Belgique, Missouri
| Belgique, Missouri | |
|---|---|
| unincorporated community | |
 | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 37°50′15″N 89°46′52″W / 37.83750°N 89.78111°WCoordinates: 37°50′15″N 89°46′52″W / 37.83750°N 89.78111°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Missouri |
| County | Perry |
| Township | Bois Brule [1] |
| Elevation | 372 ft (113 m) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 63775 |
| Area code(s) | 573 |
| FIPS code | 29-04042 [2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 713893 [2] |
Belgique is an unincorporated community in eastern Perry County, Missouri, USA. It is located about five miles south of Chester, Illinois in Perry County's Bois Brule Township.
Name
Since a town already existed in Missouri by the name of Belgium, the Flemish residents opted to use the French name for their homeland.
History
The town was originally settled by Catholic Flemings from Belgium. A Catholic church for The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, existed in Belgique from 1885 to 1992.[3] A post office was established in 1890, but as the name "Belgium" had already been taken, the French name for Belgium "Belgique" was used instead.[4] Its post office has closed and its mail now comes from Perryville.[5] Since the flood of 1993 there is no longer an existing town.[6]
Geography
Belgique is located on the flat alluvial plain of the Bois Brule Bottom situated in the northern part of Perry County.
See also
References
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