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BvernonpaPhoto: VitaleBaby · Public domain
–Not graded
History · Belle Vernon

Belle Vernon dates to 1813, and 38% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: 2 old photos and papers, maps from 1895 on, and the census since 1870.

1813founded
0on the National Register
38%homes built before 1940
2old photos & papers
6famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Belle Vernon’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Belle Vernon began

When was Belle Vernon founded?

1813

Belle Vernon dates its founding to 1813 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1870.

First census: 906 in 18702020 census: 1,024213 years
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1824.The full story ↓

What stands out about Belle Vernon’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenOnly 2 old photos are in the public archives. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 19023 editions of the USGS map, 1902 to 1940. Watch Belle Vernon change.Boom and bustPeaked at 2,489 in 1930; 1,024 people lived here in 2020.Mapped building by building5 fire insurance maps, 1895 to 1918, drew every building in Belle Vernon.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Belle Vernon’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Belle Vernon’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
2 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Retake an old viewBelle Vernon, Pennsylvania, 1902: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
On the map

Belle Vernon on the map, 1902 to 1940

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Belle Vernon. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Belle Vernon on the 1902 USGS mapBelle Vernon on the 1931 USGS mapBelle Vernon on the 1940 USGS map1902Brownsville sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Belle Vernon.

People over time

Belle Vernon, census by census

05001,0001,5002,0002,50018801900192019401960198020002020Peak: 2,489

Peaked at 2,489 in 1930; 1,024 people lived here in 2020.

16 censuses, 1870–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Belle Vernon’s Wikipedia page.

The story

How Belle Vernon came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Belle Vernon.

Read it all →

Noah Speers was the father of Louis M. Speers, born in a log cabin on the Speers homestead/Gibsonton farm in 1810. The younger Speers played a large role in the development of Belle Vernon. During his lifetime, the population grew to about 700, and there was a steam ferry connecting Belle Vernon with Allen Township across the river. The little hamlet boasted five dry goods stores, four groceries, two glasshouses with 87 employees, a boot and shoe, cabinet, chair, wagon, saddle/harness, blacksmith/tanning shops, and two sawmills. Louis Speers owned a sandbank outside of town which produced the best quality glass sand. He also owned a large coal works and a large boat yard with more than 50 employees. Louis resided on the northwest corner of Main and 2nd streets.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Belle Vernon, 1813 to 1961

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1813
    FoundingBelle Vernon is established
  3. 1824Post officeThe Bellvernon post office opens
  4. 1842Post officeThe Bellvernon post office closes
  5. 1842Post officeThe Belle Vernon post office opens
  6. 1895Born hereHarold Hess is born here
  7. 20th century
  8. 1902In the archiveBelle Vernon, Pennsylvania, 1902
  9. 1902On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  10. 1923In the archiveBelle Vernon PA Presby Ch PHS48
  11. 1930Born hereFrank Mascara is born here
  12. 1930Born hereBert Rechichar is born here
  13. 1930CensusPopulation peaks at 2,489
  14. 1961Born hereBill Contz is born here
By decade

Belle Vernon, decade by decade

2 decades in the archive, from the 1900s to the 1920s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1900s–1920s2 items
Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania, 19021902Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania, 1902Belle Vernon PA Presby Ch PHS481923Belle Vernon PA Presby Ch PHS48
1930s–1990snothing yet
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Add from your album
Today5 recent
Belle Vernon 20142014Belle Vernon 2014Jonathan Davis2013Jonathan DavisBrian "Head" Welch, Love & Death2013Brian "Head" Welch, Love & DeathBrian "Head" Welch, Belle Vernon, PA (15 May 2013)2013Brian "Head" Welch, Belle Vernon, PA (15 May 2013)Bvernonpa2010Bvernonpa
Every building

Belle Vernon, building by building, 1895–1918

Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.

Belle Vernon fire insurance map, 1895, sheet 21895Sheet 2 of 4
Edition
BrickWoodStone

Sanborn Map Company, via the Library of Congress. Editions published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania, 1902
Retake this viewBelle Vernon, Pennsylvania, 1902, 1902

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Belle Vernon’s page.

Retake this view · +15
Famous people

6 famous people were born in Belle Vernon

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
Frank MascaraAmerican politician · b. 1930
Bert RechicharAmerican football player · b. 1930
H
Harold HessAmerican football player and coach, basketball … · b. 1895
Bill ContzAmerican football player · b. 1961
M
Merl ConditAmerican football player · b. 1917
Dorian JohnsonAmerican football player · b. 1994
Places that used to be

Lost post offices

Belle Vernon’s post office has been open since 1842. Another post office, Bellvernon, opened and closed inside today’s town.

Bellvernon
1824–1842
Belle Vernon
1842–today
18201920today

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

North Belle VernonIts storyBWashington Township1 historic placeALynnwood-PricedaleIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townRostraver TownshipIts storyB−

Questions about Belle Vernon’s history

What year was Belle Vernon founded?

In 1813, according to Wikidata. Belle Vernon’s post office opened in 1824, and the census of 1870 counted 906 people here.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

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). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (7), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.