Belleview, MO

Belleview is a small town located in the southwestern corner of St. Louis County, Missouri. The population was 1,724 at the 2010 census. It is part of the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area. Belleview is home to several businesses and churches, as well as a few homes and farms.

The history of Belleview can be traced back to 1836 when Thomas Jefferson Smith purchased land in what would become Belleview from the Osage Nation for $1 per acre. Smith built a cabin on his land and began farming it. In 1851, he sold his farm to James Aiken who built a store on the property and began selling goods to travelers on the Santa Fe Trail. Aiken sold his store in 1868 to John Hays who renamed it Hays & Company and operated it until 1886 when he retired from business.

In 1888, Jeptha Durbin purchased Hays' store and converted it into a general merchandise store which he operated until 1906 when he retired from business altogether. Durbin was followed by Harry Capps who opened Capps Hardware Store in 1906 which he operated until 1942 when he retired from business altogether also.

In 1946, Leland Pritchard purchased Capps Hardware Store which he operated until 1978 when he retired from business altogether also. Pritchard was followed by Donnie Kincaid who opened Kincaid's General Merchandise Store in 1978 which he operated until 1990 when he retired from business altogether also.

In 1990, Jerry Weldon purchased Kincaid's General Merchandise Store which he operated until 2002 when he retired from business altogether also. Weldon was followed by Gary Schafer who opened Schafer's Auto Sales & Service in 2002 which he still operates today under the same name (as of 2016).

Belleview has seen steady growth over the years due largely to its proximity to St Louis; however, there have been some setbacks due to economic downturns within Missouri that have impacted local businesses adversely (particularly those within the automotive industry). Despite these challenges, Belleview continues to grow steadily thanks largely to its strong community spirit and commitment to preserving its historic character while embracing new development that will help make it even more vibrant and prosperous for future generations