Moving To Belleville

Belleville is a flourishing community that offers the advantages of both small-town life and big-city convenience.

Schools

• Families can choose from many educational options, including public and parochial schools in both elementary and secondary education.
• Higher education in the Belleville area includes renowned public, private and community colleges and universities, including:
  • Southwestern Illinois College, a two-year community college in Belleville
  • Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
  • McKendree College, a four-year private liberal arts college in neighboring Lebanon, Ill.

Sports and Recreation
The Belleville area is the sports and outdoor enthusiast’s paradise, offering a wide range of activities and programs for residents of all ages.

Professional sports – Residents are a 20-minute drive from major league baseball, football and hockey with the St. Louis Cardinals, Rams and Blues. Even closer is the Gateway Grizzlies, a semi-professional baseball team in The Frontier League.

Amateur sports – The area’s high schools, colleges and universities have competitive sports programs. Youth sports programs are available for boys and girls of all ages.

Recreational facilities – Recreational facilities are located in every part of town, including:

• 12 city parks and six neighborhood playgrounds
• 4 public golf courses (including a 54-hole Par 3 course) and a private country club
• a municipal swimming pool
• racquetball and tennis clubs
• an active YMCA with multiple locations in and near the city.

Outdoor activities – Local residents are within minutes of Shawnee National Forest, Lake Carlyle, Rend Lake and Lake Kincaid.

Shopping and Entertainment
Minutes north of Belleville is Fairview Heights, where area residents can enjoy:

• two multiplex cinemas,
• St. Clair Square shopping mall and multiple shopping facilities
• An indoor skating rink
• Fine and casual dining for every taste and budget

Nearby Attractions
Scott Air Force Base – Just east of Belleville is MidAmerica Airport and Scott Air Force Base, home to the US Air Force Air Mobility Command, Air Force Communications Command and the United States Transportation Command. The base, which employs many Belleville residents, is one of nation’s major military installations.

Forest Park – Belleville residents are just minutes from The Muny, an outdoor theatre, the Saint Louis Zoo, the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Saint Louis Science Center and the Missouri History Museum and other features at historic Forest Park, some of the 1904 World’s Fair. Even closer is the St. Louis riverfront, where they can explore the world-famous Gateway Arch, Eads Bridge and Laclede’s Landing, a restored portion of the historic old riverfront.

Performing and Visual Arts – The St. Louis area is home to some of the finest performing arts venues and museums in the Midwest including the Fox Theater, Powell Symphony Hall, St. Louis Repertory Theatre, City Museum, The Magic House Children’s Museum and more.

To learn more about Belleville and its surrounding communities, visit bellevillechamber.org.