| Belen, NM | Population: 14136 |
| Settled: Over 200 years ago | Elevation: 4800 |
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| Belen is the county seat of Valencia County |
| Founded in 1740, Belen was originally settled by two Spaniards who named the town Belén, Spanish for "Bethlehem." The forty families who founded Belén formed an agriculturally-based community. By the mid 1800's, Belén began to develop as a mercantile center. The arrival of the ralroad in Belén brought shops, a roundhouse, an ice plant, yards containing miles of tracks and a depot. Growth has been constant since then, and the railroad remains an important factor: the new "Railrunner" provides quick and easy commuting to Albuquerque and Santa Fe. |
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 Belen nestles right along the Rio Grande, and its irrigated fileds insure that agriculture remains important to the community. The Valencia County Fair is held here annually, providing opportunities for local FFA and 4H youth and other community members to show off their livestock, produce, handcrafts, and other skills. The Sheriff's Posse Arena hosts numerous rodeo and other equestrian events. |
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 Belen is a vibrant small city with a strong community spirit. Come on out and enjoy such regular events as the weekly Farmer's Market at Anna Becker Park, or visit annual activities like the Valencia County Fair Parade to check out the Fair exhibits, events and competitions, or attend the annual Fiesta at Our Lady of Belen and see who is crowned queen of the Fiesta! You'll find regular horse shows, rodeos, and ropings locally, too, if you're a horse enthusiast! |
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 Belen celebrates its Hispanic heritage with such activities as annual Cinco De Mayo celebrations and the Belen fiesta. Other cultural events include an annual Oktoberfest, Christmas Light Parade, and the Valencia County Fair and Parade. Horses are a big part of life for many residents, and both the Sheriff's Posse Arena and the adjacent Valencia County Fairgrounds arena are constantly playing host to a wide variety of horse show, rodeos, and gymkhanas. |