About Us

Bellevue is a 4th Class City established in 1870 with a population of 6,480.  Situated in extreme northern Campbell County.  Newport borders the west side, Dayton is to the east, Fort Thomas to the south and the Ohio River borders the north.  Cincinnati, Ohio is directly across the river.  The City takes pride in its history and has an abundance of wonderful architecture.

History

It is believed that the City of Bellevue was named from the farm of General James Taylor, the Revolutionary War hero, who came here from Virginia bringing a large contingent of settlers with him.  His farm was named Bellevue and was located on land, which in now Newport and Bellevue.  His mansion still sits on East Third Street in Newport.  The name Bellevue was named after the General's family plantation in Virginia, which derived its name from a nearby creek.

General Taylor named most of the streets in Bellevue.  Berry Avenue was already named upon arrival of General Taylor and thus remained.  But coming east through Bellevue, Lafayette Avenue was named for the French nobleman who served with the American forces in the Revolutionary War; Taylor Avenue was named for the Taylor family; Washington Avenue was named for the father of our country.  General Taylor had four daughters who married men by the names of Foote, Ward, Van Voast and O'Fallon, which accounts for the names of the next four streets to the City's eastern boundary.

By the 1890's Bellevue was bustling.  Balke's Opera House at Berry and Fairfield Avenues served as the town hall and firehouse.  A city directory listed 15 grocery stores, 4 bakeries, 6 boot makers, 7 confectioneries, 2 livery stables, a blacksmith, 3 millenaries, 6 doctors, 7 saloons and a wagon manufacturer.

The City also featured a hotel, the Bellevue Hotel at Fairfield and O'Fallon; a gas company, Bellevue Water and Fuel Company at 190 Fairfield Avenue and two undertakers; Louis Betz at 104 O'Fallon Avenue and John Cunningham at 135 Fairfield Avenue.

Bellevue also had several churches to accommodate the early residents.  St. Anthony on Poplar Street was for English speaking Catholics; Sacred Heart on Taylor Avenue was for German speaking Catholics; the Christian Church, which met in the council chambers while its building at Poplar and Ward was under construction, and Calvary Methodist on Poplar Street.

Throughout the history of the City, Fairfield Avenue has been the commerce area.  In 1894, Bellevue city fathers published a brochure in an effort to bring more settlers to the City.  It described Fairfield Avenue as follows: "Fairfield Avenue, running east and west through the entire town, is the principal business thoroughfare, and business houses are kept well stocked with the latest and best of everything in all branches of trade.

In the 1980's the City of Bellevue was in an economic decline both in core housing and in the Fairfield Avenue business district.  Historic Preservation was the impetus, which fostered new economic development into the City.  Since 1987 there has been a total of seven million dollars invested into Bellevue and over 200 jobs created.