Is Bellwood Terrace safe?
Chesterfield, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Bellwood Terrace as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Bellwood Terrace
“Go with care. Bellwood Terrace is primarily a quiet, working-class residential subdivision in Chesterfield County, but proximity to the Route 1 corridor brings localized property crime concerns. Visitors will find little of interest beyond quiet residential streets and nearby industrial/retail hubs, requiring standard situational awareness.”
About the area
Bellwood Terrace is an established suburban neighborhood situated in northeastern Chesterfield County just west of the Route 1 commercial corridor and near the Defense Supply Center Richmond. It features modest mid-century single-family ranch homes and mature trees alongside light industrial and retail zones. While predominantly peaceful for residents, it sits close to busy thoroughfares with elevated retail and vehicular property crime.
- Suburban
- Working-Class
- Car-Dependent
- Quiet Residential
Walking and biking in Bellwood Terrace
Walk score: 32/100 · Bike score: 36/100
Dedicated bicycle lanes are almost entirely absent, and there are no public bike-share stations or direct connections to regional greenway trails.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Lower violent crime rates compared to adjacent inner-city Richmond neighborhoods
- Established single-family residential character with low-traffic interior streets
- Close proximity to major regional employment centers and Interstate 95 access
- High rate of personal vehicle access ensuring strong regional mobility
Cons
- Elevated rates of opportunistic property crime and theft along nearby commercial corridors
- Lower median household income and higher economic distress than Chesterfield County averages
- Complete lack of pedestrian infrastructure like continuous sidewalks on main connector roads
- Limited neighborhood dining or cultural amenities within walking distance
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the residential streets of Bellwood Terrace, though occasional panhandling or unhoused individuals may be observed near budget motels and major intersections along nearby Route 1.
What Bellwood Terrace is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and calm as local residents commute to work, with high safety on interior residential roads.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Relatively quiet in residential pockets, though arterial roads see bustling commercial traffic.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet residential feel, though dim lighting along some side streets suggests keeping to well-lit areas.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Generally quiet inside the subdivision, but visitors should avoid lingering around unlit commercial lots nearby.
Transit, parking and getting around
GRTC provides bus service along the Route 1 corridor via Route 3B, connecting south to Petersburg and north into downtown Richmond. There is no rail or BRT service in this immediate suburban area.
Ample free residential street parking and private driveways throughout the neighborhood; commercial plazas offer free surface lot parking.
Things to do in Bellwood Terrace
- Visit the nearby historic Bellwood elk herd habitat visible near Defense Supply Center Richmond
- Explore outdoor recreational fields and picnic spaces at Bensley Park
- Sample authentic regional and international eateries along the Jefferson Davis Highway corridor
Local favorites
- Taqueria Panchito · Mexican Restaurant · 4.6★ (1100)A popular local staple serving authentic tacos, tortas, and Mexican street food just minutes away.
- Bellwood Flea Market · Flea Market · 4.2★ (2300)A bustling weekend outdoor market nearby featuring vintage goods, produce, and diverse vendors.
- Crab Shack Seafood Restaurant · Seafood Restaurant · 4.1★ (340)Casual neighborhood seafood spot known for fried platters and generous steamed portions.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.