page_title: Belen, New Mexico
section_title: Cityscape
hierarchical_section_title: Belen, New Mexico / Cityscape
caption_attribution_description: English: Former Belen City Hall located at 503 Becker Ave., Belen, New Mexico, USA This is an image of a place or building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the United States of America. Its reference number is 100003676
context_page_description: Belen is the second most populous city in Valencia County, New Mexico, United States, after its county seat, Los Lunas. The population was 7,269 at the 2010 Census.
  Belen is Spanish for Bethlehem but gained the nickname "The Hub City". The city is geographically near the center of New Mexico and has been a significant transportation hub for central New Mexico that includes access to rail, the interstate highway and air at Valencia County's only public airport.
  Belen is at the southern end of the Albuquerque Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is located 35 miles south of Albuquerque.
context_section_description: Belen's central business district and downtown is located along Becker and Dalies avenues, stretching from the BNSF rail yard to Main Street. Downtown Belen features structures dating back to the early 20th century when the railroad came into town.
  The Belen Hotel and Central Hotel, both located on Becker Avenue, are two-story structures built to accommodate railroaders and other rail guests in the early 1900s. Both were constructed of bricks made from the former Belen brickyard. Today, the Belen Hotel has been converted into a private residence and private art gallery, while the Central Hotel has been renovated to include a private residence upstairs with a wine tasting room as well as an event space and ballroom downstairs.
  Old City Hall, also located on Becker Avenue, is a 1938 Works Progress Administration project, which housed the former Belen City Hall and fire department. The two-story building was constructed of terron, a material similar to adobe.
  The Belen Harvey House is located within feet of the BNSF rail yard. It is a two-story building opened in 1907, one year before completion of the Belen Cutoff, to provide room and board to railroaders and others passing through. The original Belen rail depot is adjacent to the Harvey House grounds, owned by BNSF and used as office space for the railroad.
  Of the more architecturally significant buildings, because of the engineering behind the architecture, is the Scholle building, located at the intersection of Main Street and Becker Avenue. The Scholle building, originally designed as a Swiss chalet, has more than eight miles of rail built into its walls.
  The Oñate Theater, located on Dalies Avenue, was built in the early 20th century, showing many of the biggest marquee films. The theater is situated on the same block as three other historic buildings.
caption: Old City Hall
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