Phone |
505-966-2670 |
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Street Address |
525 Becker Ave., Belen, NM, Belen, NM 87002 |
Email |
yvette.flores@belen-nm.gov |
Fax |
505-352-3581 |
WWW Link |
http://belen-nm.gov |
Comments |
IS 25, IS 25 Bypass, SR 6, SR 47, SR 304 and SR 309 run through Belen. |
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About the area |
Belen was founded in 1740, and given the Spanish name for the city of Bethlehem. At first the economy was agriculturally based, but as the 19th century began sheep herding took hold. The designation of New Mexico as a territory of the United States around 1846 brought many new immigrants and the town developed into a mercantile center. Around 1880 the railroad reached this area and the town became a village. Today the population is over 7,000 and an average of 110 trains travel through here every day. The Santa Fe railroad built a Harvey House restaurant along the railroad tracks to accommodate its passengers who stopped in Belen. The building has been converted into a museum with memorabilia pertaining to the Harvey House, America's first chain of restaurants, the Santa Fe Railway and early local businesses in Belen. Inside the museum there is a large working model train exhibit maintained by the local Model Railroad club. |
Hours of Operation |
Mon-Thu 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Fri 8 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. |
Judges |
Her Honor Kathy Savilla |
Mailing Address |
525 Beck Avenue, Belen, NM 87002 |