Town file
Bellaire, Ohio
Bellaire, Ohio (Pultney County, Ohio) is the town in one episode of Small Town Murder, the comedy true-crime podcast: episode 658, "The Dark Prince Of Belmont County" (20 December 2025). In September 1995 Bellaire, Ohio, was a small town of about 3,900 people on the Ohio River, its glassworks long gone and its high school football team, the Big Reds, unbeaten.
- Town
- Bellaire
- County
- Pultney County
- State
- Ohio
- Country
- USA
- Episodes
- 658
- Approximate location
- 40.017, -80.747
Episode 658 / 20 December 2025 / 74 min / express
The Dark Prince Of Belmont County
"Bellaire, Ohio, far eastern Ohio, in Pultney County" about 0:04:41
The case: Murder of Terry and Marilyn Brooks (September 30th to October 1st, 1995). Read the case file.
The figures, as told in 2025
- Population
- 3,927
- Median household income
- about $39,972
- Median home value
- $92,100
- Crime overall
- ▼ about half
History, in brief
- French trappers and explorers were the first Europeans in the area. about 0:06:17
- Bellaire was founded in 1836. about 0:06:26
- Its name was inspired by the Maryland town of the same name. about 0:06:29
- The discovery of natural gas deposits brought people to the area and made glass manufacturing huge. about 0:06:39
- Around 15 glass companies operated there, including Belmont Glass Works and Bellaire Window Glass Company. about 0:06:49
- There were also two bottle companies in the town. about 0:07:10
- In 1937 the Ohio River flooded the town badly. about 0:07:16
- The now abandoned Bellaire bridge was used as a location in The Silence of the Lambs. about 0:07:20
The reviews read out
5 stars
"A former TV news anchor in a major city who hated the job and the city picked a small town on the map near family in Pittsburgh to raise small children and loves it so far."about 0:07:44
3 stars
"Born and raised there; the town has lost much since its days as a booming river town, but the people are caring, everyone loves high school football and there are family restaurants, with the best hot dogs at Gullah's."about 0:08:58
2 stars
"Known for its historical places, but the town today is run down and can be dangerous with drugs and crime."about 0:09:47
Nearest Small Town Murder towns
- Wheeling, West Virginia4.8 miles
- Caldwell, Ohio45 miles
- Ambridge, Pennsylvania48 miles
- Morgantown, West Virginia50 miles
- Clarksburg, West Virginia55 miles
- Daugherty Township, Pennsylvania56 miles
Everything here is as told in the episode, on the date it went out; figures and places may have changed since. Endings are covered: open an episode and use the spoiler switch to read them.