This Small Town In Ohio Is Home To The Oldest Concrete Street

Ohio has some truly exceptional claims to fame, from record-breaking baskets and massive mining buckets to boasting the first professional baseball team and hosting the largest Oktoberfest in the country. Another feather in the Buckeye State’s superlative cap is admittedly a bit bizarre, but no less fascinating. You see, Bellefontaine is home to the oldest concrete street in America, and it’s a huge point of pride for this small Ohio town.

Bellefontaine is a charming town of about 14,000 that’s about an hour north of Columbus. It’s your quintessential small town in Ohio, with a delightful downtown district filled with historic buildings and locally owned shops.

Downtown Bellefontaine Ohio/Facebook

The town is very proud of its history, with stately buildings like St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, the Logan County Courthouse, and the Holland Theatre lining its streets.

Downtown Bellefontaine Ohio/Facebook

And speaking of streets, Bellefontaine has some particularly noteworthy thoroughfares as well.

Downtown Bellefontaine Ohio/Facebook

You see, Court Avenue in Bellefontaine, Ohio is officially deemed “America’s Oldest Concrete Street.”

RogueTrippers/TripAdvisor

As its name suggests, Court Avenue borders the county courthouse. Back in 1893, a man by the name of George Bartholemew convinced the Bellefontaine City Council to try paving Court Avenue around the courthouse with smooth cement.

COVERT L/TripAdvisor

While ubiquitous today, back in the late 1800s, this unfamiliar mixture called “concrete” had yet to be used to pave streets anywhere in America! Today, you can find the Court Avenue street sign by the courthouse, but you can no longer drive on the street itself.

RogueTrippers/TripAdvisor

Oddly enough, Court Avenue isn’t Bellefontaine’s only superlative street; the town’s McKinley Street has been deemed the “world’s shortest” street, too! It’s only 15 feet long, and, wouldn’t you know, it’s paved with concrete! Thanks, Mr. Bartholemew!

K H/Google Local

Bellefontaine may be a small Ohio town, but it has BIG claims to fame, and an even bigger, prouder community of residents celebrating its legacy!

Downtown Bellefontaine Ohio/Facebook

Did you know Bellefontaine, Ohio, was home to the oldest concrete street in the country? What a big claim to fame for this charming small town!

Downtown Bellefontaine Ohio/Facebook

RogueTrippers/TripAdvisor

COVERT L/TripAdvisor

K H/Google Local

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

Address: Court Avenue, Court Ave, Bellefontaine, OH 43311, USA