Belleville Boots: By the Numbers

There’s nothing quite like slipping on your first pair of Bellevilles. But before you get too comfortable, get to know your protective footwear in a quantitative way.

• 1 million – The number of pairs Belleville Shoe Manufacturing Co. currently produces every year.
• 1917 – The year Belleville landed its first military order.
• 50 – Employees who worked at the first Belleville Shoe factory, which was founded in 1904.
• $2.5 million – Cost of Belleville’s new plant in 1986 (and its current home).
• 1997 – The year “Belleville” was printed on the outside of military boots.
• 6 or 7 – Pairs baseball legend Stan Musial, Belleville’s best customer, normally used a season.
• $6.3 million – Amount the Defense Logistics Agency is contracted to pay Belleville for Army, Navy and Air Force boot orders through 2010.
• 23.1 – Miles Belleville’s headquarters in Belleville, Ill., is from St. Louis, Mo.
• 1 – Times a guy on YouTube squishes a lemon with his Bellevilles (see below).