San José

Some Facts about San José

Each of the seven Provinces of Costa Rica are divided into Cantones, and each Canton is divided into several Districts.
Size: 4,959 km2
Population : 1,300,000
Coordinates: 9¼, 38',15" north and 84¼, 00', 39" west
Borders: North: Heredia, Alajuela; East: Cartago, Limón; South West: Puntarenas.
Capital: San José
Founded: 1737
Weather: San Jose, San Isidro

Cantóns in San José

Cantón 1: San José
Cantón 2: Escazú
Cantón 3: Desamparados
Cantón 4: Puriscal
Cantón 5: Tarrazú
Cantón 6: Asserí
Cantón 7: Mora
Cantón 8: Goicoechea
Cantón 9: Santa Ana
Cantón 10: Alajuelita
Cantón 11: Vasquez de Coronado
Cantón 12: Acosta
Cantón 13: Tibás
Cantón 14: Moravia
Cantón 15: Montes de Oca
Cantón 16: Turrubares
Cantón 17: Dota
Cantón 18: Curridabat
Cantón 19: Pérez Zeledón
Cantón 20: León Cortés Castro

The city of San José has been the capital of the Province of San José since 1823. It is the place where most of the Costa Rican population is concentrated. Here, there are many public interest sites, such as museums, galleries, and entertainment places like restaurants, casinos, bars and nightclubs. In the countryside you'll find coffee, vegetables, sugar cane, beans, corn and ornamental plants.

Before Colombus came to Costa Rica, the territory of San José was occupied by the indigenous group called 'Huetares'. In 1561 Don Juan de Cavallón founded the city of Garcimuñoz in the Valley of Santa Ana. San José was founded in 1737 with the name of 'Abra de la Boca del Monte', between the rivers Torres and María Aguilar. They built a church honoring Saint Joseph.

Canton San Jose

The story of the Canton of San José falls back to the origins of today's capital of Costa Rica. That was in 1736 because before that date, there was no significant population in this magnificent and fertile area called Central Valley. At this date the priest, Calbildo de León, ordered a church built in the Valley of Aserr’. He called the site La Boca del Monte.

When in 1751 the bishop Morel of Santa Cruz visited the place, it only had 11 houses made of clay and 15 houses made of straw. Since there was no water nearby, the people refused to live there and moved to Villa Nueva de la Boca del Monte. This Villa Nueva grew in size, especially during the 19th Century when the Coffee-Boom started. This fertile land, excellent to cultivate coffee, eventually became known as San José.

In 1805 the Villa Nueva de San José had 8,312 habitants, in 1815 there were 11,587 and in 1824, 15,472. Part of that growth came because of the civil war in 1823 when San José became the official capital of Costa Rica. From there on the city developed quickly. The level grounds permitted the city to expand in all directions. In a little more than 2 centuries, the village grew to the size 300,000 inhabitants. In 1890 the canton's population reached 39,112, the province grew to 76,718 and the country expanded to 243,205.

General Description

San José enjoys many privileges. From any point of the city, one can observe the volcanic mountain ranges of Barva, Poás and Irazú.

San José is a modern city in general terms since there are no buildings older than 150 years. Divided into sections by the avenidas that go from east to west and calles that go form north to south, it has an immense variety or architectural styles. Old sites worthy of mention include the post-office building, the National Theatre, and the old airport in the Sabana Park. Modern Buildings include the Central Bank, the Mercedes building, and the Social Security building known as the 'Caja'.

San José is the center of business activity in Costa Rica with its multitude of stores, malls, supermarkets and industries. There is a lot of inter-urban traffic. Numerous bus-stops offer transportation to any part of the country. There is a pedestrian zone along the Central Avenue. In the northern part of the city there is a Zoo called Parque Bol’var and there are several museums such as the Gold Museum of the Central Bank with its undeerground location beneath the Plaza de la Cultura. The Central Banks, Banco Nacional, Banco de Costa Rica, the post office, the Central Cathedral and the Central Park, make up the heart of the city.

Another interesting sector is Paseo Colón which is the continuation of the Central Avenue. Along Paseo Colón you'll find the Hospital San Juán de Diós, the Children's Hospital, lots of stores, car rental places and restaurants. At its west-end near the Sabana Park you'll find a high rise commercial and office center called Centro Colón.

Interesting sites for tourists

Within the city a tourist can take a city-tour combining shopping, historical sites, museums, shows and dining. The National Theatre, built between the years 1890 and 1897, would be an ideal starting point. Nearby, Parque Nacional comemorates solders of the war in 1856, where Central America was liberated of some foreign adventurers who wanted the region to become a slave state. From here you can walk to the Presidential-, Elections-, and Supreme Court Buildings and well as the Ministry of Tourism.

Climate

The climate is fresh almost during the whole year with an average of 22 Degrees Celsius. In the month March and April this temperature raises a little but there are never extreme temperatures. The altitude of the different Sectors are: Cameral: 1161m, El Zapote: 1175m, La Uruca: 1110m, Mata Redonda: 1133m, Pavas: 1045m, Hatillo: 1123m and San Sebastián, 1131m.

Canton Escazu

During the pre-Columbian era, Escazú was a rest spot for Indian travelers headed for Pacaca (modern-day Ciudad colon). The name Escazú comes from the Indian word Itzkatzú meaning "rest".

General Description

This canton is part of the greater metropolitan area of San José. Guachipel’n to the north of this canton has been proposed as an industrial zone. It is based on trade and agriculture, mainly coffee, fruit and vegetables. The canton is drained by the rivers Agres, Chiquero, Cruz and Convento, all tributaries of the Tirib’ River.

Interesting Sites

Its colonial-style houses and church are a unique attraction for visitors. This town, as well as Santa Ana, is linked to the capital by excellent highways and roads. Beautiful homes of well-to-do Costa Ricans and foreigners enhance this delightful canton a stones throw from the capital.

Climate

Its average temperature is a pleasant 20 degrees C (68 F).

Canton Desamparados

Desamparados, named after the first chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Desamparados in 1821, was established as a canton in 1848.

General Description

Its topography is irregular, partly resting on a ravine. This canton is part of the greater Metropolitan Area. The fluvial system of this canton belongs to the Pacific versant, specifically to the watershed of the Pirr’s and Grande de Tárcoles rivers.

Interesting Sites

There are great concentrations of relatively new houses due to the numerous housing projects in recent years. In the San Antonio District there are hot springs and a clay mine, and San Miguel has a coal mine. The canton has some important buildings such as the modern Marcial Fallas Clinic, the elegant Catholic Church as well as other buildings of historical and architectural interest, such as the colonial-style first school of Desamparados, the Barrio Salitral Mansion and the Casa de Cultura Joáquin Garc’a Monge.

Climate

It has an average temperature of 20 degrees C

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