Belleville, ON
Belleville sits on the Bay of Quinte right at the mouth of the Moira River in Central Ontario. It is located in the Quebec City–Windsor Corridor, with highway 401 cutting through the south portion of the city, while Highway 62 makes up its western border. Belleville is a medium-sized city with about 50,000 residents, many of which work in the manufacturing industry. In the past, there were only 2,000 people that called Belleville home, which then was a village and when it first start developing to become what it is today.
There are two wards within Belleville, with Ward 1 being home to the city’s historic district. This district sits on the south side of the 401 and the east side of the river, and is considered to be the liveliest part of the city. It is here where most locals will say is the best place for wining and dining, though it is also the most expensive in terms of living. This should not be of a surprise, as it is where Belleville’s downtown area is situated, as well as the city’s railway station, which is a stop on the line of trains going between Windsor and Quebec.
The median age of Belleville’s residents it slightly higher than the national average at around 43 years old. This means that it is a mature city, so if you like enjoy the nightlife, Belleville may not be the right choice for you. Instead, it is a quiet city with lower than average housing costs. Over 90 percent of its residents use English as their first language, though there are also a few French speaking families. However, all schools in Belleville teach in English, including its two post-secondary institutions; the private Academy of Learning Career College and the public Loyalist College
There are 10 bus routes that travel around Belleville, though other than the route linking the city centre to Loyalist College, they all stop running at 6pm. This means that Belleville is a car-friendly city, although those that would prefer to be nicer to the environment can also get around on foot. In fact, there are over 12 kilometres of trails that are maintained by the city year round that run along the river and the bay. It is also possible to walk around Belleville’s downtown area, which any Belleville guide will actually recommend. This is the best way to see some of the city’s historic architecture, like Belleville City Hall and the Belleville Armoury.