Bell Ville

Bell Ville is a city about 200 km southeast of Córdoba, the capital of Córdoba Province of Argentina. It lies at the junction of National Route 9, National Route 3 and the Córdoba–Rosario–Buenos Aires railroad. Bell Ville is also the capital of the Unión Department in south-eastern Córdoba. Throughout its history, Bell Ville has evolved from a ranch and village to a military fort, customs inspection and control point, and ultimately, a recognized town and city. Notably, in 1866, Bell Ville was proposed as the potential capital of the Argentine Republic.
In the place where the city stands today, a friar died under unknown circumstances, and neither his name nor his religious congregation became known. Consequently, the area was initially called "Fraile Muerto" (Dead Friar).
Bell Ville is located in the Humid Pampas region, along the banks of the Ctalamochita River (also known as Río Tercero), at kilometer 500 of National Route 9 where it intersects with National Route 3 (Argentina). It is traversed by the significant broad-gauge railway branch of the General Bartolomé Mitre Railway, which connects the city of Córdoba, Argentina with Buenos Aires via Rosario. Bell Ville's location is equidistant from the two most important cities on National Route 9, lying 200 km southeast of Córdoba and 200 km northwest of Rosario.
Besides primary activities like agriculture (soybeans, wheat, sunflowers, maize) and cattle farming, and secondary ones (elaborated products of the aforementioned), Bell Ville has a peculiar local industry: the manufacturing of footballs. The city prides itself in being the "National Capital of the Football".
The population of Bell Ville is 34,439 inhabitants according to the National Institute of Statistics and Census of Argentina (INDEC) in 2010, reflecting a growth of 7.4% compared to the 32,066 inhabitants reported in the previous census of 2001.
According to the 1779 census, the population of Fraile Muerto (now Bell Ville) was 1,682 inhabitants, with an average of 8.4 individuals per family. The population composition was predominantly Spaniards (57%), followed by Mulattos (25%), Mestizos (7%), Indigenous people (6%), and Blacks (5%). There was a significant exodus in 1734 towards Pago de Areco and the province of Buenos Aires, resulting in a sparse population between 1734 and 1745. By 1744, records from the countryside census of Buenos Aires Province indicated 150 families from Córdoba, suggesting that the population of Fraile Muerto in 1720 was at least 1,200 inhabitants.
Population growth remained steady until 1815 when raids intensified, causing a decrease as people moved towards Río Cuarto and the Cuyo provinces. From 1866, English, Scottish, and Irish immigrants arrived due to the proximity of the railway's construction, the quality and affordability of the land. The end of the war with Paraguay in 1868 was beneficial as returning troops helped control raids more effectively, leading to a progressive increase in population.
Massive immigration of Italians and Spaniards occurred from around 1880 through the railway. Since 1991, and notably after the closure of a major meatpacking plant in 1998, the city has experienced a marked slowdown in population growth.
The first Europeans to set foot in the area where Bell Ville now stands were ten survivors of Sebastián Gaboto's expedition in the spring of 1529, under the command of Francisco César. They encountered the main settlement of the Litines, a subgroup of the Het people, named after their chief Litín. After staying for several days, the explorers continued their journey through dense forests along the riverbanks, rich with Prosopis trees, chañares, tasis (Araujia sericifera), molles and mistoles.
According to engineer Agustín Villarroel in his book, in 1584-1585, a friar died at the location where Bell Ville would later be established. The friar's name and religious order remain undisclosed, leading to the area being known as Fraile Muerto (Dead Friar).
In addition, in 1585, an expedition led by General Alonso de la Cámara, accompanied by Juan de Mitre, departed from Córdoba to establish the shortest route between Córdoba and Buenos Aires. They marked the route every four leagues for mule trains, carts, and messengers. At Fraile Muerto, a marker was placed to signify the river crossing known as "El paso grande" (The big pass), where the banks were cleared for easier transit.
In the first thirty years of the 19th century the zone was a battlefield between the Creoles and the ranqueles, as well as field of combat between "federal" and "unitary", happening in 1818 in the surrounding areas the fratricidal combat between the troops supervised by Juan Bautista Bustos and the troops under the order of Estanislao López. The second half of the 1860s the real development of the population began with the construction of the tracing of the Central Argentine Railroad that would join - between other cities - Buenos Aires with Córdoba.
At the end of 1870 when the First Industrial Exhibition travel for the above-mentioned railroad the president at the time Domingo Faustino Sarmiento to inaugurate Argentina realized in the city of Córdoba (1871), and to have to stop in the railway station so called "Dead Friar", he decided to change the name of the railway station, naming it Bell Ville for a double motive: the paronomasia with Beautiful Villa in honoring to the Scottish colonists from Dunbar, Antonio and Ricardo Bell, who established themselves in the place and they had initiated an agriculture and modern ranching (cattle) in the zone. In 1872 the whole population happened to be call Bell Ville.
From the second half of the 19th century the population received great quantity of immigrants proceeding from Europe, and it obtained the range of city on August 17, 1908.
Like other cities in the Humid Pampas, Bell Ville is a prosperous urban center whose economy is based on primary and secondary sectors, specifically agriculture (soybeans, wheat, sunflowers, maize) and livestock farming (cattle), as well as the processing and industrialization of agricultural raw materials. The local industry is primarily in food processing and metallurgy, particularly in the manufacturing of agricultural machinery and parts. Bell Ville is also home to 11 small and medium-sized companies specializing in the production of soccer balls, grouped under the Argentine Manufacturers' Circle of Balls and Related Products (CAFABA). The largest of these companies employs 30 staff and contracts around 150 seamstresses.
On December 29, 2000, Ordinance No. 1150/2000 was enacted, establishing the "Industrial Pole Bell Ville," which attracted several local industries to the area. According to the provincial census of 2008, the city was home to 172 small and medium-sized industries, as well as 1,040 businesses.
Education in the city is extensive, with various institutions at different levels.
Music School and Municipal Band of Bell Ville "Ernesto Alfonso Bianchi"
The Municipal Children's Band was officially founded on October 31, 1938, during Arturo Matterson's mayoralty, and was led from the beginning by Ernesto Bianchi (an Italian born in Monteleone in 1870), with assistance in musical education from Mr. Armando Moine.
To sustain it, a tax on public performances was established, and an administrative commission was created to manage its affairs, composed of Mr. José Di Lollo, Emilio Chinetti, Leopoldo Rodino, Domingo Giardilli, Salvador Leonetti, Enrique Rassero, and Eduardo Tossolini.
On June 8, 1955, during Hugo Leonelli's mayoralty, it was decided to name the school after its creator and first director, Ernesto Bianchi, who had passed away in Buenos Aires in 1953. Currently, the band consists of 97 musicians.
The Children's Home
Founded on September 11, 1966, at 240 Corrientes Street, premises donated by the parish of Bell Ville. Since then, 20 children have been lovingly cared for, thanks to widespread community support.
The project expanded, and due to the need for more space, the Lions Club undertook the construction of a building at the corner of España and Corrientes avenues, which was inaugurated on April 29, 1979, allowing for the care of 80 children.
Subsequently, Banco Sudecor Cooperativo Limitado donated two classrooms that were inaugurated on June 3, 1982.
Today, the Children's Home accommodates children aged between 3 and 14 years, providing comprehensive education.
They receive balanced meals daily, including breakfast and lunch, along with behavioral norms and comprehensive medical and social assistance.
The children are supported with educational activities.
Considering the child as a whole person, the Children's Home extends its influence to the family, neighborhood, and community, working intensively within the home environment.
Bellvillense Union of Secondary Students (U.B.E.S.)
Founded in 1948 to foster the development of future community leaders, the Bellvillense Union of Secondary Students has played, continues to play, and will continue to play a significant role in Bell Ville.
This entity, with over 70 years of history, is a great source of pride for all residents of Bell Ville and remains unique throughout Argentina, yet it does not have its own headquarters.
The committee members rarely exceed 17 years of age. UBES, as it is popularly known, has shown tangible evidence of what youth can achieve when entrusted with responsibilities.
UBES organizes traditional mini UBES competitions, cultural, environmental, and sports events, and also hosts dances for Friendship Day, students, and graduates. Recently, this organization has added valuable community initiatives and many proposals that are being implemented year by year to improve everything that simple students are maintaining.
On August 7, 1921, the Central Hospital was established in Bell Ville, which over the years acquired the name of its first director, Dr. José Ceballos. It soon became the primary center for patient care in the city and the wider Unión Department.
The healthcare complex offers inpatient services, including special wards for children, maternity, neonatology, traumatology, intensive care, surgery, and medical clinics for men and women. It also features specialized areas for Mental Health and for the rehabilitation of patients with alcohol and drug problems.
Currently, Dr. Tomás Guillermo serves as the hospital's director.
Additionally, municipal dispensaries are located throughout the city to provide rapid first aid assistance to the entire population.
Bell Ville also hosts private clinics such as "Clínica Mayo," "Clínica Unión," "Clínica Regional," among others. Some health cooperatives with their own facilities include "AMMA."
Bell Ville hosts branches of the Argentine Federal Police, located in a building on Rivadavia Street, and the Provincial Police, situated in a facility on España Avenue which includes a prison.
In 2009, Bell Ville established the Citizen Security department, equipped with two vehicles dedicated to road safety. Each vehicle is manned by one municipal police officer and one provincial police officer. This institution operates nightly from 20:00 to 06:00 the following day, aimed at preventing nighttime robberies. As part of the construction of the Children's Plaza, a security camera system was installed to deter vandalism and criminal activities.
Bell Ville experiences a temperate climate according to data collected by NASA between 1931 and 1960. The average annual temperature is 17°C with a mean maximum of 25°C and a mean minimum of 9°C. The city receives an average annual precipitation of 800 mm.
Bell Ville is situated in the region known as the humid pampas, at the intersection of Provincial Route 3 and National Route 9. The Tercero River (also known as Ctalamochita River) meanders through the city for approximately 10 km. It is navigable by medium-sized boats and Barges, although its potential as a waterway remains underutilized.
Bell Ville hosts several clubs that compete in the Bellvillense Football League, headquartered in the city. The league includes teams from nearby towns and cities such as Leones, Morrison, and Marcos Juárez.
Some of the notable clubs in Bell Ville include:
Bell Ville has hosted 2 editions of the Five-pin billiards World Championship in 1968 and 1978
While primarily known for agriculture and industry, Bell Ville offers recreational opportunities centered around its river, which runs through the city center for 3 km. This feature provides centrally located beaches within Parque Tau, known as Playa Paso de la Arena and Playa El Diquecito. During summer, these beaches are equipped with lifeguards and bars. Playa El Diquecito also features a boat and jet ski ramp.
Bell Ville features several monuments:
Bell Ville hosts a canoeing club established by Edgardo Roth and Francisco Geminiani in the late 1960s. Members can store or borrow canoes and kayaks at the club, conveniently located in Parque Tau with direct access to the Tercero River.
Although the city was never officially founded, municipal authorities recognized November 9, 1676, as its founding date after thorough historical research. Every year, the city celebrates its anniversary with a parade involving local institutions (firefighters, schools, police, among others) and nearby communities (such as the Agrupación Gaucha de Monte Leña). The festivities include concerts by local music groups and fireworks.
The Aquarama Festival is held at Parque Tau, specifically at Playa Paso de la Arena. Revived by the municipality in 2011 after a 31-year hiatus, the event attracts over ten thousand people over two days. The festival includes performances by local bands, neighboring city bands, and culminates with renowned artists like Coki Ramírez. On the second day, local bands perform alongside comedian Martín Bustos. The festival also features a competition to crown the Aquarama Queen and ends with spectacular fireworks.
Until 1930, soccer balls were made of cowhide or horsehide, causing injuries due to surface irregularities. Romano Polo envisioned a smooth, round ball for better gameplay and safety, which he and his friends Antonio Tossolini and Juan Valbonessi developed. They patented the design under the brand "SUPERBALL," revolutionizing soccer worldwide and earning Bell Ville the title of "birthplace of the soccer ball."
Bell Ville hosts the National Soccer Ball Festival, attracting prestigious teams in a celebration of the game. The event includes conferences, exhibitions, contests, parades, music, performances, and a magnificent fireworks show to conclude.
In 2008, the National Soccer Ball Festival took place from February 20 to 24. It was the fourteenth edition of the festival. The under-17 teams that participated included:
In 2008, Bell Ville introduced the Rally Ciudad de Bell Ville as the third round in the provincial championship, spanning three days with one day dedicated to presentations and two for competition.
Bell Ville has a local television channel that broadcasts the local news program "Panorama," as well as other shows like "Popular TV," a music program with 15 years on air, and "Contacto Rural," specializing in agricultural information, which has reached South American screens through production by "Costumbre Rurales" on CANAL RURAL.
Teleocho, Canal 10, and El Doce: Channels Teleocho (Telefe), Canal 10 (Multimedio SRT), and El Doce (Artear) from the City of Córdoba each have a repeater in Bell Ville, broadcasting on channels 7 (Canal 10), 42 (Teleocho), and 66 (El Doce).
There are numerous FM radio stations, including:
Prominent print media includes the "Semanario Tribuna," which sells 3,000 copies per week, and the monthly free newspaper "Zona Sur." Bell Ville also has digital newspapers such as Informabellville, Diario Marca, La Nueva Opinión, and El Sudeste de Córdoba.
In the year 2008 was the presentation of Bell Ville rally championship , third date in the province championship; there were 3 days of competition: one of presentation and two of competition.