The Founding of Belle River:According to one popular account, Belle River received its name from a band of explorers sent by Cadillac to survey the area in 1701. Upon arriving on its shores, one member of the party supposedly exclaimed, "qu'elle belle riviere." Forty years later, the first French homesteader settled on Belle River land. Substantial population growth took place after 1770 when several French soldiers and their families moved to the community after the fall of New France. They were afraid of the ridicule they might face in their homeland due to their failure to win the war. The new settlers made their living as trappers, fisherman, and hunters. In 1874, Belle River obtained official village status.