The Founding: 1822
Bellevue’s origins are rooted in the fur trade that dominated the early 19th-century economy of the Great Plains.
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- The Trading Post: In 1822, the Missouri Fur Company, led by Joshua Pilcher, established a trading post at the site. It was originally called “Bellevue” (French for “Beautiful View”), a name, legend says, coined by the earlier explorer Manuel Lisa.
- Peter Sarpy: The settlement grew significantly under the leadership of Peter Sarpy, who took over the post in the 1830s. He became the town’s most prominent citizen, operating a ferry across the river that helped thousands of pioneers begin their journey westward. Bellevue…