Bellbrook, Ohio is part of Greene County in Southwest Ohio. The town is part of the Dayton metropolitan area, meaning you can get that small town feel with a big city close by, giving you the best of both worlds!

If you’re moving to Bellbrook, then look no further because we are here to guide you through your new beginnings. 

We will take you through the town’s history, what you can expect as a resident, and the best things to do and places to eat in your new home. 

With so much going on, you shouldn’t have to worry about researching all this yourself, so we’ve done it for you!

Get ready to check out the following facts and fun spots:

• Bellbrook’s History
• Life in Bellbrook
• Where to Go and What to Do
  

By the end of this, you’ll feel like you’ve already moved in!

Bellbrook’s History

Bellbrook was founded in 1816, initially as a village. 

Bellbrook’s name comes from one of its founders, Stephen Bell. He formed what is considered the area of “old village.” The “brook” part of Bellbrook’s name comes from the fact that the area has a lot of local waterways like the Little Miami River and Sugarcreek.

As many areas did back then, Bellbrook grew and gained land and people through annexation of surrounding places, such as Sugarcreek Township. This annexation pushed the population over 5,000 and brough Bellbrook to city status.

Though relatively small at only 3.13 square miles, Bellbrook is home to almost 7,000 people.

Life in Bellbrook

Weather in Bellbrook

Ohio is part of the midwest, known for its shifting weather. However, Bellbrook is home to all four seasons, something that can’t be found in much of the United States. Get ready for breezy warm summers, colorful cool falls, magical winter wonderlands, and bountiful springs. 

Your seasons temperatures will vary in Bellbrook but here are the averages:

• Spring: 42 to 63 degrees
• Summer: 67 to 87 degrees
• Fall: 45 to 66 degrees
• Winter: 21 to 35 degrees
  

With all four seasons in full swing you’ll be able to swim all summer and enjoy the outdoors. In the fall you can enjoy the leaves from the trees changing color and fall around you, painting a perfect picture of autumn. The winter brings sledding, snowboarding, skiing, snowball fights, and so many other wonderful things that many other states miss out on due to a lack of snow. And of course in the spring you can find blooming flowers and trees around every corner and green comes back into the world and brings new life again.

Bellbrook’s Economy 

Bellbrook has a good economy and a growing population.

The median household income in 2018 was $83,826 according to Data USA. This was a whole 6.7% growth from the prior year.

Bellbrook employs almost 4,000 people. The largest industries within Bellbrook include health Care and Social Assistance, Retail Trade, and Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services.

The highest paying industries are Finance and Insurance, Public Administration, and Real Estate, Rental, and Leasing.

There are some specialized jobs that Bellbrook has a significantly higher number of employees in compared to other areas. These include those working in Life, Physical and Social Science Occupations (this field is 2.75 times higher than expected), Computer and Mathematical Occupations (here it is 2.6 times higher than expected) and Architecture and Engineering Occupations (these are 2.58 times higher than expected).

Bellbrook’s top domestic production includes motorized vehicles, mixed freight, and machinery. These are also the top outbound products for the state of Ohio.

The median property value in Bellbrook was $171,000 in 2018.

Education in Bellbrook

K-12 Education

Bellbrook, Ohio’s public education system has received an “A” from the State School Report Card, making it one of only 28 districts in the whole state to receive this grade.

They earned this grade through their high graduation rate of 96.4% and an attendance rate of 96.2%.

In addition to these accolades, niche.com ranked the Bellbrook school district as number one in public schools districts in Greene County and number one as best place to teach in Greene County.

Nationally, U.S. News and World Report ranked Bellbrook High School in the top 10% of Ohio high schools.

Collegiate Education

The University of Dayton is only a 20 minute drive away, making it a perfect college close to home.

Dayton has over 8,000 undergraduate students enrolled as of the Fall of 2020. The students are split pretty evenly between men and women with a 49% to 51% split with men having more.

About half of the students (49%) are from Ohio.

The University offers education in the following schools:

• College of Arts and Sciences (39% of students are enrolled in this school)
• School of Business Administration (25% of students are enrolled in this school)
• School of Education and Health Sciences (14% of students are enrolled in this school)
• School of Engineering (21% of students are enrolled in this school)
  

The retention rate in the first year is 91%.

Dayton has many options when it comes to programs including Women’s and Gender Studies, Theology, Sustainability, Art History, Journalism, English, Marketing, and many others.

The University has won many awards such as the 2012 ASACCU Best Practices Award in the Dean of Students category. They were awarded this by The National Association for Student Affairs at Catholic Colleges and Universities. 

Where to Go and What to Do

New in town, but don’t want to eat at another fast food chain or get lost trying to find a dog park? We’ve got you covered with the best places to grub and some fun experiences in the city. 

New cities are always fun, there’s so much to see and so many places to explore. We have a few to add to your list when you move in, so check out these spots and start acting like the local you are! We hope you try these places and out and make some new friends along the way! 

The Blue Berry Cafe

72 Bellbrook Plz | (937)-848-5900 | TheBlueberryCafe

Everyone needs a favorite breakfast spot, so here’s our suggestion for Bellbrook! 

The Blue Berry Cafe serves breakfast and lunch, opening at 7 am and closing at 2 pm. 

Never fear if you have any diet restrictions or an allergy! They have you covered with vegetarian and vegan friendly options, as well as gluten free options. 

According to Tripadvisor, they have ratings of four out of five or over in all four categories (food, service, value, and atmosphere).

“Had eggs Benedict and they were awesome. Great hollandaise and topped with fresh green onion and tomato bits...Hubby had huge pancake, sausage, eggs and hash browns which he thought were very good . Definitely a come back!!” -Tripadvisor Review

For a quick sneak peak at the menu consider these options:

• Nana’s Banana French Toast
• Veggie Omelet Platter
• Biscuits and Sausage Gravy
• Ray’s Breakfast Burrito
• Griddled Swiss Patty Melt
  

Check out the Blue Berry Cafe, and you’ll have found your new favorite breakfast joint!

Dorothy Lane Market

What’s more important than a good grocery store? Nothing! Dorothy Lane Market can be your new spot for gathering all the goods before making a great dinner for date night or your first stop for ice cream and cheetos before a movie night. Either way, this market has all your bases covered!

6177 Far Hills Ave | (937)-434-1294 | dorothylane.com

Dorothy Lane Market has everything you can think of, and they have the best of it! Do you need bread or baked goods? Well Dorothy lane has an incredible bakery stuffed full of homemade baked goods and bread products. 

The market also has a large selection of meats and cheese for your next charcuterie board.

If you have a sweet tooth, they have a special Killer Brownie just for you. Make sure you snag one on your first trip to the market, you’ll be running back for more!

You can even order online and the food will be shipped to your house. It will be made the day you make the order and shipped straight to you.

“We love visiting DLM when we are in town. They have an amazing bakery that you can get pastries and fresh made breads. The meat and sea food selection is incredible and the deli has wonderful salads. They have wine, plants and a whole lot more. If you can't find it here, you don't need it!!!” -Tripadvisor Review

Penn’s Thai Grille

If you’re looking for authentic Thai food, stop your search here.

4459 W Franklin St. | (937) 310-1049 | pennthaigrille.com

Penn’s Thai Grille was opened by Pen, who is from Bangkok, Thailand. She makes it her mission to serve the Bellbrooke community the most authentic Thai food that they will be able to find, and according to the reviews, she has been succeeding for years!

“Penn's is excellent for either dine-in or carryout. The food is very good; we've tried many items on the menu and have never been disappointed. Its clear that quality ingredients are used, they put a lot of care in what they do. A dinner special is now offered, last night's was terrific! The dining room is very nice and one of the most immaculate restaurants I've ever seen. Friendly and welcoming people, recommend Penn's Thai Grille very highly!” -Tripadvisor Review

Bill’s Donut Shop

Who doesn’t love a good donut? Bill’s will raise you a great one.

The best part about Bill’s (aside from the delicious donuts) is that they are open 24 hours a day! If those early morning donuts aren’t for you then you can always grab a midnight snack with a quick night drive. Sounds like a recipe for happiness to us!

268 N Main St. | (937) 433-0002 | billsdonutshop.com

Bill’s opened their doors in the 1960s. It was founded by husband and wife Bill and Faye Elam and is now owned by two of their children, Lisa and Jim.

The shop is family oriented, and the customers can feel it too. The atmosphere in Bill’s is friendly and welcoming, many customers are known by name and order, making that welcoming feeling a reality.

To give you a quick look at their many donut options we’ve compiled a short list for you:

• Cinnamon Roll Donut
• Pretzel Donut
• Butter Twist Donut
• Peanut Butter Creme-Filled Donut
• Powdered Custard Donut
• Sprinkled Donut
• Red Velvet White Iced Donut
  

“Open 24 hours and the absolute BEST donuts in the state. Always fresh, always friendly. I think the pretzel donuts (glazed in a pretzel shape) and the sour creme are the best but if you can find on the rare occasion the unicorn of a raspberry-filled powdered donut... don't leave without trying it.” -Tripadvisor Review

While the shop will always be known for their donuts, new items have been added in recent years including buckeyes, danishes, cupcakes, cookies, and cappuccinos.

If you’re moving to Ohio and looking for a spot to settle down, Bellbrook might be the city for you. Aside from all the wonderful things Bellbrook itself has to offer, it is a quick drive to Dayton and Cincinnati, further expanding your new world.

Bellbrook has it all, the good food, the great education, and the friendly feel of a small town while being a city among other great cities.

If you find yourself in Bellbrook, stop by Bill’s Donut Shop or the Blue Berry Cafe and take a moment to consider, this could be your home!