Belleville

Belleville is a ghost town in the San Bernardino Mountains of San Bernardino County, California, born from the gold rush that followed William F. Holcomb's discovery of gold in Holcomb Valley in early 1860. The settlement grew quickly enough that it once positioned itself as a rival for the San Bernardino County seat — a remarkable ambition for a mountain mining camp. The town was named after Belle, the first child born there, a detail that hints at how fully it functioned as a genuine community rather than a mere temporary camp.

For roughly a decade Belleville thrived as a busy gold mining town, but its fortunes faded and it was largely abandoned before the close of the 19th century. Today visitors find a ghost town — the setting in the San Bernardino Mountains remains, but the bustling community that once challenged county government is long gone. Come with modest expectations, a curiosity for California mining history, and an appreciation for mountain scenery.