Bellefonte, Alabama

Not to be confused with Belle Fontaine, Alabama.

Bellefonte is a ghost town in Jackson County, Alabama, United States,^[1] near the site of the Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station. It is located roughly two miles southeast of Hollywood, Alabama.

Bellefonte, Alabama
Ghost town
The chimney of the local inn in foreground, with Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station in the background
Bellefonte Show map of Alabama Bellefonte Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 34°42′40″N 85°56′43″W
Country	United States
State	Alabama
County	Jackson
Elevation	745 ft (227 m)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	35752
Area code	256
GNIS feature ID	0113878

History

Bellefonte was settled in the early 19th century and incorporated on December 15, 1821,^[2] when it had nearly 200 residents. Its name was a subjective description consisting of the French words "belle", meaning "beautiful," and "fonte", meaning "fount." It was the Jackson County seat from 1821 to 1868, when it was relocated to Scottsboro.

During the 1820s, a courthouse and church were constructed. A post office was established in 1830. By 1844, the population had grown to 400. The town suffered severe damage during the Civil War. The post office was closed in 1859.

Bellefonte was used as a supply depot and mustering site during the Cherokee removal.^[3]

The relocation of the county seat in 1868 drew off business and people from town. This town rapidly lost population, dropping off the census rolls by 1880. The town was abandoned by the 1920s. All that remains of Bellefonte today are the cemetery, the chimney of the local inn, and piles of scattered bricks.^[4][5]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	181		—
1870	72		−60.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]

Bellefonte was listed on the 1860 and 1870 U.S. Census rolls. In 1860, it was the most populous (and only) incorporated community in Jackson County with 181 persons (of whom 173 were White, and 8 were "Free Colored"; no slaves were recorded.)^[7]

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Bellefonte, Alabama
2. A Digest of the Laws of the State of Alabama: Containing The Statutes and Resolutions in Force at the end of the General Assembly in January, 1823. Published by Ginn & Curtis, J. & J. Harper, Printers, New-York, 1828. Title 62. Chapter LXIII. Page 839. "An Act to Incorporate the Town of Belle-Fonte, in the County of Jackson.—Passed December 15, 1821." (Google Books)
3. Hill, Sarah. "Cherokee Indian Removal". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Alabama Humanities Alliance. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
4. Tryon, Jeff (July 6, 1986). "Dream Has Gone: Civil War, Rejection of Railroad Led to Bellefonte's Demise". Huntsville Times.
5. Foscue, Virginia. Place Names in Alabama. University: U of Alabama Press, 1989.
6. "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Archived from the original on May 7, 2015. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
7. "1860 Census" (PDF). 2.census.gov. Retrieved March 8, 2022.