Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
More historic than 91% of U.S. towns · #11 of 142 in Kentucky. What drives it
9 places in town are on the National Register, among them two historic districts with 1,105 buildings between them. Below: 3 old photos and papers, maps from 1898 on, and the census since 1880.
Bellevue dates its founding to 1870 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1880.
More historic than 91% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Bellevue is more historic than 91% of U.S. towns, #11 of 142 in Kentucky. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its age pulls it down.
Kentucky towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Kentucky town has 29.9 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Bellevue’s 2,383 sits above most of its state (100% of Kentucky towns have fewer) while its 1,343 historic buildings outnumber those of 99% of U.S. towns.
Founding year: Wikipedia (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.
National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.
The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Bellevue’s history is told.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Bellevue. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Bellevue.
From Wikipedia’s history of Bellevue.
Before Bellevue was founded, the area was used for hunting, fishing, and warfare by Native Americans tribes such as the Illini, Miami, Shawnee, Cherokee, and Tuscarora. In 1745, a three-day battle occurred in Bellevue among the Shawnee, Miami, and Cherokee Indians, resulting in many deaths.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
BuiltFoote-Fister Mansion is built
In the archive1940 Census Enumeration District Maps - Kentucky - Campbell County - Bellevue - ED 19-38 …BuiltSacred Heart Church is builtBuiltJoseph Seiter House is built
On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological SurveyBuiltBellevue High School is built
In the archiveQueen City Bathing Beach. Bellevue, Ky 1908
Born hereHomer Rice is born here2 decades in the archive, from the 1880s to the 1900s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.
2020Division Street
2020Division Street
2020Division Street
2020Center Street
2020Bellevue Barber Shop Sign
2019Bellevue, Kentucky from Mount Adams, Cincinnati, OH
2019Bellevue, Kentucky from Mount Adams, Cincinnati, OH
2019Bellevue, Kentucky from Mount Adams, Cincinnati, OH
2019Bellevue, Kentucky from Mount Adams, Cincinnati, OH
2013Big Mac
2008Bellevue-Kentucky
2008Bellevue-Kentucky-SignNo then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.
Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Bellevue’s page.
Retake this view · +15Peaked at 9,336 in 1960; 5,548 people lived here in 2020.
15 censuses, 1880–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Bellevue’s Wikipedia page.
Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.
Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.
In 1870, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. the census of 1880 counted 1,460 people here.
Bellevue is more historic than 91% of U.S. towns, #11 of 142 in Kentucky. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
9 listings: 7 buildings, among them the Sacred Heart Church (listed 1974, the first), and 2 historic districts, the Fairfield Avenue Historic District and the Taylor's Daughters Historic District, with 1,105 contributing buildings. 1,343 historic buildings in all.
64% of Bellevue’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±6.7 points), against a typical 5.9% for a Kentucky town; the median home was built in 1938.
What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (15), Wikidata (3), the National Register of Historic Places (9), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
1880