Belén, Heredia, Costa Rica Genealogy

Guide to Canton of Belén ancestry, family history and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, church records, parish registers, and civil registration.

History

 * Originally the current territory of the canton was known as Potrerillo or Potrerillos, then as the neighborhood of La Asunción; until finally, the site that was established to the west of the previous neighborhood began to be known, at first as a neighborhood and later as the San Antonio district.
 * The development of the population began in 1843, when the active export of coffee to European markets began and the need to build an adequate land communication route between the city of San José and the port of Puntarenas was raised.
 * The creation of this canton occurs in June 1907.
 * On June 15, 8, 1907, the title of Villa was granted to the population of San Antonio.
 * On May 4, 1970, the town was conferred the category of city, for being the head of the canton of San Antonio.
 * The Canton of Belén has a population of approximately 21,600 people.

Civil Registration

 * 1823-1975 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Church Records

 * Iglesia Católica (San Antonio de Belén, Alajuela) Registros parroquiales, 1862-1949 - Click on the link to see the records’ availability.

Cemeteries
Indexes of burials in the cemeteries of the Belén Canton may be found at findagrave.com
 * 1958-2013 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * Cementerio Municipal de San Antonio de Belén
 * Dirección: Calle Arbolito & Calle 1, La Ribera, San Antonio de Belén, Belén
 * Cementerio de La Ribera