Alajuela (canton)


Alajuela is the name of the first canton in the province of Alajuela in Costa Rica. The canton covers an area of, and has a population of 285,259. Its capital is the provincial capital city of Alajuela. It is a major area for the production of coffee, strawberries and ornamental plants.

History

Alajuela became a province and a canton on December 7, 1848.

Geography

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 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 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.
Southwest of the city of Alajuela, the canton of Alajuela ends at the confluence of the Río Grande and the Río Virilla.

Districts

The canton of Alajuela is subdivided into 14 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

    Economy

The canton is a major area for the production of coffee, strawberries, mangoes and ornamental plants. The Doka Estate lies within the canton, in Sabanilla District, and is a major coffee producing estate, supplying directly to Starbucks.

Landmarks

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 s 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. Poás Volcano National Park is about north of Alajuela city and is known for its five waterfalls at La Paz Waterfall Gardens.
To the north of the Central Park is the Museo Histórico Cultural Juan Santamaría. This museum, situated in a building built in 1894-5, 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, an institution of the Ministry of Public Education.