Belén is the 7th canton of the province of Heredia, Costa Rica. It is part of the Greater Metropolitan Area, where the housing area constitutes at least 25% of the surface area of the canton. It has a territorial area of 12.15 km² and is divided into 3 districts. It limits to the north and west with the corner of Alajuela, to the east with Flores and Heredia, and to the south with San José, Escazú and Santa Ana. It was founded on June 8,1907. Its head is the city of San Antonio. According to the National Census of 2011, the population of the canton was 21,633 inhabitants, of which 12.0% were born abroad.
The same census highlights that there were 6,011 occupied dwellings, of which 82.5% were in good condition and there were problems of overcrowding in 2.9% of the dwellings.100.0% of its inhabitants lived in urban areas. Among other data, the literacy level of the canton is 99.0%, with an average schooling of 10.3 years. The same census details that the economically active population is distributed as follows: Primary Sector: 2.8%. Secondary Sector: 26.0%. Tertiary Sector: 71.2% For the year 2012 it had the second highest human development index in the country according to the United Nations Development Program. The economy of the canton of Bethlehem is based on industry, commerce and services. The new industries installed are technologies, hotels, manufacturing, trade among others. To the north of the region is located the industrial zone in development La Ribera and La Asunción, which constitutes 18% of the area of the canton.
In 2011, the presence of Intel's high-tech industrial plant made Belén the canton with the highest competitiveness index in the country, Belén is one of the five cantons in Costa Rica where the area devoted to activities has been reduced most drastically. The main agricultural activities in the canton were onion, tomato, corn, coffee and livestock. As well as poultry production. The main recreation center is the Ojo de Agua Spa, the skate park and the sports center. Important historical sites are the House of Culture, and the old station of the Railroad to the Pacific, as well as the Church dedicated to San Antonio de Padua.