Belleville, KS

Belleville is the Republic County seat in north-central Kansas, built around a public square, two major highways, and the old Rock Island rail junction. The township was incorporated in 1869 and the city in 1878, taking the Belleville name from Arabelle Tutton, wife of an early town founder. The county courthouse on the square is the third courthouse on that site and the second to follow a fire; its 1939 Art Deco replacement still gives the center of town a distinct civic address. U.S. 36 and U.S. 81 meet nearby, which is why Belleville has carried the crossroads label for generations.

ATTRAmmodramus / CC0

The town’s other big local story is racing. Belleville High Banks began in the early twentieth century and became known for its half-mile dirt track and midget racing events. The High Banks Hall of Fame and National Midget Auto Racing Museum keeps that history close to the fairgrounds, while the Republic County Historical Museum and Boyer Museum add different pieces of the county’s past. The Belleville Telescope, started in 1870, is still part of the square’s long business history. County offices, schools, farm services, and highway traffic give Belleville a daily reach beyond its city limits.