Metro East’s Largest City: Swansea and Belleville, Illinois 4K.

Belleville is the largest city in the Metro East region and in Southern Illinois; however, the city has lost nearly 5,000 residents since 2010. Swansea is the other suburb that I show in this video, which is another suburb that lost population in the last decade.
Swansea: 0:50 - 8:15
Belleville: 8:15 - 17:12
Downtown Belleville: 8:55 - 10:15
Belleville East High School: 15:20
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[@ChrisHarden]

EVERYTHING THAT I USE IN THE FIELD: Main Camera: amzn.to/3iS4vvF Side Cameras: amzn.to/2WuCYIs Media Mod for Camera: amzn.to/3j7CMGF Lav Mic: amzn.to/3lsMkz9 Drone: amzn.to/3ITcKBV SD Cards: amzn.to/3C2co9O Camera Mounts: amzn.to/2UXVR6p Cables Required for Longer Recordings: amzn.to/3BYnr3Q Computer: amzn.to/3787b2j External Hard Drive: amzn.to/3lb23Tf WHAT I USE AT HOME: Computer: amzn.to/3rKIdiN Sound Mixer: amzn.to/3C15Ubx Microphone: amzn.to/2VaCjvo Microphone Accessories: amzn.to/3v7A35Z INTERACTIVE MAP that shows you all of the places that I've made videos on: (Doesn't always work on mobile devices. Will always work on PC.) www.google.com/maps/d/u/2/edit?hl=en&mid=1Lhzf04ocimPu-ROkg4cfXEYEvKMNnlI5&ll=42.68506257358429%2C-84.48366841804642&z=9 SOCIAL MEDIA & CONTACT INFO: Email: [e-mail] On Twitter: twitter.com/Chris_Harden55 On Instagram: instagram.com/c_harden7/?... On Facebook: facebook.com/ChrisHardenYT/ DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you. As an Amazon Associate I do earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. As always, thank you for supporting my channel!

[@fishinginindiana1904]

Lived in Belleville 1980 to 1983 as a kid and loved it. Central junior high school was so much fun.rode our bicycles all over town.

[@oldmanstillcan]

Very cool, I grew up in Belleville, IL. The last time I visited was for my Father's funeral. Things seemed more alive when I was growing up for some reason. A lot of cool looking houses are now boarded up.

[@pika62221]

proximity to East St Louis killed Belleville.

[@tyreex8727]

Im from Wisconsin but Belleville has been my home since 1986. 34 years man! Lol! I've seen the good and the bad. Being Afro American and living in Belleville in the 80s and 90s was hard. But I rather be here than some of the other local cities. Everything you said was true. I love this city and hope it grows. I hate we lost St. Elizabeth Hospital. Im really missing the Art on the Square, the Chili Cook off and October fest. Thanks for making this video.

[@ChrisHarden]

Thanks for watching and I always appreciate approvals from the locals on the places I make videos on!

[@tyreex8727]

No problem. I always wanted to do something like this. I love how you speak facts without being biased. I can tell you do your research too. I subscribed man.

[@gaming_sportsaaron1365]

I subscribed I live in St Louis now but I may move back to Illinois because the crime the hood and everything is horrible to see in St. Louis bellvielle looks better with the downtown I mean like the other places not downtown St. Louis because the towers make it look nice but after all it’s a cheap city but I can’t wait to move out of St. Louis and maybe go to Chicago and go back to my hometown OFallon Illinois where my home is but bellivielle makes st Clair look good the downtown is very unique and man I miss the October fest I used to go there all the time the best fest ever in my opinion when ever this covid goes down imma travel and go back to my hometown oh yea can you visit collinsville or have you because it’s a historic city Indians built the hills that’s one thing about collinsville but another nice city but in Madison county

[@oldmanstillcan]

Understood. I'm not saying I had the same experiences but being 1/2 Samoan and 1/2 German I've had my experiences from both sides. I left IL in 91 for WA state but never felt "home" until I moved to Hawai'i. I returned back to WA due to cost of living of trying to raise a family. Hope all is well in Belleville, IL.

[@jackson5116]

Belleville isn't going to grow, the ones moving out are white. My whole block used to be 100% white, and now 20 years later it's probably 40% white, including me, so you know whites are moving out of the city.

[@45AMT]

Belleville also benefits from nearby Scott AFB as an employer and I'm sure there are plenty of retirees in the area.

[@markpeper8419]

Spent 5 years on those 2 towns. Great memories. Everything was North. South, East or West of the Fountain.

[@ladyvalhalla7154]

So thankful I left Belleville in 88.

[@zubairrazzaq6271]

One of the best videos on Meto east Illinois towns and cities or midwest thanks for your videos 👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@Sodbusterrod]

Enjoyed the video. I noticed the Stag Beer signs and the brewery was mentioned. I have the conference table from the brewery. I remember my dad bringing it home probably in 1959. My niece and nephews were East grads one played in the Super Bowl for Arizona.

[@erikmcc804]

wow NT thank you, i am so glad i caught your catch and i love the videos, again i was from this area, and i really love seeing the memories :-)

[@ChrisHarden]

That’s why I’m here!

[@ghostjm1928]

Great video!! I love Belleville and Swansea, Fairview Heights and O'Fallon are nice too 👍

[@tammybrown4901]

I lived in Fairview heights for 7 years

[@stryker1195]

More facts than nostalgia, but very good video....great coverage.

[@qnyyx6431]

Great video, I'm currently living in belleville so its I'm glad to see this ngl

[@karenvondresky6520]

I lived in Belleville. I was in the class that graduated from Belleville Township High School. It was a great place to growup.

[@JustinThrongard]

I live(love) Belleville after moving here in 2022. Great video. Downtown has some great shops, restaurants and people. The summer festivals are legit for a town this size. Opportunity is ripe if people want it.

[@bellag331]

I grew up in Swansea and Belleville. Haven't been for a few odd years, but you drove right past the old Jay's A&W where I had my first job. Too bad you didn''t make it past the Skyview Drive-In. I saw many movies there over the years. I didn't see two or three, but I was there!

[@jackoesterlejr.3454]

My uncle owned Jay's A&W in Swansea. Mr. Jim Bedwell,Jr. The name Jay's= my dad Jack, my uncle Leroy Joesph, my grandpa Jim Bedwell, the last owner my uncle Jim his son! They bought the franchise from A&W. Thank You Bella! Thanks for working for him! ❤

[@donaldcompton3282]

Thats awsome memories thank u❤

[@vin-r8602]

Cant wait for part 2

[@JunipersQuest]

Lived in Swansea Since 1993-Present, He was right when he said the roads can be tricky if your not familiar with the area, A quicker way to get to Belleville was if you turn on Fullerton road by Mcdonalds you will be in Belleville within about 5 minutes instead of heading to downtown Belleville. There are certain shortcuts that can get you to it quicker.

[@shisa2834]

Drove right past my childhood house (empty lot on a corner) in the Belleville scenes. We moved out as crime and drugs were encroaching into the neighborhood throughout the 80s and 90s. Tons of history in the area I grew up. Lived in a 2 story home where the bottom was an old Pharmacy in its hey day.

[@johnpaulmakowski7464]

I spent much time in the area during my illinois air national guard era, 2001 to 2007.

[@tammybrown4901]

Thank you for your service,to

[@johnpaulmakowski7464]

@@tammybrown4901 ...thank you Tammy. you know what, its ironic that I always get positive responses from people who I dont know...yet Rarely get any positive comments from family or neighbors.

[@user-vg6vx9ve7j]

It's May of 2024 the last time I was in Belleville IL was March of 2021 . I am hundreds of miles from St Louis Missouri the crime is off the richter scales back there . West Main Street was all boarded up and the town wasn't the same. It's East St Louis Illinois now yes Belleville IL turned in to East St Louis. Dexter Lombardo out 🤠 🧔 It's heartbreaking 💔

[@jasonmiller4046]

some great areas make wrong turn and you get car jacked but not 30 years ago

[@jackson5116]

The problem with the Belleville/Swansea border is that east and west Belleville both border Swansea, so the same road will go from Belleville to Swansea back to Belleville.

[@ChrisHarden]

What were these people thinking when laying out the town borders?

[@johnsmallberries3476]

wow...I didn't know that we had Jack in the Box in Illinois....they have great tacos.

[@jackson5116]

Not anymore! I live so close to that building, I could walk to it!

[@jessileigh1023]

We do! Another person posted that the one shown closed but there are a bunch all throughout the Metro East

[@actionsub]

I grew up in nearby Fairview Heights, but Belleville is my home now. Went to high school at Belleville East (FUN FACT: When Belleville East was constructed, it was not intended as a high school campus. The district built it as a home for what is now Southwestern Illinois College. As Belleville and Fairview's populations grew due to "white flight", Belleville Township High (now Belleville West) became overcrowded, so the community college campus was repurposed as a second high school serving eastern Belleville and Fairview Heights, while the original school continued to serve west Belleville and a farm town named Millstadt southwest of Belleville.

[@heatherhopfinger3942]

bull people have addresses up here there family comes from e st Louis to addresses up here during the week for school then goes back down there on the weekend that is why the tax base is so low down there

[@heatherhopfinger3942]

oh and the high schools making the junior college a re purposed high school is because the high school teachers were only putting in their time and not really teaching and only putting in time to get their retirement check truth I lived it

[@heatherhopfinger3942]

the populations did not really grow people were counted up here during the week and counted as being in E st Louis on the weekends so it was not a true count of population or a true count of white flight Fairview was spoiled and oblivious to this but allowed to comment on it when I know the situation and have lived in Belleville longer than you and Millstadt is well if you live in Belleville long enough deary you find out things Millsnot is Millstadt truth

[@heatherhopfinger3942]

SWIC used to be a catholic school MIchael that is why the bells in the SWIC that ring Belleville East might have been in that category too instead of making assumptions go to the library and look it up

[@jackson5116]

it's kind of ironic, becuase now Belleville is experiencing white flight! My whole block was 100% white when I moved in back in 2000, and now over 20 years later, it's only about 40% white, with 10% empty. That's not a good sign!

[@redwolf8135]

Swansea is a nice community. Belleville is becoming the new East St. Louis. Cheaper than O'Fallon, but nicer than Belleville. Scott AFB keeps Belleville, Swansea, Shiloh, and O'Fallon populated.

[@jackson5116]

It's probably about 30 to 40% there now, and I'd say within the next 10 to 20 years we'll see it fully turn like Cahokia did. Believe it or not, but 20 years ago Cahokia was still mostly white!

[@leekush8297]

Belleville is my birthplace. It looks like a hood town now. It used to be nice.

[@JustinThrongard]

I live in town. Its great.

[@swaffy-topic5690]

Im born and raised in swansea Illinois, that's my town, and I rep it everyday

[@miguelpb3683]

This is a great idea for a channel but ig the amount of people who want to see this is kinda of stuff isn't enough hope u get more subs

[@ChrisHarden]

Thanks! and I hope so too haha.

[@linhint6434]

i enjoyed see Belleville. i've lived here since 1965. great place to live.

[@sandraelsmaterialoblivion7201]

Lived in Belleville from 76-88. Graduated East in 88. Got to show my fiance' many of my haunts back then

[@heatherhopfinger3942]

and what happened at the gas station on Carlyle ave

[@jackoesterlejr.3454]

You didn't mention Belleville,Il. is the 8th largest city in Illinois! The city also had 3 railroads, Illinois Central, Southern Railway, & Louisville & Nashville Railroad. I graduated from Belleville West High School in 1973. Thank You.

[@TheTruthHurtsBIG]

What’s the crime rate? Bad area? Areas to stay away from?

[@heatherhopfinger3942]

the Hopfinger's my family and the Belleville's are the original founding families but people tend to forget it

[@tammybrown4901]

Well that's amazing

[@pjmac1022]

Ran a stop sign!

[@ChrisHarden]

Why stop?

[@jackson5116]

15:37 holy crap is that a good shot of that former Kmart! I filmed that if you're curious, because I had a person tie to it.

[@ChrisHarden]

Cool.

[@robertnygren45]

Lived by the quick stop

[@gaming_sportsaaron1365]

It almost looks better than the loop in St. Louis

[@tt2b756]

It’s not

[@TexasTexan]

I was one of those who left 😁 but I still own house in Ofallon

[@heatherhopfinger3942]

not the high schools or the Jr high why people from East st Louis use their friends addresses up here to over crowd our schools

[@amaurifenton2428]

I live in belleville Illinois

[@jackson5116]

8:38 that won't happen, because of white flight. Belleville's demographics are shifting, and more and more whites are moving out of Belleville. I should know, I've lived here over 20 years.

[@InkfinityOkamix3]

Damn I hate this place. Wanna get out of here and move to Wyoming or Montana.

[@jackson5116]

8:16 officially Belleville starts at the tracks.

[@ChrisHarden]

Ok.

[@heatherhopfinger3942]

wonder when Swansea will get their own high school and stop overcrowding our high schools?

[@danielsentertainmentproduc1527]

Lenzburg new Athens marissa the south easternmost cities in the metro east region have you heard of those

[@ChrisHarden]

Just looked them up. They look tiny!

[@amyv8181]

“It looks like there are a lot of nice restaurants and bars to get drunk at” Yep pretty much! That’s what that is! Anyway born and raised here and here now! I love it but it’s home to me! I moved away from 20 to 32 but so glad to be back home! Came back in 2005 and never gonna leave probably!

[@jackson5116]

0:42 you're NOT in Swansea, you're in between Fairview Heights and Swansea; you don't officially enter Swansea until you made that right turn, that's why you pass Swansea's green population sign you see at 1:02. Pause at 1:02 and look at the green sign in front of the light, that's where Swansea starts. Just thought you should know that you're technically in unincorporated St Clair County between Swansea on the right and Fairview Heights on the left.

[@ChrisHarden]

Oh.

[@ToddHa]

Some Insight into why the 'Outer Ring' is so far away from the older Metroeast cities and I-255. It's due to the Floodplain. There was a reluctance to continued building in the floodplain. So, the population decided to settle higher up. Swansea, Belleville, Ofallon, Fairview Hts, etc. Populations also settled in Collinsville, Edwardsville which sit directly on the edge of the bluffs (but mostly on the higher ground). With some awesome views of Downtown up there too. The floodplain portion of Collinsville is mostly just industry, businesses & government infrastructure (Water Treatment Plant, Aquifer access), the Cahokia Mounds & the Horse Racing Track. Same with Edwardsville, only a tiny portion of SIUE is in the floodplain, most of the campus is sitting high on the bluffs (exception: Korte Stadium & portions of the Bike Trails). Edwardsville has at least one Aquifer in the floodplain. The Aquifer's access point sits at the intersection of Hartzel Rd & Sand Rd in Edwardsville, IL. You can find it on Google Street View: 3798 Poag Rd, Edwardsville, IL. The Aquifer has a Backup Generator & there is a solar-powered Tornado Siren standing next to it. I bring this up because my surname is Hartzel.

[@ChrisHarden]

All of that makes sense.

[@rphilly6644]

Bruh dude casually drove by my street

[@QuizzesG]

The crime rate above average i had no problems from baby to right now

[@tt2b756]

What school u go to?

[@jackson5116]

15:56 you know the sucky part about all those houses? They're technically NOT in Belleville, it's unincorporated St Clair County! I looked at some years ago, and turns out, even with a Belleville mailing address, they're in unincorporated county, just outside Belleville! The high school is where Belleville ends!

[@ChrisHarden]

With weird boundaries all over the place it’s hard to tell where you are anymore.

[@heatherhopfinger3942]

If you live here you need a side hustle selling stuff on the side because a job is not to be found

[@johnreitz5676]

Gutter politicians are the norm here.

[@roberthall6161]

Do not be offended. It would have been an enlightening experience had I been allowed in Belleville Illinois.

[@kathyblagg7705]

Please come back in 2023

[@heatherhopfinger3942]

you get half way home in Downtown someone ask you for money

[@tt2b756]

Ong right by the family dollar and CVS

[@tt2b756]

They ass ain’t even homeless either they’re just the local pan handlers 😂

[@heatherhopfinger3942]

the best high school is not the public ones it is Althoff High school they have academics and sports above and beyond and Notre Dame academy grade school the two best in academics and sports

[@heatherhopfinger3942]

we need better plumbing and the streets as you can see need to be redone and walking up a hill if you do not have high top shoes or a good pair of boots can be killing on the hips so the streets need to be redone

[@jtjjbannie]

That music is probably the worst pick you could have made. Very drone-like and repetitive.

[@ChrisHarden]

Nice dog bro.

[@jtjjbannie]

@@ChrisHarden Thats all I got. You?

[@bedebe1]

I live here

[@ChrisHarden]

Do you like it?

[@jackson5116]

9:18 welcome to downtown Belleville. Visiting is great, living here sucks ass!

[@ChrisHarden]

Haha.

[@jackson5116]

10:02 you are skipping so, soooo much of Belleville just going down Main Street, ignoring the areas behind it that are less attractive. Go down Walnut, Oak, Charles, you'll see the true Belleville area!

[@ChrisHarden]

That would’ve made for a super long video! Hard to get all areas of town in a timely fashion.

[@lorettamackeviciusre8988]

Needed continuous narrative, you reminded me of Kamala Harris.

[@jtjjbannie]

You can thank your democrats for all the problems found in Belleville. I know because I was born here.

[@heatherhopfinger3942]

you said it Fields was mayor of E St Louis and now we can thank the UCC for the Mayor we have in Belleville Illinois

[@Firerose101]

Lived 36 years in Belleville. Had to leave to Missouri. The taxes are too high and the politicians too corrupt. Illinois is a trash State