Belleville, IL

BELLEVILLE, The county seat of St. Clair county, is pleasantly situated on the line of the Belleville and Minfreysboro' railroad, about 16 miles south-east from St. Louis, and 310 miles from Chicago. The region abounds in coal, which is dug to a great extent and shipped to different points by rail and the Mississippi river. These beds of coal extend to a great distance below the surface. The surrounding country is quite populous, and advancing steadily in wealth and numbers. The city contains a handsome court house, several fine churches and seminaries, a bank, besides numerous manufacturing establishments. The population is estimated at about 6,500. Champness Ball, Postmaster.  (Hawes' Illinois State Gazetteer...,1859)