Government
Tourism
Education
Economic Development
Our Community
Belpre is a city in Washington County, Ohio, with 6,728 residents as of 2020, according to the United States Census Bureau. In 1980, the City of Belpre saw a record population of 7,193 people, which declined to 6,551 people in the 2010 Census. The city experienced peak growth between 1950 and 1960, when the population more than doubled. Since then, the percent change in population has continued to decline.
Belpre has a mixed workforce of both white- and blue-collar jobs. Overall, Belpre is a city of sales and office workers, professionals, and service providers. There are especially a lot of people living in Belpre who work in office and administrative support (15.26%), sales jobs (10.35%), and healthcare (7.76%).
Of important note, Belpre is also a city of artists. Belpre has more artists, designers and people working in media than 90% of the communities in America. This concentration of artists helps shape Belpre’s character. The hills, river, valley and stately homes provide ready models for photographers, painters, and nature enthusiasts.
And character Belpre has!! Out of that character comes Belpre Pride, which is rampant among local high school alumni, City employees, Chamber of Commerce members, service club members, church congregations, parents, grandparents, and kids.
Belpre is a fairly quiet city. With traffic slowing down through major thoroughfares at the close of the business day, parents with children will be found at the city’s parks, on ballfields and riding bicycles through the safe and wide streets.
A major reason residents love living in Belpre and the area is the beauty of the hills meeting the river. Being a small city, Belpre does not have a public transit system used by locals to get to and from work. Auto travel is the way to get around the valley, and the Belpre Area provides convenient parking access to stores, restaurants and services.
In terms of college education, the citizens of Belpre rank slightly lower than the national average. 14.93% of adults 25 and older in Belpre have a bachelor’s degree or advanced degree, while 21.84% of adults have a 4-year degree or higher in the average American community.
The median household income in 2020 dollars averaged $47,917, and the percapita income in the past 12 months, according to 2021 US Census figures, is $29,074.
Washington County and the City of Belpre have benefited greatly from the presence of railroads. The Belpre Industrial Parkersburg Railroad, LLC is a non-carrier that operates 48 miles of rail network owned by CSX Transportation, Inc. The line transports commodities such as aggregates, chemicals, coal, construction materials, fertilizers, metals, minerals, petroleum products, plastics, steel, and scrap.
Belpre is also connected to the neighboring City of Parkersburg by two bridges. The four-lane Parkersburg-Belpre Bridge extends between Parkersburg’s downtown to the intersection of Main Street and Washington Boulevard in Belpre. The Memorial Bridge is tolled, has two-lanes, and connects the north of Parkersburg with SR-7 Belpre by-pass. The Memorial Bridge is owned and operated by Parkersburg Bridge partners.
Pleasure boating on the Ohio River is a spring-through-fall activity. Belpre Civitan Park sees walkers, runners, picnickers, softball and baseball players. and flower enthusiasts mobbing the beautiful Belpre park system year-round.
The Athens-Belpre Multi-Purpose Trail will one day stretch for 34 miles across Athens and Washington Counties to Parkersburg, West Virginia. To date, however, 8.6 miles of the former B&O corridor have been acquired and developed into a multi-use path serving hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians. Outside Belpre with easy access off US 50 are various unpaved trailheads with easy access for hikers and all-terrain bikers, particularly at Frost Road, Collins Road.
In short, Belpre is a quiet city with bustling retail activity, numerous spots for recreation and an opportunity to develop a relationship with other residents, nature and a talented workforce. Visit, play, work here!
Government
Belpre’s municipal government consisting of a strong mayor and an elected city council.
Belpre City Council meetings are held the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month at 7:30pm in Council Chambers,
715 Park Drive, Belpre Ohio 45714
Complete information regarding services can be found at www.cityofbelpre.com
Tourism
Visitors to the Belpre Area find themselves drawn to the river. Providing a distinct border to the city and an impact on its residents’ lifestyle, commerce and climate, the mighty Ohio River provides boating, kayaking and just lazing to all who follow the magnet that is flowing water.
The second settlement of the Northwest Territory, Belpre was then known as “Belle Prairie”. Belpre has a rich history that includes early Indian encampments, the Underground Railroad, and the state’s first library. You can find an extensive history exhibit at the Belpre Farmer’s Castle Museum and Education Center, 509 Ridge St. Belpre.
A bit further west, the land was deemed too dangerous to settle because of natives who were willing to fight for their land. But some brave pioneers forged ahead and built their homes in Little Hocking, Barlow and Vincent.
These charming towns are connected by a series of country roads that will take you through rolling hills and over scenic streams. In fact, six of the county’s nine historic covered bridges still in use are in western Washington County.
Directly across the mighty Ohio is Parkersburg and Wood County, WV, a city and county rich in history, river activity, Victorian architecture, arts and culture.
And, upriver 13 miles by car is Marietta, Ohio, an historic, charming riverboat town nestled in the rolling hills of the Mid-Ohio Valley. The county seat for Washington County is situated at the confluence of the mighty Ohio and Muskingum Rivers. Marietta served as the starting point for Westward expansion by early pioneers and is marked by the intricate pattern of brick streets, cascading flower-adorned lampposts, and the Victorian skyline of its vibrant downtown.
Located on a small island in the Ohio River and visible from Belpre’s riverfront, Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park features a Palladian mansion on the island and museum of regional history located in Parkersburg. This unique state park is visited by 40,000 people each year. This historical park is accessed by a sternwheeler riverboat from Point Park on 2nd Street in Parkersburg. Once on the island, visitors may enjoy tours of the grounds and mansion and horse-drawn carriage rides. Tours are offered when the park is open, from May through the last weekend of October.
For more information, visit Marietta-Washington County Convention and Visitors’ Bureau at www.mariettaoh.org and Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors’ Bureau at www.greaterparkersburg.com
Education
Raised eyes looking at a historical marker in Belpre will soon discover that the roots of education in America run deep in Belpre. Bathsheba Rouse is recognized as the first woman to teach in the Northwest Territory. Rouse arrived in the region along with other pioneers in 1788. The following year, the Belpre community employed Rouse to teach young children in the Farmers’ Castle near the Ohio River. Instruction in reading, writing and sewing was reserved for the girls, while boys received lessons in reading, writing and arithmetic. Bathsheba Rouse Greene died on Feb. 27, 1843, at the age of 73 and is buried alongside her husband in Marietta’s Mound Cemetery.
For the 2022 school year, there are 2 public schools serving 962 students in Belpre City School District. The district mascot is the Golden Eagle. Washington County Career Center offers vocational programs to high school students in all districts in Washington County, plus a full range of certificate programs in its Adult Technical Training Department.
Post-secondary education opportunities abound, with students having easy access to training and degree programs offered through Washington State Community College, Marietta College, West Virginia University at Parkersburg, all within a 20-minute commute. A mid-major university, Ohio University, is located approximately 35 minutes west.
Economic Development
Belpre Area Chamber of Commerce works in partnership with our members, Southeast Ohio Port Authority, City of Belpre, and other economic development agencies to provide a climate in the Belpre Area and the Mod-Ohio Valley attractive as a place to start and grow a business.
Through the Chamber staff and our Member Development Committee of the Board of Directors, the Chamber works with individuals and organizations to become a hub of information about our area and business resources. Members also are encouraged to take advantage of education and training opportunities and mentorships for businesses looking to expand and grow. A variety of events such as a Business Expo and shopping events encouraging local trade and commerce are traditional.
Specifically, the Chamber board was a partner in developing the existing City of Belpre Economic Development Strategic Plan, which outlines plans for the City and its partners to begin work in ensuring a quality environment for business growth, residential growth, services and city development.
Members are always welcome to become a part of the Membership growth Committee. Interested persons and businesses are encouraged to call the Chamber office for more information.
If you need any information about available sites for development of larger commercial or industrial enterprises, please contact the Southeastern Ohio Port Authority: The Southeastern Ohio Port Authority is Washington County’s economic development agency, working to improve our region by retaining jobs, recruiting new companies, developing sites, and promoting growth.
© 2026 Belpre Area Chamber of Commerce