Belen (New Mexico)

Valencia County

35-06480

Geography

The city is located almost centrally located in the County in the central northwestern New Mexico and has a total area of 12.2 km ² without significant water surface.

History

The name Belen is derived from the Spanish word for Bethlehem Belén.

Demographic data

According to the census of 2000, there were 6,901 people in 2,596 households and 1,778 families. The population density was 565 inhabitants per km ². The racial the population was composed of 67.5 % White, 1.1% Black or African American, 1.7 % Native American, 0.2 % Asian and other groups.

Of the 2,596 households out of which 34.8 % have children under the age of 18 living with them. 44.3 % were married couples living together, 17.8 % had a female householder with no husband, and 31.5% were non-families, 26.2 % of all households are made up and 10.6% had someone living alone at the age of 65 years or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.14.

In relation to the entire town the population was spread out with 28.8 % under the age of 18, 9.6 % from 18 to 24, 25.5% between 25 and 44 years, 21.0% between 45 and 64 years and 15.1% were 65 years old or older. The average age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 men statistically.

The median income for a household was 26,754 U.S. dollars, and the median income for a family was 30,765 U.S. dollars. Males have a median income of $ 26,551 U.S. dollars, 21,300 women U.S. dollars. The per capita income was 12,999 dollars. 23.2 % of families and 24.8 % of the population were below the poverty line.

Name Variants

The city has some name variants:

• Bethel

Personalities

Sons and daughters

• Joseph N. "Joe" Baca ( b. 1947 ), politician