Bellville is a city in the U.S. state of
Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...
and the seat of
Austin County
Austin County is a rural, agricultural dominated county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 30,167. Its seat is Bellville. The county and region was settled primarily by German emigrants in the 1800s.
Austin ...
. The city's population was 4,206 at the 2020 census.
Bellville is on the eastern edge of the Texas-German belt, and Bellville is known for its German culture and descendants of those Germans still call Bellville home. Bellville was named for
Thomas B. Bell, one of
Stephen F. Austin
Stephen Fuller Austin (November 3, 1793 – December 27, 1836) was an American-born empresario. Known as the "Father of Texas" and the founder of Anglo Texas,Hatch (1999), p. 43. he led the second and, ultimately, the successful colonization ...
's
earliest colonists, after he and his brother donated land for the new county seat established by voters in 1846.
San Felipe had been the county seat before the war for independence.
State Highway 36 and
State Highway 159 intersect at Bellville, as do
FM 529, FM 1456, and FM 242.
Geography
Bellville is located in Northern Austin County at (29.947225, –96.258657).
Sealy, along
Interstate 10
Interstate 10 (I-10) is the southernmost cross-country highway in the American Interstate Highway System. I-10 is the fourth-longest Interstate in the United States at , following I-90, I-80, and I-40. This freeway is part of the originally pl ...
, is to the south,
Hempstead is to the northeast, and
Brenham is to the northwest. Downtown
Houston
Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 in ...
is to the southeast via Sealy and Interstate 10.
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, Bellville has a total area of , all of it land.
Demographics
As of the
2020 United States census
The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...
, there were 4,206 people, 1,614 households, and 923 families residing in the city.
As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...
of 2000, there were 3,794 people, 1,425 households, and 966 families living in the city. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...
was 1,452.0 people per square mile (561.3/km
2). There were 1,566 housing units at an average density of 599.3 per square mile (231.7/km
2). The racial makeup of the city was 81.89%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...
, 11.68%
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.40%
Native American, 0.34%
Asian
Asian may refer to:
* Items from or related to the continent of Asia:
** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia
** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia
** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 3.95% from
other races
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 1.74% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...
or
Latino
Latino or Latinos most often refers to:
* Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America
* Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States
* The people or cultures of Latin America;
** Latin A ...
of any race were 11.97% of the population.
There were 1,425 households, out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% were
married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.2% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.4% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $40,806, and the median income for a family was $49,730. Males had a median income of $36,719 versus $21,685 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
for the city was $17,671. About 4.5% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 7.9% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Bellville Independent School District
Bellville Independent School District is a public school district based in Bellville, Texas ( USA). In addition to Bellville, the district also serves the city of Industry as well as rural areas in northern Austin County.
Finances
As of the 2 ...
serves Bellville.
Schools
*
Bellville High School (Grades 9–12)
* Bellville Junior High School (Grades 6–8)
* O'Bryant Intermediate School (4–5)
* O'Bryant Primary School (PK–3)
* West End Elementary School (K–5)
* Faith Academy of Bellville (PK–12)
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. The
Köppen Climate System describes the weather as
humid subtropical
A humid subtropical climate is a zone of climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between latitudes 25° and 40° ...
, and uses the abbreviation ''Cfa''.
Climate Summary for Bellville, Texas
/ref>
Notable people
* Beau Bell
Roy Chester "Beau" Bell (August 20, 1907 – September 14, 1977) was an American professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1935 to 1941 for the St. Louis Browns, Detroit Tigers, and Cleveland Indians. Bell ...
, Major League Baseball player
* Juke Boy Bonner
Weldon H. Philip Bonner, better known as Juke Boy Bonner (March 22, 1932 – June 29, 1978) was an American blues singer, harmonica player, and guitarist. He was influenced by Lightnin' Hopkins, Jimmy Reed, and Slim Harpo. He accompanied himsel ...
Blues musician
* William Crump, first Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives following statehood
* Johnny Holland
Johnny Ray Holland (born March 11, 1965) is an American gridiron football coach and former player. He is the linebackers coach for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). Holland played in the NFL as a linebacker for the ...
, NFL linebacker and coach
* Ernie Koy
Ernest Anyz Koy (September 17, 1909 – January 1, 2007), nicknamed "Chief", was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball, who played for four National League teams from 1938 to 1942. He was born in Sealy, Texas and was of American ...
, Major League Baseball player
* Ernie Koy Jr.
Ernest Melvin Koy (born October 22, 1942) is a former American football running back for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). , NFL player
* Ted Koy
Ted Koy (born September 15, 1947 in Bellville, Texas) is an American football former tight end for the Buffalo Bills and Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was drafted out of the University of Texas by the Raiders in the 1970 N ...
, NFL player
* Lucas Luetge, MLB pitcher
* Leo Meyer, elected as mayor of Bellville in 1895, later moved to Oklahoma where he became the first Jewish-Oklahoman elected to statewide public office
* Emmanuel Sanders
Emmanuel Niamiah Sanders (born March 17, 1987) is a former American football wide receiver who played 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU, and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third ...
, NFL wide receiver
* David Smith, reality television show contestant
* Doug Supernaw
Douglas Anderson Supernaw (September 26, 1960November 13, 2020) was an American country music artist. After several years performing as a local musician throughout the state of Texas, he signed with BNA Records in 1993.
Supernaw released four st ...
, country music artist
Photo Gallery
File:Austin County Old Jail and Museum Bellville Wiki (1 of 1).jpg, Historic old jail and museum in Bellville
File:Bellville TX Old Jail Marker.JPG, State historical marker at the old jail
File:Bellville TX City Hall.JPG, City Hall building on Holland and Luhn Streets
File:Bellville TX City Hall Marker.JPG, Historical marker in front of City Hall
File:Bellville TX Library.JPG, Bellville public library at Holland and Palm Streets
File:Bellville TX Hospital.JPG, Bellville St. Joseph Health Center on Palm Street
File:Bellville TX St Marys Church.JPG, St. Mary's Episcopal Church on Main Street
File:Austin County Courthouse Bellville Wiki (1 of 1).jpg, Austin County Courthouse
File:Downtown Bellville 5 Wiki (1 of 1).jpg, Downtown Bellville
File:Downtown Bellville 6 Wiki (1 of 1).jpg, Downtown Bellville
References
External links
City of Bellville official website
Bellville Chamber of Commerce
Handbook of Texas Online article
{{authority control
Cities in Texas
Cities in Austin County, Texas
County seats in Texas
Greater Houston