Colbern purchased about 80 acres of land from Manzey Q. Ashby of Kentucky, who had received it a month earlier from the U.S. government. The plot of land sat on a high ridge that ran north to Kansas City and was ideal for future railroad development. Scott and Colbern filed a plat for the 80 acres in December of 1871 and called the new town Belton after one of Scott’s close friends, Captain Marcus
Lindsey Belt, who helped Scott survey the land. The two had served in the Civil War together. Belton was incorporated in 1872 and purposely rotated its downtown grid to match the rail lines that brought commerce, goods and more residents to this new Cass County community. Famous individuals that have left their mark on the community include U.S. President Harry S. Truman; Businessman and Author Dale Carnegie; and the prominent leader of the Temperance Movement, Carrie Nation. For more than 150 years, Belton has been the economic driver in Cass County and is now home to more than 25,000 residents. Belton’s award winning schools and new neighborhoods continue to draw people to our community who bring a rich diversity of new ideas and growth. Our community celebrates its proud past knowing we have a bright future.
