Belpre, Ohio
Belpre (historically spelled Belpré; pronounced /ˈbɛlpri/ BEL-pree) is a city in Washington County, Ohio, United States, along the Ohio River across from Parkersburg, West Virginia. The population was 6,728 at the 2020 census. Its name derives from "Belle Prairie" (French for "beautiful meadow"), the name given to the valley by French trappers prior to the first American settlement at the site.
Belpre, Ohio | |
|---|---|
The Captain Jonathan Stone House (1799) is the oldest existing building in Belpre. | |
| Motto(s): "Excellent Community, Excellent People" | |
Location of Belpre, Ohio | |
Location of Belpre in Washington County | |
| Coordinates: 39°17′10″N 81°36′45″W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Ohio |
| County | Washington |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Susan J. Abdella (R) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.57 sq mi (9.24 km2) |
| • Land | 3.48 sq mi (9.03 km2) |
| • Water | 0.08 sq mi (0.21 km2) |
| Elevation | 659 ft (201 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 6,728 |
| • Density | 1,930.56/sq mi (745.42/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 45714 |
| Area code | 740 |
| FIPS code | 39-05424 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1087127 |
| Website | https://www.cityofbelpre.com/ |
Belpre was the second settlement founded in the Northwest Territory after Marietta. The city is home to the first library established in the Territory. Its public school hired the first female schoolteacher in Ohio. Part of the Marietta micropolitan area, the city is located about 14 miles (22 km) downriver from Marietta. In 1870, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad completed the Parkersburg Bridge (CSX) across the river; at 7,140 feet (2,180 m), it was reportedly the longest in the world.