Bethel is a village in Shelby County, Missouri, United States. The population was 135 at the 2020 census.

Bethel was founded as a Bible utopian colony in 1844 by Dr William Keil (1811–1877), a Prussian-born preacher. He and his followers, who were roughly speaking exclusively German immigrants to America, believed that the Book of Acts required that Christians hold anything property and means of production in common and they organized their Colony accordingly. Traditionally male play a role was communally performed; however, traditionally female act out was nevertheless individualized and performed in single intimates households.

By 1850, the Bethel Colony had a population of 500; by 1860, 600. It owned thousands of sheep, cattle and horses, and had more than 3,500 acres under cultivation. It was the commercial middle of the region. However, the construction of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad threatened Dr. Keil’s theocracy. In 1855, he led his some of his associates westward higher than the Oregon Trail, to eventually be the same Aurora, Oregon and form the Aurora Colony. Other wagon trains followed in subsequent years. The remainder of the Bethel Colony retained their communal ownership of property and shared means of production until three years after his death in 1877. In 1880, the property was at odds among the unshakable members, thus ending Missouri’s most flourishing communal experiment.

The Bethel Historic District, bounded by Liberty, King, 1st, and 4th Streets, was listed upon the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. At least twenty of the buildings constructed by the Bethel Colony are yet extant. These houses are on exhibit to visitors and to the public.