A post office was established at Belfast in 1836.[3] The community was named after Belfast, in Northern Ireland.[4] The first commercial business in Belfast opened in 1838.[5]
1952 Tornado
On February 29, 1952, a weak, but catastrophic F1 tornado hit the town, killing three and injuring 166. As of 2022, this is the most injuries ever caused by an F1/EF1 tornado in the United States, although sources vary on the actual casualty toll.[6][7]