Campbell, in whose name Campbell Hill is now known. Campbell sold the hill and surrounding land to August Wagner.

In 1950, the family of August Wagner deeded Campbell Hill and the surrounding 57.5 acres to the U.S. government. The government stationed the 664th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron on the hill in 1951. This military unit was responsible for monitoring for possible aerospace attacks from the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The 664th AC&WS and similar military units were eventually superseded by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (or NORAD). The base in Bellefontaine was closed in 1969.

The Ohio Hi-Point Vocational-Technical District opened a school atop the hill in 1974. The school is now known as the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center.

In 2012 local real estate developer Small Nation purchased and renovated the former J.C. Penney building. Since then, the organization invested over $33 million in renovating over 56 downtown buildings and attracting new businesses to the area.{{Cite web|title=Downtown Bellefontaine nominated for HGTV series|url=http://www.peakofohio.com/news/details.cfm?id=298829|access-date=2020-10-21|website=Peak of Ohio}}{{Cite web|last=STAFF|first=BELLEFONTAINE EXAMINER|title=Thinking small yields big downtown expansion|date=February 29, 2020 |url=https://www.examiner.org/thinking-small-yields-big-downtown-expansion/|access-date=2020-10-21|language=en-US}} The investment into the properties created roughly 200 jobs in the city. In 2018, Bellefontaine was classified as an Opportunity Zone to further attract investors to the area.{{Cite web|title=Opportunity Zone {{!}} Logan County Chamber of Commerce|url=https://www.logancountyohio.com/ed-oz.html|access-date=2020-10-21|website=www.logancountyohio.com}} Neighboring areas have begun using Bellefontaine as a model to attract more investment in their own towns.{{Cite web|last=Sanctis|first=Matt|title=Urbana looks to Bellefontaine as model of redevelopment|url=https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/local/urbana-looks-bellefontaine-model-redevelopment/9VvjkEM3eoLEKZF3iVFAPO/|access-date=2020-10-21|website=springfield-news-sun|language=en}}

In 2022, Bellefontaine was named one of Ohio's Best Hometowns by Ohio Magazine for its downtown redevelopment efforts, thriving sense of community and appreciation for preserving local history.{{Cite web |last=Shiffler |first=Matt |title=Best Hometowns 2022: Bellefontaine |url=https://www.ohiomagazine.com/ohio-life/best-hometowns/article/best-hometowns-2022-bellefontaine |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=www.ohiomagazine.com |language=en}}

In 2022, Bellefontaine's Christmas parade included a drag queen and over 60 residents opposed their appearance at a City Council meeting,{{Cite web |date=2023-01-24 |title=Christmas parade dominates public comments |url=https://www.peakofohio.com/local-news/christmas-parade-dominates-public-comments |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=Peak of Ohio |language=en-US|author-first1=Kris|author-last1=Allen}} prompting drag queens and supporters attending a later council meeting in support.{{Cite web |last=Schneck |first=Ken |date=2023-01-25 |title=Ohioans show up in force to address city council to argue for drag queen, inclusion in holiday parade |url=https://thebuckeyeflame.com/2023/01/25/ohioans-show-up-in-force-to-address-city-council/ |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=The Buckeye Flame |language=en-US}} In 2023, the opposing residents began pushing for a city ordinance that would classify drag performances as ‘adult entertainment,' making it one of the first municipalities in Ohio to do so.{{Cite web |last=Kendall |first=Crawford |date=2023-06-14 |title=Bellefontaine's debate around drag queens |url=https://news.wosu.org/2023-06-14/one-ohio-rural-communitys-debate-around-drag-queens |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=WOSU News |language=en}} The Ohio Supreme Court unanimously ruled to remove the measure from the ballot when petitioners changed the ballot language after circulating petitions.{{Cite web |title=Election 2023: Ohio Supreme Court scraps proposed drag show ban from city's ballot |url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/politics/2023/10/09/ohio-supreme-court-scraps-proposed-drag-ban-from-bellefontaine-ballot/71117704007/ |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=The Columbus Dispatch |language=en-US}}

According to the 2010 census, the city has a total area of {{convert|10.04|sqmi}}, all land.{{cite web

|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/2010_place_list_39.txt

|title=2010 Census U.S. Gazetteer Files for Places – Ohio

|publisher=United States Census

|access-date=2012-10-19

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://timetravel.mementoweb.org/memento/2010/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/2010_place_list_39.txt

|archive-date=2016-07-02

}}

The city of Bellefontaine is at the convergence of the humid subtropical (Köppen Cfa) and humid continental (Köppen Dfa) climate zones according to the Köppen climate map. The region is characterized by four distinct seasons. Winters are cool to cold with mild periods, and summers are generally hot and muggy, with significant precipitation year-round. The city is too far south to experience lake effect snow from the Great Lakes region, however it does experience more snow than surrounding areas due to the city's elevation. Traditionally, Bellefontaine's elevation excludes it from tornadoes and floods that affect the majority of the Miami Valley.

{{Weather box

| single line = Y

| location = Bellefontaine, Ohio, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1894–present

|Jan record high F = 71

|Feb record high F = 72

|Mar record high F = 85

|Apr record high F = 90

|May record high F = 97

|Jun record high F = 101

|Jul record high F = 106

|Aug record high F = 104

|Sep record high F = 98

|Oct record high F = 90

|Nov record high F = 80

|Dec record high F = 71

|Jan avg record high F = 57.0

|Feb avg record high F = 60.5

|Mar avg record high F = 69.8

|Apr avg record high F = 78.6

|May avg record high F = 85.8

|Jun avg record high F = 90.7

|Jul avg record high F = 90.7

|Aug avg record high F = 89.4

|Sep avg record high F = 88.5

|Oct avg record high F = 81.3

|Nov avg record high F = 68.2

|Dec avg record high F = 59.7

|year avg record high F = 92.4

| Jan high F =33.5

| Feb high F =37.1

| Mar high F =47.5

| Apr high F =60.7

| May high F =71.3

| Jun high F =79.5

| Jul high F =82.6

| Aug high F =81.3

| Sep high F =76.0

| Oct high F =63.7

| Nov high F =49.9

| Dec high F =38.4

| Jan mean F =25.5

| Feb mean F =28.4

| Mar mean F =38.0

| Apr mean F =49.8

| May mean F =60.9

| Jun mean F =69.7

| Jul mean F =72.8

| Aug mean F =71.4

| Sep mean F =65.2

| Oct mean F =53.1

| Nov mean F =41.0

| Dec mean F =31.0

| Jan low F =17.6

| Feb low F =19.7

| Mar low F =28.5

| Apr low F =38.8

| May low F =50.6

| Jun low F =59.9

| Jul low F =63.0

| Aug low F =61.5

| Sep low F =54.4

| Oct low F =42.5

| Nov low F =32.1

| Dec low F =23.6

|Jan avg record low F = -4.4

|Feb avg record low F = 1.3

|Mar avg record low F = 10.0

|Apr avg record low F = 22.9

|May avg record low F = 35.5

|Jun avg record low F = 45.8

|Jul avg record low F = 52.5

|Aug avg record low F = 50.5

|Sep avg record low F = 40.5

|Oct avg record low F = 28.4

|Nov avg record low F = 17.5

|Dec avg record low F = 5.1

|year avg record low F = -7.7

|Jan record low F = -27

|Feb record low F = -21

|Mar record low F = -12

|Apr record low F = 9

|May record low F = 23

|Jun record low F = 34

|Jul record low F = 41

|Aug record low F = 38

|Sep record low F = 25

|Oct record low F = 11

|Nov record low F = -6

|Dec record low F = -22

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch =3.04

| Feb precipitation inch =2.46

| Mar precipitation inch =3.20

| Apr precipitation inch =4.11

| May precipitation inch =4.31

| Jun precipitation inch =4.96

| Jul precipitation inch =4.45

| Aug precipitation inch =3.90

| Sep precipitation inch =3.18

| Oct precipitation inch =2.82

| Nov precipitation inch =3.13

| Dec precipitation inch =3.08

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 14.5

|Feb precipitation days = 12.1

|Mar precipitation days = 12.7

|Apr precipitation days = 13.4

|May precipitation days = 13.6

|Jun precipitation days = 12.5

|Jul precipitation days = 10.6

|Aug precipitation days = 9.0

|Sep precipitation days = 9.4

|Oct precipitation days = 10.0

|Nov precipitation days = 10.5

|Dec precipitation days = 13.1

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00330563&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Bellefontaine, OH

|access-date = February 24, 2023

}}

|source 2 = National Weather Service

{{cite web

|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=iln

|publisher = National Weather Service

|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Cincinnati

|access-date = February 24, 2023

}}

}}

{{US Census population

|1820= 170

|1830= 266

|1840= 475

|1850= 1222

|1860= 2599

|1870= 3182

|1880= 3998

|1890= 4245

|1900= 6649

|1910= 8238

|1920= 9336

|1930= 9543

|1940= 9808

|1950= 10232

|1960= 11424

|1970= 11255

|1980= 11798

|1990= 12142

|2000= 13069

|2010= 13370

|2020= 14115

|estyear=2023

|estimate=14073

|estref=

|footnote=Sources:{{cite web|title=Number of Inhabitants: Ohio|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/37749282v1p37_ch02.pdf|date=1960|work=18th Census of the United States|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=26 April 2020 }}{{cite web|title=Ohio: Population and Housing Unit Counts|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-37.pdf|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=22 November 2013}}

}}

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,069 people, 5,319 households, and 3,436 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1491.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 5,722 housing units at an average density of {{convert|652.9|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 90.82% White, 5.13% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.93% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 2.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.12% of the population.

There were 5,319 households, of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the city the population was spread out, with 28.1% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,189, and the median income for a family was $43,778. The per capita income for the city was $20,917. About 19.9% of families and 23.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.9% of those under the age of 18 and 10.9% of those ages 65 and older.

As of the census{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2013-01-06}} of 2010, there were 13,370 people, 5,415 households, and 3,420 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1331.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 6,115 housing units at an average density of {{convert|609.1|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 90.1% White, 4.3% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.9% of the population.

There were 5,415 households, of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples living together, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.8% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.01.

The median age in the city was 34.8 years. 27.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.3% were from 25 to 44; 24.7% were from 45 to 64; and 12.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.

Bellefontaine is the center of the Bellefontaine Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. This micropolis consists solely of Logan County, Ohio. The 2000 census found 46,005 people in the micropolis, making it the 260th most populous such area in the United States. Among all U.S. statistical areas (CBSAs), the Bellefontaine micropolis ranks 622nd. In Ohio, the Bellefontaine micropolis is the 37th most populous CBSA, and the 21st most populous micropolitan statistical area.

By comparison, the least populous metropolitan area in the United States, Carson City, Nevada, has 52,457 residents. The least populous metropolitan area in Ohio is Sandusky, with 79,555 residents. The Bellefontaine micropolis is not as populous as these, but does have a greater population than some micropolitan statistical areas traditionally considered to be small regional cities. (Examples: El Dorado, Arkansas; Clovis, New Mexico; and Red Wing, Minnesota.)

Though official definitions of micropolitan statistical areas did not exist until 2003, the area now constituting the Bellefontaine micropolis grew in population by 8.7 percent between 1990 and 2000.

File:Bellefontaine-ohio-city-offices.jpg

Bellefontaine has an elected mayor and city council style of government.

• Mayor David A. Crissman (R) {{cite web|url=https://www.boe.ohio.gov/logan/c/upload/EO_City.pdf|website=Logan County Board of Elections|access-date=14 June 2024|title=City of Bellefontaine Elected Officials 2024}}

Bellefontaine City Council Members serve 2 year terms. The city has 4 wards and 3 At-Large seats.{{cite web|url=https://www.boe.ohio.gov/logan/c/upload/EO_City.pdf|website=Logan County Board of Elections|access-date=14 June 2024|title=City of Bellefontaine Elected Officials 2024}}

File:Saint Patrick Church (Bellefontaine, Ohio) - exterior in springtime.JPG

File:McKinley St worlds shortest.jpg

File:Bellefontaine-ohio-holland-theatre.jpg

• McKinley Street — Whether or not this is the shortest street in the world is a point of contention. The sign at the street's south end (at the intersection of Columbus Ave.) once made such a claim, although Ebenezer Place, in Wick, Scotland, has held the official record since November 2006.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/6101968.stm | work=BBC News | title=Street measures up to new record | date=2006-11-01 | access-date=2010-04-26}} The City of Bellefontaine's website places the length of McKinley Street at "about 20 feet", and while the city's website does not make the claim of the world's shortest street, it does cite McKinley Street as "the shortest street in America". The street sign's undersign reads "Shortest Street In America" as of May 2, 2020.
• Court Avenue - A small street in downtown, located adjacent to the Logan County Courthouse. It is known for being the first street in the United States to be paved with concrete.[http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/06/01/CONCRETE.ART_ART_06-01-08_B1_KRACA56.html?print=yes Cracked street's hereafter splits Bellefontaine] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523035426/http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/06/01/CONCRETE.ART_ART_06-01-08_B1_KRACA56.html?print=yes |date=2011-05-23 }}, The Columbus Dispatch, 2008-06-01. Accessed 2008-10-10.
• Holland Theater - This theater is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It opened in the 1930s as a live theater, but was later converted to a 5-screen megaplex before closing in 1998. In recent years, it has been reopened for live events and performances serving Bellefontaine and the surrounding area. In 2019, after extensive renovations lasting about a year, The Holland Theater was reopened for performances.
• Campbell Hill, the highest elevated point in Ohio.
• The first brokerage house of Edward D. Jones houses an office of the brokerage he started.
• First United Methodist Church, where preacher Norman Vincent Peale got his start.

The Logan County Historical Society and museum was first housed in the McBeth School, built in 1919 as the last of the four elementary schools to be built in Bellefontaine at the turn of the century. The building was sold at public auction in 1957 to the Church of God. In 1971 McBeth School was purchased by the Logan County Historical Society for use as the Logan County Historical Museum. The historical society eventually grew out of the 3-story building and moved to its current home closer to Downtown. McBeth School has been adapted for use as an apartment building."Logan County Historical Society," Published History of Logan County, 1982

Today the museum includes the Orr mansion, former home of the local Orr family; as well as an extension to the mansion that includes history exhibits from around the county. The Mansion portion of the building has been completely restored by the historical society. Day-to-day operations in the museum and The Logan County Historical Society are supported by a Logan County tax levy and donations received from visitors to the museum.

The Bellefontaine Regional Airport is located about 5 miles from the downtown business district. The airport replaced the Bellefontaine Municipal Airport in 2002 and is one of 2 new airports opened to the public in Ohio in the past 30 years.{{cite press release | title =AOPA's Boyer takes part in Ohio airport grand opening | publisher =Aircraft owners and Pilots Association (USA) | date = August 16, 2002 | url =http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2002/August/16/AOPAs-Boyer-takes-part-in-Ohio-airport-grand-opening | access-date =November 7, 2014 }}

U.S. 68 passes north-south through Bellefontaine. U.S. 33 passes through the north side of Bellefontaine. Ohio State Route 47 passes through the city.

Bellefontaine had been part of the New York Central Railroad's St. Louis - Indianapolis - Cleveland corridor of passenger trains.New York Central timetable, Tables 3, 4, 18, 19 https://streamlinermemories.info/NYC/NYC47-12TT.pdf Up to 1966, the New York Central ran the Southwestern Limited (St. Louis - New York City via Cleveland) through Bellefontaine. The city was also a crossing point for the New York Central's Detroit - Cincinnati trains. The last of these (Ohio Special southbound, Michigan Special northbound) ended in 1958 or 1959.New York Central timetable, October 1958, Table 24 The final train running through Bellefontaine, the Penn Central's Indianapolis - Cleveland remnant of the Southwestern Limited, ended in 1971, upon Amtrak taking up private companies' long distance passenger operations.

The Bellefontaine City Schools operate one elementary school, one intermediate school, one middle school, and one high school in the area.{{cite web |url=http://www.bellefontaine.k12.oh.us/index.php |title=Bellefontaine City Schools |access-date=2007-09-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013235456/http://www.bellefontaine.k12.oh.us/index.php |archive-date=13 October 2007 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} These schools have a combined enrollment of 2,840. In addition, the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center, located atop Campbell Hill, offers both secondary and post-secondary education. Enrolled at Ohio Hi-Point are 505 students. The neighboring Benjamin Logan Local School District campus also has a Bellefontaine address.

Several colleges and universities operate satellite campuses in the Bellefontaine area. These include:

• Ohio State University
• Urbana University
• Clark State Community College

Bellefontaine has a public library, a branch of Logan County Libraries.{{cite web | url=http://logancountylibraries.org/branches | title=Branches | publisher=Logan County Libraries | access-date=26 February 2018| date=2010-04-09 }}

The city is served by both print publishing and radio broadcasting.

The Bellefontaine Examiner is the daily local newspaper. It is the latest in a series of newspapers which have been published in Bellefontaine since 1831. It has a current daily circulation of approximately 9500 copies.{{Cite web | url=http://www.echo-media.com/MediaDetailNP.asp?IDNumber=7016 | title=Echo Media V3 Print Media Experts}}

Operating currently are WPKO, an FM radio station, WPKO HD2, a second FM radio station, and its sister station WBLL, an AM radio station. These stations are owned and operated by

V-Teck Communications.{{Cite web | url=http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=WPKO |title = FM Query Results -- Audio Division (FCC) USA}}

Two Christian radio stations WKEN, an FM radio station operating on FM frequency of 88.5 and WSOH, an FM radio station operating on FM frequency of 88.9. These stations are owned and operated by Soaring Eagle Promotions, Inc.{{Cite web|url=https://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=WKEN|title=FM Query Results -- Audio Division (FCC) USA|website=transition.fcc.gov|access-date=2017-11-28}}

File:Blue Jackets Town Historical Marker.jpg

• Matthew Anderson - member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and the Wisconsin State Senate
• George Bartholomew - inventor
• Sami Callihan - professional wrestler
• Julius Chambers - journalist and travel writer
• Bethany Dillon - singer
• Allan W. Eckert - author
• Jim Flora - artist
• Melville J. Herskovits - anthropologist
• Livingston Hopkins - cartoonist
• Kin Hubbard - cartoonist and journalist
• Blue Jacket "Weyapiersenwah" - Shawnee chief
• Edward D. Jones - investment banker
• Austin Eldon Knowlton - architect
• William Lawrence - politician (Republican)
• The Mills Brothers - singing group, spent their youth here.
• Don Otten - professional basketball player
• Virginia Sharpe Patterson - writer
• Norman Vincent Peale - minister and author
• Frederick Plum - 1920 olympian
• Ralph Lane Polk - publisher
• Ed Ratleff - professional basketball player
• Louie Vito - Olympic snowboarder
• Samuel D. Wonders - Engineer and businessman

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Commons category|Bellefontaine, Ohio}}

• [http://www.ci.bellefontaine.oh.us City website]

{{Logan County, Ohio}}

{{Ohio}}

{{Ohio county seats}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Cities in Ohio

Category:Cities in Logan County, Ohio

Category:County seats in Ohio

Category:Micropolitan areas of Ohio

Category:Populated places established in 1817

Category:1817 establishments in Ohio