Downtown Belleville, Michigan
A small city on the south shore of Belleville Lake, platted in 1847 and named for landowner James Bell.
History
Belleville was platted in 1847 and named for landowner James Bell, using the French word for "beautiful town." It became a village in 1905, when it separated from Van Buren Township, and a city in 1946. In the 1930s it was a resort community with getaway estates for Detroiters. The city covers about 1.2 square miles and is entirely surrounded by Van Buren Township.
Downtown
Downtown sits on the southern shore of Belleville Lake, along Main, Liberty and High Streets. The former Van Buren Hall is now the Belleville Area Museum. Belleville is about 18 miles from Ann Arbor and 29 miles from downtown Detroit.
Selling in Belleville
Belleville is in Wayne County, a short drive from the Washtenaw County line, and buyers often compare it directly with Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor-area homes. That means your listing needs to reach buyers searching on both sides of that line, not just one. I live in Van Buren Township and work this corridor; read about the MLS seam to see why that matters.
Frequently asked questions about Downtown Belleville
Is Belleville part of Van Buren Township?
No. Belleville is its own city, incorporated in 1946, though it is entirely surrounded by Van Buren Township.
How did Belleville get its name?
It was named for landowner James Bell, using the French word for "beautiful town."
Thinking about selling in Downtown Belleville?
Call before you clean, repair or stage. I'll walk through what your house actually needs (and what it doesn't), what it's likely to sell for, and how to reach the buyers looking in Downtown Belleville right now.