Bayt Jala is situated in the District of Bethlehem, approximately 2 km northwest of Bethlehem at an elevation of 825 meters. In 1922, the town had 3,102 residents, declining slightly to 2,731 by 1931. However, expansion resumed afterward: 3,710 in 1945, 7,966 in 1961, 11,000 in 1987, 16,183 in 2002, and 17,165 by 2007.
According to British Mandate village statistics from 1945, Arab inhabitants owned 13,595 dunums of land compared to 397 dunums held by Jewish residents. Land usage patterns showed Arabs controlled 9,684 dunums of irrigated and plantation areas, while 845 dunums were planted with cereal crops.
Bayt Jala is predominantly Christian Palestinian, with significant Orthodox traditions. The town features multiple churches, including Baptist and Orthodox establishments. The site contains extensive archival materials, including Ottoman-era property deeds, tax documents, and land sale agreements dating from the mid-1800s, with historic photographs spanning from 1896 onward documenting traditional Palestinian life, agricultural practices, architecture, and social customs.
