Bellefonte is a

ghost town Ghost Town(s) or Ghosttown may refer to: * Ghost town, a town that has been abandoned Film and television * ''Ghost Town'' (1936 film), an American Western film by Harry L. Fraser * ''Ghost Town'' (1956 film), an American Western film by All ...

in Jackson County,

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = "Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County , LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham , area_total_km2 = 135,765 ...

, United States, near the site of the

Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station The Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station (BLN) is an unfinished nuclear power plant in Hollywood, Alabama, United States. History A total of four nuclear reactors (two originally; and two of new designs), have been proposed for the site over a ...

. It is located roughly two miles southeast of

Hollywood, Alabama Hollywood is a town in Jackson County, Alabama, Jackson County, northeast Alabama, United States. In 2020, the census showed a population of 981 residents. Hollywood is considered a suburb of Scottsboro, Alabama, Scottsboro, the county seat. The ...

Demographics

Bellefonte was listed on the 1860 and 1870 U.S. Census rolls. In 1860, it was the most populous (and only) incorporated community in Jackson County with 181 persons (of whom 173 were White, and 8 were "Free Colored"; no slaves were recorded.)

History

Bellefonte was settled in the early 19th century and incorporated on December 15, 1821,A Digest of the Laws of the State of Alabama: Containing The Statutes and Resolutions in Force at the end of the General Assembly in January, 1823. Published by Ginn & Curtis, J. & J. Harper, Printers, New-York, 1828. Title 62. Chapter LXIII. Page 839
"An Act to Incorporate the Town of Belle-Fonte, in the County of Jackson.—Passed December 15, 1821." (Google Books)
/ref> when it had nearly 200 residents. Its name was a subjective description consisting of the French words "belle", meaning "beautiful," and "fonte", meaning "fount." It was the Jackson County seat from 1821 to 1868, when it was relocated to Scottsboro. During the 1820s, a courthouse and church were constructed. A post office was established in 1830. By 1844, the population had grown to 400. The town suffered severe damage during the

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...

. The post office was closed in 1859. Bellefonte was used as a supply depot and mustering site during the

Cherokee removal Cherokee removal, part of the Trail of Tears, refers to the forced relocation between 1836 and 1839 of an estimated 16,000 members of the Cherokee Nation and 1,000–2,000 of their slaves; from their lands in Georgia, South Carolina, North Caroli ...

. The relocation of the county seat in 1868 drew off business from town. This town rapidly lost population, dropping off the census rolls by 1880. The town was abandoned by the 1920s. All that remains of Bellefonte today are the cemetery, the chimney of the local

inn Inns are generally establishments or buildings where travelers can seek lodging, and usually, food and drink. Inns are typically located in the country or along a highway; before the advent of motorized transportation they also provided accommo ...

, and piles of scattered bricks.Foscue, Virginia. ''Place Names in Alabama''. University: U of Alabama Press, 1989.

References

Ghost towns in Alabama Populated places in Jackson County, Alabama Populated places established in 1821 Destroyed cities 1821 establishments in Alabama Ghost towns in the United States {{US-ghost-town-stub