Alajuela (canton)

Alajuela
Canton
Alajuela urban area
Flag Seal
Alajuela canton
Alajuela Alajuela canton location in Alajuela Province Show map of Alajuela Province Alajuela Alajuela canton location in Costa Rica Show map of Costa Rica
Coordinates: 10°09′50″N84°15′52″W / 10.163979°N 84.2645463°W / 10.163979; -84.2645463
Country	Costa Rica
Province	Alajuela
Creation	7 December 1848 [1]
Head city	Alajuela
Districts	Districts Alajuela San José Carrizal San Antonio Guácima San Isidro Sabanilla San Rafael Río Segundo Desamparados Turrúcares Tambor Garita Sarapiquí
Government
• Type	Municipality
• Body	Municipalidad de Alajuela
Area
• Total	388.43 km2 (149.97 sq mi)
Elevation	942 m (3,091 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	254,886
• Density	660/km2 (1,700/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−06:00
Canton code	201
Website	www.munialajuela.go.cr

Alajuela is a canton in the Alajuela province of Costa Rica. ^{[2] [3]} Its head city is the provincial capital city of Alajuela.

History

Alajuela was created on 7 December 1848 by decree 167. ^[3]

Geography

Alajuela has an area of 388.43 km² ^[4] and a mean elevation of 942 metres. ^[2]

Northward from the city of Alajuela, the canton continues along the border with the province of Heredia to its east, encompassing a strip of the Cordillera Central (Central Mountain Range) between Poas Volcano and Barva Volcano. On the Caribbean side of the mountains, the canton takes in a portion of the Sarapiquí area. The Río Poás (Poas River) forms the major portion of the canton's western border, finally giving way to the Río Poasito as the territory ascends into the Cordillera Central.^{[ citation needed ]}

Southwest of the city of Alajuela, the canton of Alajuela ends at the confluence of the Río Grande (Great River) and the Río Virilla (Virilla River).^{[ citation needed ]}

Landmarks

Alajuela Cathedral dome

In the center of Alajuela, next to Parque de Alajuela, also known as "Parque de los Mangos", is Alajuela Cathedral, whose main feature is its red dome. This park is a popular place for locals to socialize, especially in the afternoons. One block west of the park is the Mercado Central de Alajuela, a bustling shopping centre.^{[ citation needed ]} Poás Volcano National Park is about 37 kilometres (23 mi) north of Alajuela city and is known for its five waterfalls at La Paz Waterfall Gardens. ^[5]

To the north of the Central Park is the Museo Histórico Cultural Juan Santamaría. This museum, situated in a building built in 1894-45, which was formerly a prison in the barracks of Alajuela, contains many historical maps, artifacts and portraits of the 1856-1857 campaign. In 1977 it became the headquarters of the Centro de Investigación para el Perfeccionamiento Técnico (CIPET), an institution of the Ministry of Public Education. ^[6]

Districts

The canton of Alajuela is subdivided into the following districts:

1. Alajuela
2. San José
3. Carrizal
4. San Antonio
5. Guácima
6. San Isidro
7. Sabanilla
8. San Rafael
9. Río Segundo
10. Desamparados
11. Turrúcares
12. Tambor
13. Garita
14. Sarapiquí

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1864	11,521		—
1883	15,247		32.3%
1892	19,300		26.6%
1927	25,656		32.9%
1950	37,376		45.7%
1963	64,398		72.3%
1973	96,325		49.6%
1984	127,472		32.3%
2000	222,853		74.8%
2011	254,886		14.4%
Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos [7] Centro Centroamericano de Población [8]

For the 2011 census, Alajuela had a population of 254,886 inhabitants. ^[9]

Transportation

Road transportation

The canton is covered by the following road routes:

• National Route 1
• National Route 3
• National Route 27
• National Route 107
• National Route 111
• National Route 118
• National Route 119
• National Route 120
• National Route 122
• National Route 123
• National Route 124
• National Route 125
• National Route 126
• National Route 130
• National Route 136
• National Route 140
• National Route 146
• National Route 147
• National Route 153
• National Route 712
• National Route 718
• National Route 719
• National Route 721
• National Route 727

Rail transportation

The Interurbano Line operated by Incofer goes through this canton.

Economy

It is a major area for the production of coffee, strawberries and ornamental plants. ^{[10] [11]} The Doka Estate lies within the canton, in Sabanilla District, and is a major coffee producing estate, supplying directly to Starbucks. ^[12]

References

1. Hernández, Hermógenes (1985). Costa Rica: evolución territorial y principales censos de población 1502 - 1984 (in Spanish) (1 ed.). San José: Editorial Universidad Estatal a Distancia. pp. 164–173. ISBN   9977-64-243-5 . Retrieved 5 October 2020.
2. "Declara oficial para efectos administrativos, la aprobación de la División Territorial Administrativa de la República N°41548-MGP". Sistema Costarricense de Información Jurídica (in Spanish). 19 March 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
3. División Territorial Administrativa de la República de Costa Rica (PDF) (in Spanish). Editorial Digital de la Imprenta Nacional. 8 March 2017. ISBN   978-9977-58-477-5.
4. "Área en kilómetros cuadrados, según provincia, cantón y distrito administrativo". Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
5. Fodor's Costa Rica 2012. Fodor's. November 2011. p. 267. ISBN   9780307929044.
6. "Museo (arquitectura)" (in Spanish). Museo Histórico Cultural Juan Santamaría. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
7. "Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos" (in Spanish).
8. "Sistema de Consulta de a Bases de Datos Estadísticas". Centro Centroamericano de Población (in Spanish).
9. "Censo. 2011. Población total por zona y sexo, según provincia, cantón y distrito". Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 September 2020.
10. McNeil, John (2011). The Rough Guide to Costa Rica. Rough Guides. p. 121. ISBN   9781858287133.
11. Drew, Keith (2012). The Rough Guide to Costa Rica. Rough Guides. p. 133. ISBN   9781405391993.
12. Glassman, Paul (2006). Costa Rica Guide. Open Road Publishing. p. 43. ISBN   9781593600686.