Bellefontaine Neighbors (/bɛlˈfaʊntən/ bel-FOWN-tən) is an inner-ring suburban city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States.

[5] The history of Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri, can be traced back to the mid-1800s when the area was part of the Louisiana Territory, which was ceded by France to Spain in 1762 in the Treaty of Fontainebleau.

Spanish military authorities constructed forts near the mouth of the Missouri River to strengthen their hold on the territory and discourage intruders from the east.

In 1800, Spain ceded the territory west of the Mississippi River back to France, which then sold it to the United States in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase.

In 1804, a treaty was made with the Sac and Fox Indians that led to the establishment of a trading post on the south bank of the Missouri River.

The area was chosen for its natural advantages, including a large clear water spring called "la belle fontaine" by the early French settlers.

By the winter of 1805, Fort Bellefontaine was constructed under the command of Colonel Jacob Kingsbury, with log cabins, a trading house, a bakery, a blacksmith shop, and huts for enlisted soldiers.

General Daniel Bissell served as the military commander of the territory and resided at Fort Bellefontaine for several years.

The area that is now Bellefontaine Neighbors was made up of land grants issued by Spanish, French, and American officials.

The area remained primarily agricultural until the 1950s, when a building boom following World War II led to the construction of subdivisions and a population increase.

The city administration of Bellefontaine Neighbors has evolved since its incorporation, with A. W. Schnur appointed as the first mayor in 1950.

The city is divided into four wards and operates under a Mayor-Aldermen form of government, with the mayor and aldermen elected to four-year terms.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.32 square miles (11.19 km2), all land.