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Bellechester Guide:
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Bellechester Minnesota Community Guide


Location:
Bellechester Minnesota population sign Location of Bellechester Minnesota

Population: 
 Bellechester (city) 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2000-2010 Change
Actual Percent
Population 199 220 110 172 175 +3 +0.17
Land Area (sq. mile) 26.10 0.35 0.32 0.32 0.31 -0.01 -3.13
Density (persons per sq. mile) 5.02 581.48 423.08 543.60 564.51 +20.91 +3.85
Housing Units 50 70 46 78 79 +1 +0.13
Households -- 68 45 78 75 -3 -3.85
Persons Per Household -- 3.34 2.44 2.38 2.33 -0.05 -2.10

Geography:

Bellechester is a city in Goodhue and Wabasha counties in the state of Minnesota. Most of Bellechester is in Goodhue County, with only a small part extending into Wabasha County. Goodhue County Roads 2 and 16 and Wabasha County Road 7 are the major routes in the community.  According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.31 square miles (0.80 km2), all of it land. The elevation is 1,112 ft (339 m).

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.


Demographics:

As of the census of 2010, there were 175 people, 75 households, and 47 families residing in the city. The population density was 564.5 inhabitants per square mile (218.0/km2). There were 79 housing units at an average density of 254.8 per square mile (98.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.9% White, 8.6% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.3% of the population. There were 75 households of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 10.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.3% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 16% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age in the city was 37.5 years. 24% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.7% were from 25 to 44; 25.8% were from 45 to 64; and 17.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 52.6% male and 47.4% female.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.


Visit The Minnesota History Shop!
Visit The Minnesota History Shop!

History:  

In the years between 1852 and 1862, possibly 50 families settled within a radius of ten miles of our present Bellechester.

The first priest, a young missionary by the name of Father Felix Tissot, said mass as early as 1859 in private homes.  In 1862, an important donation of 40 acres of land was made by a Mr. Frenier, to be used for church purposes.  The first small frame church was built in 1865 near the present church site.  The new stone church was built in 1877.  The old church was used as a school in 1881, the School Sisters of Notre Dame teaching 90 pupils.  In 1902, a new stone school was built.  When the Sisters could no longer staff the school, it was used for CCD classes and has since been torn down.
The first business place was started by Nicholas Heberin in 1871 and was a General Store and Saloon.

One of the first settlers, Mrs. Josephine Darcy came with her parents from Illinois in 1852.  Many of the first settlers came from New York and were from Ireland and Luxemburg.  When they arrived, friendly indians were to be seen now and then.

In 1909, Clay was discovered about a half mile east of the northern part of Bellechester.  This created a big boost to Bellechester.  The Red Wing Sewer Pipe purchased some  land there and took out the clay, which was shipped to Red Wing by rail.  The Chicago Great Western maintained a depot here at the time.  Cattle were also shipped out by rail in the years around 1915.   This created a ‘new’ town on the northern part of Bellechester.  The two parts were often referred to as New Town or New Bellechester and Old Town or Belle Chester.

Bellechester was supplied with electricity in 1924 by NSP.  The village became incorporated in October 1955 and was then referred to as Bellechester.  It supported four grocery stores and that many saloons and various other businesses from time to time.  The City now has a bank, elevator, garage, metal recycling operations, feed store and several other businesses.  St. Mary’s church is also still open.

Bellechester derived its name because it was partly in Belvidere township, in Goodhue County and partly in Chester township in Wabasha County with Highway 16 being the dividing line.  2010 census population figure was 175.  In 1994, with a small cities grant and other financing by FHA, a new water system was installed and the wastewater treatment ponds rebuilt.

Courtesy City of Bellechester

BELLECHESTER, a city with Wabasha County, located in Chester and Belvidere Townships, was incorporated as a village on October 5, 1955; its post office operated 1911-17, and as a rural branch, 1930-63; it had a station of the Chicago Great Western Railroad.

Courtesy Minnesota Historical Society

Looking east, Bellechester Minnesota, 1910
Looking east, Bellechester Minnesota, 1910
Courtesy Minnesota Historical Society


Visit The Bellechester Photo Gallery for more recent and historic area photos


Government:
Bellechester City Hall
299 Great Western Avenue
Bellechester MN 55027
Phone: (651) 923-4093

Regular Business Hours:
not available

City Council Meetings:
3rd Wednesday of the month at 6:00 pm


Web  Facebook  Wikipedia  Email  Google Map 
 
Title Term Ends Name and Address   Phone
Mayor 12/31/2022 Jody Gordon
616 Main Street
Bellechester MN 55027
Email (651) 380-5176
Clerk appointed Lisa Redepenning
299 Great Western Avenue
Bellechester MN 55027
Email (651) 923-4093
Council Member 12/31/2022 Mark A. Gerken
30 1st Street
Bellechester MN 55027
  (651) 923-5670
Council Member 12/31/2022 Richard S. Majerus
410 1st Street
Bellechester MN 55027
  (651) 923-4432
Council Member 12/31/2024 Kyle Blattner
101 Chester Avenue
Bellechester MN 55027
  (651) 380-9648
Council Member 12/31/2024 Jered Buxengard
311 2nd Street
Bellechester MN 55027
  (651) 764-0785

Post Office:     none - served by Goodhue Post Office
US Post Office
205 N Broadway
Goodhue, MN
55027-9205
Phone:
(651) 923-4650

Regular Business Hours:
Week Days       8:30 am - 11:15 am
                        12:15 pm - 4:30 pm  
Saturday           8:30 am - 10:30 am

Web  Google Map 
US Post Office

Utilities:
Utility Type Utility Name Utility Phone
Electricity Xcel Energy (800) 848-7558
Natural Gas n/a --
Wastewater n/a --
Water City of Bellechester (651) 923-4093
Telephone Sleepy Eye Telephone Company (651) 923-5005
Cable TV n/a --

Major Employers:
Employer Products/Services Employees

n/a



News:
feedwidget @ Surfing Waves

Weather:

BELLECHESTER WEATHER


Map:

Minnesota State Highway Map of the Bellechester Minnesota area
Minnesota State Highway Map of the Bellechester Minnesota area


Events:

none


Check Out The Minnesota History Shop! Good Goods and Great Gifts!
Minnesota History Shop

Attractions:

none


Recreation:

none


Lakes:
Lake Name Size
(acres)
Lake info Lake Map Rec Map Topo Map

none in the immediate area


Health Care:

none


Schools:

none


Churches:
Rolling Meadows Mennonite Church
2 miles north of Bellechester on County 2
Bellechester, MN 55027
Phone: (651) 923-4240

Pastor:  Aaron Witmer
Sunday Worship:  11:00 am

 
St. Mary's Catholic Church
221 Chester Avenue
Bellechester, MN 55027
Phone:(651) 923-4305

Web: www.holytrinitygoodhue.org

Pastor:  Father Randal Kasel
Sunday Mass:  8:45 am

St. Mary's Catholic Church, Bellechester Minnesota

Media:

none


Motels:

none


Resorts:

none


Campgrounds:

none


Businesses:
Ag Partners Co-op
401 Great Western Avenue
Bellechester, MN 55027
Phone: (651) 923-4453
Web: www.agpartners.net
Bellechester American Legion Post 598
Bellechester, MN 55027
Phone: n/a
American Legion
Bellechester City Office
299 Great Western Avenue
Bellechester, MN 55027
Phone: (651) 923-4093
 
Bellechester Community Center
101 1st Street
Bellechester, MN 55027
Phone: (651) 923-4416
Bellechester Tavern
616 Main Street
Bellechester, MN 55027
Phone: (651) 380-5176
Bellechester Tavern
First Farmers & Merchants Bank
601 1st Street
Bellechester, MN 55027
Phone: (651) 923-4900
Web: www.ffmbank.com
First Farmers & Merchants Bank
G B Feed & Supply
303 Great Western Avenue
Bellechester, MN 55027
Phone: (651) 923-4425
 
Healing God's Way
610 Red Wing Avenue
Bellechester, MN 55027
Phone: (651) 923-5700
 
Healing Journey Massage
309 1st Street
Bellechester, MN 55027
Phone: n/a
 
Majerus Garage & Oil Company
602 Main Street
Bellechester, MN 55027
Phone: (651) 923-4195
 
North Star Construction & Excavating
409 1st Street
Bellechester, MN 55027
Phone: (651) 923-5048
 
Poncelet Insurance Agency
605 2nd Street
Bellechester, MN 55027
Phone: (651) 923-4115
 
Poncelet Metals
201 Chester Avenue
Bellechester, MN 55027
Phone: (651) 923-4074
 

Aerial Photo:  


Topographic Map:   [click map to enlarge, zoom in or zoom out]

Topographic map of the Bellechester Minnesota area
Topographic map is courtesy of the Minnesota DNR - click map to zoom or enlarge

 

 

 
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