Belleville, city in southeastern Ontario, Canada. It is located on the Bay of Quinte (an arm of Lake Ontario), at the mouth of the Moira River. Belleville is a trade, distribution, and administration center for the Quinte region. The city's manufactures include electronics, chemicals, processed food (particularly cheddar cheese), paper products, and automotive parts. Albert College, Loyalist College, and the Sir James Whitney School for the Deaf are located in the city. Attractions include the Corby Park Rose Garden and Glanmore National Historic Site, a restored Victorian mansion. The city is home to the Belleville Bulls Junior A Hockey team that plays at the Quinte Sports Centre. Annual events include the Waterfront Festival & Folklorama, held in July, and the Quinte Exhibition, held in September.
Captain John Meyers, a United Empire Loyalist, built a gristmill near the Moira River in 1790. He is considered the founder of the community, which was originally known as Meyers' Creek. The settlement was renamed in 1816 to honor Arabella, the wife of Francis Gore, the lieutenant governor of Upper Canada (now Ontario). Belleville flourished after the railroad arrived in 1855 and incorporated as a city in 1877. In 1998 Belleville amalgamated with neighboring Thurlow Township.
