Zarcero (canton)

Zarcero
Canton
Topiary in Zarcero
Flag Seal
Zarcero canton
Zarcero Zarcero canton location in Alajuela Province Show map of Alajuela Province Zarcero Zarcero canton location in Costa Rica Show map of Costa Rica
Coordinates: 10°13′08″N84°24′59″W / 10.2188363°N 84.4163283°W / 10.2188363; -84.4163283
Country	Costa Rica
Province	Alajuela
Creation	21 June 1915 [1]
Head city	Zarcero
Districts	Districts Zarcero Laguna Tapezco Guadalupe Palmira Zapote Brisas
Government
• Type	Municipality
• Body	Municipalidad de Zarcero
Area
• Total	155.13 km2 (59.90 sq mi)
Elevation	1,777 m (5,830 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	12,205
• Density	79/km2 (200/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−06:00
Canton code	211
Website	zarcero.go.cr

Zarcero is a canton in the Alajuela province of Costa Rica. ^{[2] [3]}

Hiking trails, pure water creeks, friendly people, landscapes and natural attractions are features of the area.

Toponymy

The name means an abundance of the elmleaf or thornless blackberry plant, in Spanish called zarzamora.

It was originally given the name "Alfaro Ruiz" in remembrance of Juan Alfaro Ruíz, a hero from the National Campaign of 1856, ^[4] or Filibuster War. The head city of the canton is the eponymous Zarcero district.

History

Zarcero was created on 21 June 1915 by decree 27. ^{[3] [5]}

Geography

Zarcero has an area of 155.13 km² ^[6] and a mean elevation of 1,777 metres. ^[2]

To the north, the region borders canton San Carlos, to the south it borders canton Naranjo, to the east it borders canton Sarchí and to the west it borders the canton San Ramón.

The canton itself is diamond-shaped, with the Espina River forming the border on the northwest and the southwest sides. The Toro River forms the southeastern border, and the La Vieja River borders the northeast.

Districts

The canton of Zarcero is subdivided into the following districts:

1. Zarcero
2. Laguna
3. Tapezco
4. Guadalupe
5. Palmira
6. Zapote
7. Brisas

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1927	3,088		—
1950	4,676		51.4%
1963	4,919		5.2%
1973	6,342		28.9%
1984	7,005		10.5%
2000	10,845		54.8%
2011	12,205		12.5%
Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos [7] Centro Centroamericano de Población [8]

For the 2011 census, Zarcero had a population of 12,205 inhabitants. ^[9]

The canton has a 93% literacy rate, and by the year 2012 had a Human Development Index of 0.726 according to the United Nations Development Program. The region also has one of the lowest crime rates in the country. ^[10]

Transportation

Road transportation

The canton is covered by the following road routes:

• National Route 141
• National Route 741

Economy

The economy of the canton is based on agriculture, primarily coffee and vegetables such as carrots, lettuce, potatoes and chiverre. ^[11] Livestock and their products, especially "natilla Zarcero", a form of sour cream that originated in this area, make up another large portion of the economy. There are also smaller pastry, bread and other agriculturally-based industries in Zarcero. Tourism likewise has an impact on the economy. Two protected areas help attract tourist attention, a section of Juan Castro Blanco National Park and El Chayote Protected Zone. ^[12]

One feature of the canton is Evangelista Blanco Brenes Park, a park with topiary-designed bushes located in front of the Iglesia de San Rafael Arcángel in the center of the city of Zarcero.

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. Creedman, Theodore S (1991). Historical Dictionary of Costa Rica. London: The Scarecrow Press. pp. 41–42. ISBN   9780810822153.
5. Murillo Vargas, Juan Ramón (2015). Centenario de Zarcero: un cantón pintoresco. Costa Rica: Editorial Universidad Estatal A Distancia. ISBN   9789968481175.
6. "Área en kilómetros cuadrados, según provincia, cantón y distrito administrativo". Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 September 2020.
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. Mora, Andrea (April 15, 2015). "Zarcero inicia celebraciones de centenario del cantón". Elpaís.cr (in Spanish). Retrieved August 5, 2017.
11. Robson, Pål André (May 2009). "Neoliberalism and Social Response: A Preliminary Study of the Peasantry in Alfaro Ruiz, Costa Rica" . Retrieved August 5, 2017.
12. "El Chayote Protected Zone, National Parks Costa Rica". www.costarica-nationalparks.com. Costa Rica National Parks. Retrieved August 5, 2017.