Cantons of Costa Rica

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Costa Rica is administratively divided into seven provinces which are subdivided into 84 cantons, and these are further subdivided into districts. Cantons are the only administrative division in Costa Rica that possess local government in the form of municipalities. Each municipality has its own mayor and several representatives, all of them chosen via municipal elections every four years.

Contents

The original 14 cantons were established in 1848, and the number has risen gradually by the division of existing cantons. Law no. 4366 of 19 August 1969, which outlines the creation of administrative divisions of Costa Rica, states that new cantons may only be created if they have at least one percent of the republic's total population, which was 5,044,197 as of the latest estimate (2022). [1] [2] The newest canton, Puerto Jiménez, was created on June 21, 2022, from the canton of Golfito. [3]

According to the latest population estimate from the National Institute of Statistics and Census, the largest canton by population is the capital San José with a population of 352,381, while the smallest by population is Monteverde with 5,386 residents. The same estimate listed the largest canton by land area as San Carlos, which spans 3,352.14 km2 (1,294.27 sq mi) and the smallest as Flores at 6.75 km2 (2.61 sq mi). [4]

Political structure

Each canton is controlled by a government unit called Municipalidad. [5] The term reflects the fact that the cantons in Costa Rica have approximately the same function as municipios ("municipalities") in many other Spanish-speaking countries. This administrative unit consists of two bodies: a municipal council (Concejo Municipal) and an executive officer called a mayor (alcalde / alcaldesa municipal), a title that was introduced in 1998. [5]

The mayor's main duties are to liaise with the municipal council, district councils and the entire administrative apparatus of the canton, and to approve and implement the decisions taken by the municipal council. [6] The number of members of the municipal council varies from one canton to another, and they are elected by local elections held every four years. [7] The head of the council is titled the municipal president (presidente municipal). The council's main task is to manage the canton at the local level, and is responsible for planning basic policies and establishing budgets. More specifically, the responsibilities include urban and agricultural planning and organizing cultural affairs, health care, education and industry. [8] Each municipal president appoints a number of working commissions that deal with issues specific to the municipality. [9]

Cities in Costa Rica

According to the Executive Decree N°41548-MGP (Declara oficial para efectos administrativos, la aprobación de la División Territorial Administrativa de la República), a city in Costa Rica is a ceremonial title awarded to a district or districts which contain the administrative center regardless of factors such as population, population density, or economic indicators. This designation is also known as cabecera de cantón, head city of the canton. [10]

Cantons

  Provincial Capital†

  National Capital and Provincial Capital‡

CantonCity [10] Province Population
(2022) [lower-alpha 1] [4] 		Population
(2011) [11] 		ChangeLand area (km2) [4] Population density (2022) [lower-alpha 1] Incorporation date [12]
San José ‡ San José San José 352,381288,054+22.3%44.621848
Escazú Escazú San José 71,50056,509+26.5%34.531848
Desamparados Desamparados San José 223,226208,411+7.1%118.891862
Puriscal Santiago San José 38,52533,004+16.7%555.041868
Tarrazú San Marcos San José 17,81016,280+9.4%291.271868
Aserrí Aserrí San José 59,58857,892+2.9%168.261882
Mora Colón San José 32,34826,294+23.0%163.481883
Goicoechea Guadalupe San José 132,104115,084+14.8%31.71891
Santa Ana Santa Ana San José 58,02049,123+18.1%61.421907
Alajuelita Alajuelita San José 81,01277,603+4.4%21.471909
Vázquez de Coronado San Isidro San José 67,07860,486+10.9%223.931910
Acosta San Ignacio San José 22,54220,209+11.5%342.561910
Tibás San Juan San José 74,59264,842+15.0%8.271914
Moravia San Vicente San José 59,54656,919+4.6%28.821914
Montes de Oca San Pedro San José 53,86249,132+9.6%15.781915
Turrubares San Pablo San José 6,1735,512+12.0%416.251920
Dota Santa María San José 9,3646,948+34.8%404.441925
Curridabat Curridabat San José 71,02665,206+8.9%16.061929
Pérez Zeledón San Isidro de El General San José 156,917134,534+16.6%1,901.081931
León Cortés Castro San Pablo San José 13,55312,200+11.1%121.91961
Alajuela † Alajuela Alajuela 322,143254,886+26.4%391.611848
San Ramón San Ramón Alajuela 93,26480,566+15.8%1,021.751856
Grecia Grecia Alajuela 76,22676,898−0.9%142.471848
San Mateo San Mateo Alajuela 6,9526,136+13.3%125.031868
Atenas Atenas Alajuela 30,40725,460+19.4%126.321868
Naranjo Naranjo Alajuela 46,64742,713+9.2%127.031886
Palmares Palmares Alajuela 39,14834,716+12.8%38.941888
Poás San Pedro Alajuela 36,20729,199+24.0%74.481901
Orotina Orotina Alajuela 24,21720,341+19.1%145.111908
San Carlos Quesada Alajuela 198,742163,745+21.4%3,352.141911
Zarcero Zarcero Alajuela 15,15312,205+24.2%157.361915
Sarchí Sarchí Norte Alajuela 21,56218,085+19.2%136.771949
Upala Upala Alajuela 57,36143,953+30.5%1,592.681970
Los Chiles Los Chiles Alajuela 34,70123,735+46.2%1,332.711970
Guatuso San Rafael Alajuela 18,31615,508+18.1%752.831970
Río Cuarto Río Cuarto Alajuela 14,41811,074+30.2%254.92017
Cartago † Cartago Cartago 165,417147,898+11.8%278.661848
Paraíso Paraíso Cartago 65,94157,743+14.2%4771848
La Unión Tres Ríos Cartago 99,53999,399+0.1%44.181848
Jiménez Juan Viñas Cartago 18,71014,669+27.5%250.071903
Turrialba Turrialba Cartago 82,06569,616+17.9%1,589.241903
Alvarado Pacayas Cartago 17,13414,312+19.7%79.191908
Oreamuno San Rafael Cartago 48,91145,473+7.6%202.891914
El Guarco El Tejar Cartago 47,37541,793+13.4%1721939
Heredia † Heredia Heredia 131,901123,616+6.7%283.121848
Barva Barva Heredia 47,69940,660+17.3%56.021848
Santo Domingo Santo Domingo Heredia 45,93240,072+14.6%25.41869
Santa Bárbara Santa Bárbara Heredia 39,13336,243+8.0%52.11882
San Rafael San Rafael Heredia 48,84845,965+6.3%48.311885
San Isidro San Isidro Heredia 22,80620,633+10.5%26.671905
Belén San Antonio Heredia 23,75921,633+9.8%12.381907
Flores San Joaquín Heredia 22,02620,037+9.9%6.751915
San Pablo San Pablo Heredia 29,86027,671+7.9%8.341961
Sarapiquí Puerto Viejo Heredia 67,15357,147+17.5%2,144.221970
Liberia † Liberia Guanacaste 80,13062,987+27.2%1,442.171848
Nicoya Nicoya Guanacaste 66,26850,825+30.4%1,337.561848
Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Guanacaste 72,36655,104+31.3%1,320.81848
Bagaces Bagaces Guanacaste 23,70919,536+21.4%1,277.931848
Carrillo Filadelfia Guanacaste 48,22737,122+29.9%599.011877
Cañas Cañas Guanacaste 31,73826,201+21.1%687.041878
Abangares Las Juntas Guanacaste 22,21118,039+23.1%646.021915
Tilarán Tilarán Guanacaste 21,23219,640+8.1%669.241923
Nandayure Carmona Guanacaste 11,87411,121+6.8%568.141961
La Cruz La Cruz Guanacaste 26,82919,181+39.9%1,385.41969
Hojancha Hojancha Guanacaste 8,2247,197+14.3%262.991971
Puntarenas † Puntarenas Puntarenas 141,697115,019+23.2%1,816.861862
Esparza Esparza (Espíritu Santo district) Puntarenas 34,80828,644+21.5%217.231848
Buenos Aires Buenos Aires Puntarenas 50,56245,244+11.8%2,382.941914
Montes de Oro Miramar Puntarenas 16,39512,950+26.6%247.61915
Osa Puerto Cortés Puntarenas 36,08829,433+22.6%1,932.71940
Quepos Quepos Puntarenas 32,41626,861+20.7%557.851948
Golfito Golfito Puntarenas 44,08639,150+12.6%1,752.751949
Coto Brus San Vito Puntarenas 46,35138,453+20.5%944.221965
Parrita Parrita Puntarenas 20,06816,115+24.5%483.221971
Corredores Ciudad Neily (Corredor district) Puntarenas 51,02341,831+22.0%623.621973
Garabito Jacó Puntarenas 26,67217,229+54.8%316.011980
Monteverde Monteverde Puntarenas 5,3864,155+29.6%53.472021
Puerto Jiménez Puerto Jiménez Puntarenas 10,6448,789+21.1%720.432022
Limón † Limón Limón 116,45794,415+23.3%1,769.381909
Pococí Guápiles Limón 146,320125,962+16.2%2,188.171911
Siquirres Siquirres Limón 63,76556,786+12.3%855.141969
Talamanca Bribrí (Bratsi district) Limón 48,90630,712+59.2%2,792.231911
Matina Matina Limón 45,32937,721+20.2%770.41969
Guácimo Guácimo Limón 49,60641,266+20.2%801.561971
Costa Rica 5,044,1974,301,712+17.3%51,146.63 [lower-alpha 2]


See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 The Eleventh Population Census (2022) experienced significant issues relating to the Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in only successfully sampling around 60% of homes, resulting in estimates being used. "Estimación de Población y Vivienda 2022 Resultados Generales" [Population and Housing Estimate 2022 General Results](PDF). inec.cr (in Spanish). Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos. 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  2. ↑ Not including Cocos Island's land area.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Escazú (canton)</span> Canton in San José province, Costa Rica

Escazú is the second canton in the province of San José in Costa Rica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aserrí (canton)</span> Canton in San José province, Costa Rica

Aserrí is the sixth canton in the San José province of Costa Rica. The head city of the canton is the homonymous Aserrí.

Nandayure is a canton in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica. The head city is in Carmona district.

Hojancha is a canton in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica. The head city is in Hojancha district.

Carmen is the first distrito of San José Canton in Costa Rica, and one of the four administrative units that form San José downtown. This district is not heavily populated although it is a busy downtown area in daytime.

Merced is a district of the San José canton, in the San José province of Costa Rica. It is one of the four administrative units that form San José downtown properly. This division is merely commercial, but covers an important part of "josefino" life and activities.

Hospital is a district of the San José canton, in the San José province of Costa Rica. It is one of the four administrative units that form San José downtown properly. The district houses, along with Merced district, the main commercial activity of the city, and is the most populous of the four central districts.

Catedral is a district of the San José canton, in the San José province of Costa Rica, it is one of the four administrative units that form San José downtown properly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zapote</span> District in San José canton, San José province, Costa Rica

Zapote the fifth district of the San José canton, in the San José province of Costa Rica. It is one of the administrative units surrounding San José downtown. The district is primarily residential, although there are some government buildings, standing out the Presidential House, seat of the government.

San Francisco de Dos Ríos is the sixth district of the San José canton, in the San José province of Costa Rica. It is one of the administrative units surrounding San José downtown. The district is primarily residential and industrial. It's also famous for the numerous motels between its boundaries.

Uruca is the seventh district of the San José canton, in the San José province of Costa Rica. It is an important industrial and commercial area of San José. Commonly known as La Uruca, it's the second biggest district by area, and recognized as a heavily congested transportation hub.

Mata Redonda is a district of the San José canton, in the San José province of Costa Rica.

Hatillo is the tenth district of the San José canton, in the San José province of Costa Rica.

San Sebastián is the eleventh district of the San José canton, in the San José province of Costa Rica. An important residential district, San Sebastián is the third most populous and second most densely populated in the canton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tirrases</span> District in San José, Costa Rica

Tirrases is a district of the Curridabat canton, in the San José province of Costa Rica.

Guaitil is a district of the Acosta canton, in the San José province of Costa Rica.

Uruca is a district of the Santa Ana canton, in the San José province of Costa Rica. It is popularly called "Río de Oro".

Piedades is a district of the Santa Ana canton, in the San José province of Costa Rica.

La Colonia is a district of the Pococí canton, in the Limón province of Costa Rica.

Pozos is a district in Santa Ana canton, San José province of Costa Rica. It was created in 1907. The principal avenue of the district carries the name of Lindora, which is also used to name the district and its surroundings.

References

  1. ↑ Comisión Nacional de División Territorial Administrativa (1980). Estudio sobre la División Territorial Administrativa de la Republica de Costa Rica[Study on the Administrative Territorial Division of the Republic of Costa Rica] (in Spanish). Costa Rica: Imprenta Nacional. §53.
  2. ↑ Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (July 2023). Estimación de Población y Vivienda 2022: Resultados Generales [2022 Population and Housing Estimate: General Results](PDF) (in Spanish). San José, Costa Rica. ISBN   978-9930-525-75-3.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. ↑ Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Costa Rica (2022-06-21). "Ley N° 10195 - Creación del Cantón de Puerto Jiménez, Cantón Décimo Tercero de la Provincia de Puntarenas" [Law № 10195 - Creation of the Canton of Puerto Jiménez, Thirteenth Canton of the Province of Puntarenas]. Sistema Costarricense de Información Jurídica (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  4. 1 2 3 Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (2023). "Resultados Estimacion de Poblacion y Vivienda 2022" [2022 Population and Housing Estimate Results](XLSX) (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  5. 1 2 Alfaro and Zeledón (2006). Derechos ciudadanos y el gobierno local en Costa Rica[Rights of citizens and local governments in Costa Rica] (in Spanish). San José: Lara Segura & Asoc. p. 35.
  6. ↑ Alfaro and Zeledón (2006). Derechos ciudadanos y el gobierno local en Costa Rica[Rights of citizens and local governments in Costa Rica] (in Spanish). San José: Lara Segura & Asoc. pp. 36–37.
  7. ↑ "El Elector" [The Elector](PDF) (in Spanish). Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones. May 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-01-20. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
  8. ↑ Unidad de Información y Adiestramiento (1987). La Municipalidad y sus funciones[The Municipality and its functions] (in Spanish). San José. §6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  9. ↑ Unidad de Información y Adiestramiento (1987). La Municipalidad y sus funciones[The Municipality and its functions] (in Spanish). San José. §11.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  10. 1 2 "Division Territorial Administrativa de Costa Rica" (in Spanish). Sistema Costarricense de Informacion Juridica. September 2, 2009. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Población total por zona y sexo, según provincia, cantón y distrito" [Total population by area and sex, province, county and district] (in Spanish). Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos. 2011. Archived from the original (XLS) on March 5, 2016. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Division Territorial Administrativa de Costa Rica" [Administrative Territorial Divisions of Costa Rica](PDF) (in Spanish). Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 2, 2015. Retrieved December 30, 2015.

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