Bellwood Nebraska - Nebraska Directory

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Village · Butler County · Population 407 (2020 census) · ZIP 68624 · Founded 1880 · Peak population 446 (2000)

About Bellwood

Bellwood is a village of 407 people (2020) in northern Butler County, at 1,447 feet on NE 64, about 8 miles northwest of David City and 9 miles southeast of Columbus; NE 64 runs west to US 81 and east to NE 15. It has Bellwood Elementary School (PK–5) of David City Public Schools; older students go to David City. The Platte River and the site of Shinn’s Ferry lie to the north. Bellwood is on Central Time.

History

J. D. Bell bought the land in 1872, settled on it in 1878 and planted many trees. The townsite was surveyed in January 1880, the Lincoln & Northwestern Railroad (soon leased to the Burlington) arrived that February, and the post office moved here from Patron that August. The name, suggested by Mary Finch, honors Bell and the groves he planted. Bell’s two-story store of 1881 served as a meeting hall and church, and the village had its own government by 1886. Bellwood reached its highest population, 446, in 2000. Shinn’s Ferry, which carried travelers across the Platte from 1859 until the Schuyler bridge opened in 1872, is marked north of town on Road 41.

Highways and trails through Bellwood

Route	One way	Other way
NE 64East–west through the village	West to US 81 south of Columbus	East to NE 15 north of David City

Nearby towns

David City	about 8 mi southeast	NE 64 and NE 15
Columbus	about 9 mi northwest	NE 64 and US 81
Octavia	about 9 mi east	County roads
Rising City	about 10 mi south-southwest	County roads
Edholm	about 11 mi east-northeast	County roads
Schuyler	about 12 mi northeast	County roads
Shelby	about 14 mi southwest	County roads
Bruno	about 15 mi east-southeast	County roads
Abie	about 15 mi east	County roads

Things to see

the Shinn’s Ferry historical marker, 1290 Road 41 · the 1992 National Register Clear Creek Bridge, about 6 miles northwest · Frommy’s Pizza, Grill and Pub, 507 Esplanade St.

Schools and health care

Schools: Bellwood Elementary School (PK–5, David City Public Schools), 612 Park St., (402) 538-4805; older students attend school in David City

Health care: Hospital: Butler County Health Care Center, David City, about 8 mi

Sources: U.S. Census; Wikipedia; Andreas, History of the State of Nebraska (1882); Nebraska State Gazetteer (1890), NEGenWeb Butler County; Butler County; City of David City; History Nebraska markers; National Register; Nebraska Department of Transportation; Lower Platte South NRD; Nebraska Secretary of State; Nebraska Library Commission; TrailLink; Visit Nebraska; SchoolDigger. Distances marked "about" are straight-line estimates.