Belleville in St. Clair County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

George Blair

1759-1833

— Belleville's Founder —

George Blair Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Jason Voigt, July 15, 2020

1. George Blair Marker

Inscription. Blair was a Scottish American who arrived in St. Clair County in the 1790s and became the county sheriff. Soon after 1800 he moved to a 200-acre farm in the Clinton Hill Precinct. On March 10, 1814 he concluded negotiations with a county commission to make his farm the county seat to comply with the territorial government's requirement that the county seat be centrally located. In return for moving county government from Cahokia to his land, Blair donated one acre to the county for the Public Square, platted a town he named Belleville (French for "beautiful city"), and promised to donate every fifth lot to the county.

Erected 2014 by Belleville Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Law Enforcement • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 38° 30.828′ N, 89° 59.068′ W. Marker is in Belleville, Illinois, in St. Clair County. Marker is at the intersection of West Main Street and North Illinois Street (Illinois Route 159), on the right when traveling west on West Main Street. Marker is in front of the St. Clair Annex building, with other Belleville Walk of Fame plaques at the northwest quadrant of Belleville Public Square. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 23 Public Square, Belleville IL 62220, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Ninian Edwards (here, next to this marker); Edward A. Daley (here, next to this marker); Gustavus P. Koerner / Sophia Engelmann Koerner (here, next to this marker); Lyman Trumbull (here, next to this marker); Julius Liese (here, next to this marker); Robert "Bob" Goalby (here, next to this marker); Les Mueller (here, next to this marker); Christian "Buddy" Ebsen (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Belleville.

More about this marker. Blair was one of five inaugural inductees into Belleville's Walk of Fame. 2014 was the year the city of Belleville celebrated its bicentennial, and the local historical society decided to start a Walk of Fame at the northwest quadrant of Belleville Public Square. (The other inaugural inductees were Bob Goalby, Ninian Edwards, Lyman Trumbull and Christian "Buddy" Ebsen.)

Belleville Walk of Fame plaques image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Jason Voigt, July 15, 2020

2. Belleville Walk of Fame plaques

George Blair marker is directly in the middle.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 17, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 17, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 399 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 17, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.