Belleville, Ontario, is a charming city nestled on the eastern end of Lake Ontario. It's strategically located at the mouth of the Moira River and on the Bay of Quinte, making it a picturesque destination for tourists. With a population of 55,071 as of the 2021 Canadian census, Belleville is a bustling hub in the heart of Hastings County.
Belleville's history dates back to its first settlement, originally named Singleton's Creek after an early settler, George Singleton. The settlement later became known as Meyer’s Creek, named after John Walden Meyers, a prominent settler and industrialist. In 1816, the settlement was renamed Belleville in honor of Lady Annabella Gore, who visited with her husband, colonial administrator Sir Francis Gore.
Belleville's growth was significantly influenced by Henry Corby, a merchant who arrived in 1832. He founded the H. Corby Distillery and was instrumental in promoting the municipality. Belleville became an incorporated village in 1836 and a town in 1850. The city's growth was further boosted with the completion of the Grand Trunk Railway in 1856.
Belleville was legally incorporated as a city in 1877. In 1998, it was amalgamated with the surrounding Township of Thurlow, forming an expanded City of Belleville as part of Ontario-wide municipal restructuring.
Belleville is situated between the cities of Quinte West and Napanee. It's connected by Ontario's Highway 2 and the Macdonald-Cartier Freeway (Highway 401). Belleville is located in a transitional zone, considered part of either the Central Ontario or Eastern Ontario regions by different sources.
Belleville comprises a number of villages and hamlets, including Bayshore, Cannifton, Corbyville, Foxboro, Frink Centre, Gilead, Halloway, Honeywell Corners, Latta, Loyalist, Philipston, Plainfield, Pointe Anne, Roslin, Thrasher's Corners, Thurlow, Thurlow South, and Zion Hill.
Belleville experiences four distinct seasons, with its traditional humid continental climate moderated by its proximity to Lake Ontario. The city's winter snowfall is somewhat limited due to the increased frequency of precipitation falling as rain during the winter months.
Belleville's population is primarily of European descent. The city is linguistically diverse, with residents speaking English, French, Gujarati, Punjabi, Spanish, and Chinese as their mother tongues. As of 2021, 53.4% of residents are Christian, while 42.1% are non-religious or secular.
Belleville is home to several theatres, including the Pinnacle Playhouse, The Empire Theatre, Moonpath Productions, and the Quinte Ballet School of Canada. The city also hosts numerous annual events, such as the Downtown Docfest, Quinte Trash Bash, Belleville's Canada D'Eh, and the Belleville Festival of Trees.
Belleville is serviced by the 401 highway system, and bus service to and from Toronto Pearson International Airport is provided by Megabus. The city is also located on the Toronto-Montreal main rail lines for both Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway.
Belleville has three sister city arrangements with communities outside of Canada, including Lahr, Baden-Württemberg, Germany; Gunpo, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea; and Zhucheng, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
