History :

The history of the City of Rio Dell is unique. In the 1870's when Lorenzo Painter settled in what is now known as Rio Dell. He started a friendly farming community which he named Eagle Prairie. Over the years three separate small community areas evolved that were popularly named Wildwood (which is now downtown Rio Dell, Belleview (now a major area and avenue northwest of the center of town) and Eagle Prairie (now the Pacific Avenue area west of the center of town). The City was incorporated in 1965 and the three areas combined into the single City of Rio Dell..