Page:Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States (1905).djvu/48

 Bella vista; town in Shasta County, California. A Spanish phrase, meaning "beautiful view."

Belle; a French word meaning "beautiful," of frequent occurrence in the country, there being seventy-eight post-offices which have this name in combination with descriptive suffixes.

Beliefontaine; city in Logan County, Ohio, so named because of the beautiful springs in the neighborhood.

Belleville; township and city in St. Clair County, Illinois. The name was suggested by John Hay, a French Canadian, prominent in the early days of the State.

Belleville; city in Republic County, Kansas, named for Arabelle, wife of A. B. Tutton, president of the town-site company.

Belleville; village in Jefferson County, New York, named from the village in Wisconsin.

Belleville; village in Dane County, Wisconsin, named by the first settler, John Frederick, from his native village in Canada.

Bellevue; village in Sonoma County, California; a French term meaning "beautiful view."

Bellevue; township and city in Jackson County, Iowa, named for John D. Bell, the first settler.

Bellflower; township and village in McLean County, Illinois, so named by the early settlers from the fields of bell-shaped flowers.

Bellingham; town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, named for Governor Richard Bellingham.

Bellingham; bay in Washington, named by Vancouver, the explorer, probably for Sir Henry Bellingham, who was knighted in 1796.

Bellmont; village in Franklin County, New York, named for William Bell, an early proprietor.

Bellows Falls; village in Windham County, Vermont, named for Col. Benjamin Bellows, an early settler and founder of Waljwle.

Bell Spring; mountain in Humboldt County, California, so named by an early explorer, who found a cow bell in a spring on the mountain.

Bellwood; village in Butler County, Nebraska, named for D. J. Bell, its proprietor and patron.

Belmont; village in San Mateo County, California, and Allegany County, New York, named for its pleasing situation in the hills; translation from the French, "fine mountain."

Belmont; towns in Mississippi County, Missouri, and Belknap County, New Hampshire, named for August Belmont, of New York.

Belmont; county, and village in same county, in Ohio, named for an early settler. Howe says it is named in reference to its hilly surface; French, "fine mountain."

Belmont; village in Lafayette County, Wisconsin, named for three mounds within its limits, which the early French travelers called "Belles Montes."

Beloit; city in Rock County, Wisconsin. A coined name selected by a committee, to whom it was suggested by the name Detroit.

Beloit; city in Mitchell County, Kansas, named for the city in Wisconsin.

Belpre'; town in Washington County, Ohio, named from the French, meaning "beautiful prairie," from its situation on a prairie.

Belton; town in Anderson County, South Carolina, named for a prominent family. Belton; city in Bell County, Texas named for Governor P. H. Bell.

Beltrami; county, and village in same county, in Minnesota, named for Count C. C. Beltrami, an Italian, with Major Long's exploring expedition into the Northwest country.