Municipality of Belen
Belén is a municipality in the department of Lempira in Honduras.
It was established as such in the year 1871, according to the ejidal land records found in the municipal archives. The origin of its first inhabitants is not known for certain, but it is believed that they were descendants of the Chortí people who inhabited the western area of the country.
Its first municipal organization was led by citizen Eusebio Amaya Morales in 1881. Known by the name Curincunque, it appears in the population census of 1791 as part of the curate of Gracias a Dios. In the political territorial division of 1889, it appears as a municipality in the district of Gracias.
Location
It is located 24 km from the colonial city of Gracias, Honduras, following the road that leads to the Intibucá department. A detour must be taken to reach the town center. Being bordering with that department, it is situated 20 km from the town of San Juan del Caite.
The prevailing climate in this municipality is temperate, resulting in many pine forests in the surrounding areas. The mountainous terrain is quite rugged, offering many pleasant landscapes to tourists.
Limits
Belén is bordered to the north by the municipalities of La Iguala and Gracias, to the south by the Intibucá department, to the east by the Intibucá department, and to the west by the municipality of La Campa.
Economy
Just like in most of the department, the main resources are maize agriculture, bean production, and coffee cultivation. Forest resources also constitute a source of income.
Sanitation
The installation of sanitary sewage systems in the municipality’s center began in 2007.
Electricity
The municipality has electricity service, and most of the neighboring hamlets also have access to it.
Telecommunications
Mobile phone services from companies operating in Honduras are available.
Population
Similar to the Municipality of Gracias, there is a mixed population resulting from the intermingling of indigenous people from the area and the Spanish colonizers.
The population in 2015 was 7,238 inhabitants, with a density of 36.59 inhabitants/km².
Tourism
The town center features buildings and houses with Spanish colonial architecture (Baroque), including the church dating back to the colonial era.
Patronal festival: October 8th, the day of the Virgin of the Rosary.
