Guide to Bellechester Minnesota

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).

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.

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.

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.

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
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
First Farmers & Merchants Bank 601 1st Street Bellechester, MN 55027 Phone: (651) 923-4900 Web: www.ffmbank.com
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


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Bellechester Minnesota Community Guide