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The City of Bellbrook was settled in 1816 and was
named for one of its founders, Stephen Bell, who helped plat part of
what is now the “old village” area. The second part of the city’s name
undoubtedly refers to the many local waterways including Little
Sugarcreek, Sugarcreek and the Little Miami River which enhance the
local scenery.
The city first attained a population of over 5,000 when in 1970,
Bellbrook annexed a large part of western Sugarcreek Township. This
led to official city status in 1974 and the largest percentage
increase in population in the state from 1970 to 1980 (308%). With the
completion of a County sanitary sewer system and under the City’s more
comprehensive development controls, Bellbrook began growing again in
1979. Over 1000 new housing units have been built since that time and
the 26% increase in population between the 1980 and 1990 census was
the highest in the Miami Valley. As of the 2000 census, Bellbrook’s
current population is 7,009.
Bellbrook is proud of its well-planned and desirable new neighborhoods
which offer a range of housing from custom built single family homes
on large lots to luxury apartment and condominium units. The City’s
focus on encouraging quality development resulted in the largest
appreciation in home values in the state during the 10 years from 1978
to 1988 – a 115% increase in valuation. Also noteworthy has been the
construction of new housing developments in the downtown area which
help support the many new restaurants and specialty shops in the old
village business district.
Bellbrook is unique in Ohio because out of over 250 cities in the
state, it is one of approximately five (5) cities which do not levy a
local income tax; Bellbrook is one of even fewer full service cities
without such a tax. Bellbrook also ranks near the bottom in a survey
on local government costs. Yet in spite of the low tax burden, the
services provided by Bellbrook’s Fire, Police and Service Departments
rank among the best of any municipality in southwest Ohio, regardless
of size.
Bellbrook’s Fire Department provides some of the best small city fire
and paramedic services in the state using a combination of full time,
part time and volunteer firefighter/paramedics with round-the-clock
staffing working 24/48 schedules. With the acquisition of a new state
of the art fire engine in 2003 combined with the existing fleet of
fire fighting apparatus and medics, the Bellbrook Fire Department will
undoubtedly maintain it’s reputation as one of the best small city
departments in the state and help improve upon the excellent citywide
Class 3 ISO rating.
The Police Department helps keep Bellbrook’s crime rate at the lowest
level in the area through a combination of comprehensive neighborhood
patrol, neighborhood and business watch programs and a wide range of
public education programs including D.A.R.E., The Citizen’s Police
Academy and the very successful National Night Out Against Crime, held
in five neighborhoods this past August. The Police Department is
staffed by very qualified and experienced personnel, well-trained on a
wide range of topics, including homeland security issues.
The Service Department is responsible for all of the City’s public
works including the operation of the 9,200 customer water system which
serves all of Bellbrook and portions of Sugarcreek Township and
includes the former Greene County system which was purchased by
Bellbrook in 1981. The water system operates on automated controls and
is comprised of four elevated storage tanks which provide high quality
drinking water to City and township residents. The Service Department
also provides some of the best snow removal services in the area and
administers an annual street maintenance program.
Bellbrook also owns the Bellbrook Historic Museum, Winter’s Library
and over thirty (30) parcels of parkland and open space throughout the
community including the charming “turn-of-the-century” Bellbrock Park
in the old village, the large playfields at Sackett-Wright Park east
of town and the basketball and tennis courts at Petrikis Park along SR
725.
The legislative and policy-making body of the City is comprised of a
Mayor and six Council members elected at large on a non-partisan
basis. The Council hires a professional city manager who operates the
city on a day-to-day basis. The City is proud of its efforts to
provide the best possible services at the lowest possible cost.
Finally, the Bellbrook City Council has placed strong emphasis on
zoning and property maintenance to avoid the typical suburban sprawl
evident all around us and to maintain the high property values in both
owner-occupied and rental units throughout the city. The City is also
working hard to continue the revitalization of the downtown “old
village” business district by investing over $5.5 million in downtown
capital projects since 1996 and by encouraging the success of the new
restaurants and small retail shops while helping to maintain the old
fashioned charm of the area.
Bellbrook is truly a community which combines
old-fashioned country charm with the best in modern
and efficient city services. |
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For more information on the History of
Bellbrook, visit our Historical Museum at 42 N Main
St. The Museum is open Saturdays 12pm-5pm. |
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Updated
11/24/09 |
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