Alajuela

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District in Alajuela canton, Alajuela province, Costa Rica

title: "Alajuela" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["alajuela", "greater-metropolitan-area-(costa-rica)", "districts-of-alajuela-province"] description: "District in Alajuela canton, Alajuela province, Costa Rica" topic_path: "general/alajuela" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alajuela" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary District in Alajuela canton, Alajuela province, Costa Rica ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
nameAlajuela
settlement_typeDistrict, City
image_skyline{{Photomontage
photo1aAlajuela, Costa Rica - Night Skyline.png
photo2aLa Iglesia Central de Alajuela.jpg
photo2cJuan Santamaria 1.JPG
photo3aAlajuela likeluis.jpg
photo3bTeatro Municipal Alajuela 2011.jpg
photo4aAlajuela, Costa Rica - Costa Rican Ox Cart.png
photo4bAlajuela, Costa Rica - Juan Santamaria International Airport 2.png
photo5aAlajuela, Costa Rica - Alejandro Morera Soto Stadium Paronamic View.png
size260
spacing2
color#FFFFFF
border0
foot_montageImages, from top down, left to right: Alajuela skyline at night, Central Church, Juan Santamaría Statue, Central Park, Municipal Theater, a traditional Costa Rican bullock cart, the Juan Santamaría International Airport, Alejandro Morera Soto Stadium.}}
image_flagBandera de la Provincia de Alajuela.svg
flag_size100x67px
image_shieldEscudo de Alajuela.svg
shield_size100x80px
nicknameCiudad de los Mangos
(City of Mangoes)
mottoPro Patria Nostra — Sanguis Noster
For our country, our blood
mapframeyes
mapsize275px
map_captionAlajuela and surrounding area
pushpin_mapCosta Rica
pushpin_map_captionLocation of Alajuela within Costa Rica
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_type1Province
subdivision_nameCosta Rica
subdivision_name1Alajuela Province
subdivision_type2Canton
subdivision_name2Alajuela
established_titleFounded
established_date1782
leader_titleSyndic
leader_nameFrancisco Salazar Sánchez
area_total_km28.88
population_total42975
population_as_of2011
population_density_km2auto
timezoneUTC−06:00
coordinates
elevation_m952
postal_code_typePostal code
postal_code20101
blank_name_sec1Climate
blank_info_sec1Aw
website
::

| name = Alajuela | settlement_type = District, City | image_skyline = {{Photomontage|position=center | photo1a = Alajuela, Costa Rica - Night Skyline.png | photo2a = La Iglesia Central de Alajuela.jpg | photo2c = Juan Santamaria 1.JPG | photo3a = Alajuela likeluis.jpg | photo3b = Teatro Municipal Alajuela 2011.jpg | photo4a = Alajuela, Costa Rica - Costa Rican Ox Cart.png | photo4b = Alajuela, Costa Rica - Juan Santamaria International Airport 2.png | photo5a = Alajuela, Costa Rica - Alejandro Morera Soto Stadium Paronamic View.png | size = 260 | spacing = 2 | color = #FFFFFF | border = 0 | foot_montage = Images, from top down, left to right: Alajuela skyline at night, Central Church, Juan Santamaría Statue, Central Park, Municipal Theater, a traditional Costa Rican bullock cart, the Juan Santamaría International Airport, Alejandro Morera Soto Stadium.}} | image_alt = | image_caption = | image_flag = Bandera de la Provincia de Alajuela.svg | flag_size = 100x67px | flag_alt = | image_shield = Escudo de Alajuela.svg | shield_size = 100x80px | shield_alt = | nickname = Ciudad de los Mangos (City of Mangoes) | motto = Pro Patria Nostra — Sanguis Noster For our country, our blood | mapframe = yes |mapsize = 275px |map_caption = Alajuela and surrounding area |pushpin_map = Costa Rica |pushpin_map_caption = Location of Alajuela within Costa Rica |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_type1 = Province |subdivision_name = Costa Rica |subdivision_name1 = Alajuela Province |subdivision_type2 = Canton |subdivision_name2 = Alajuela |established_title = Founded |established_date = 1782 |government_type = |leader_title = Syndic |leader_name = Francisco Salazar Sánchez |area_magnitude = |area_total_sq_mi = |area_total_km2 = 8.88 |area_land_sq_mi = |area_land_km2 = |area_urban_sq_mi = |area_urban_km2 = |area_metro_km2 = |area_metro_sq_mi = | population_total = 42975 | population_as_of = 2011 | population_density_km2 = auto |timezone = UTC−06:00 |utc_offset = |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |coordinates = |elevation_footnotes= |elevation_m = 952 |elevation_ft = |postal_code_type = Postal code |postal_code = 20101 |area_code = |blank_name_sec1 = Climate |blank_info_sec1 = Aw |website = |footnotes = Alajuela () is a district in the Alajuela canton of the Alajuela Province of Costa Rica. As the seat of the Municipality of Alajuela canton, it is awarded the status of city. By virtue of being the city of the first canton of the province, it is also the capital of the Province of Alajuela.

Because of its location in the Costa Rican Central Valley, Alajuela is nowadays part of the conurbation of the Greater Metropolitan Area. The city is the birthplace of Juan Santamaría, the national hero of Costa Rica and the figure who gives the name to the country's main international airport, which is south of Alajuela downtown.

Geography

Alajuela has an area of 8.89 km2 and an elevation of 952 m. It is located in the Central Valley, 19 kilometres northwest of San José.

Climate

The climate is tropical, typical of the Central Valley, but slightly warmer than San José. Temperatures are moderate, averaging 23 – with a low humidity level, with dewpoints around 20 (20 C) almost all year round. Alajuela and its surroundings are famed for having "the best weather in the world".

| width = auto | metric first = yes | single line = yes | location = Alajuela (1956–2003) | Jan high C = 27.8 | Feb high C = 28.6 | Mar high C = 29.6 | Apr high C = 29.7 | May high C = 28.4 | Jun high C = 27.6 | Jul high C = 27.7 | Aug high C = 28.7 | Sep high C = 27.3 | Oct high C = 27.1 | Nov high C = 27.2 | Dec high C = 27.5 | Jan low C = 17.5 | Feb low C = 17.6 | Mar low C = 17.8 | Apr low C = 18.3 | May low C = 18.4 | Jun low C = 18.2 | Jul low C = 18.4 | Aug low C = 18.1 | Sep low C = 17.7 | Oct low C = 17.6 | Nov low C = 17.8 | Dec low C = 17.7 | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation mm = 7.6 | Feb precipitation mm = 12.6 | Mar precipitation mm = 17.4 | Apr precipitation mm = 79.6 | May precipitation mm = 271.2 | Jun precipitation mm = 265.6 | Jul precipitation mm = 177.5 | Aug precipitation mm = 253.8 | Sep precipitation mm = 340.6 | Oct precipitation mm = 338.5 | Nov precipitation mm = 148.5 | Dec precipitation mm = 32.8 | Jan precipitation days = 2.0 | Feb precipitation days = 1.9 | Mar precipitation days = 3.0 | Apr precipitation days = 8.2 | May precipitation days = 21.6 | Jun precipitation days = 23.3 | Jul precipitation days = 20.1 | Aug precipitation days = 21.8 | Sep precipitation days = 25.2 | Oct precipitation days = 25.5 | Nov precipitation days = 16.0 | Dec precipitation days = 5.9 | source 1 = World Meteorological Organization{{cite web |url = https://worldweather.wmo.int/en/city.html?cityId=285 |title = World Weather Information Service |publisher = World Meteorological Organization |access-date = 18 August 2024}}

Demographics

|1864=2339 |1883=3532 |1892=3828 |1927=8496 |1950=13903 |1963=24224 |1973=33122 |1984=34556 |2000=42889 |2011=42975 For the 2011 census, Alajuela had a population of inhabitants.

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/Ermita_de_El_Llano_de_José_Manuel_Morera_Cabezas.jpg" caption="El Llano old hermitage"] ::

In pre-Columbian times the land where the canton of Alajuela is today was part of the Western Huetar Kingdom, which was inhabited by native tribes, who at the time of the Spanish conquest were led by Chief Garabito.

The first Spanish settlers established settlements in the region in about 1650. In a letter of obligation granted in 1764, the place is mentioned as La Lajuela in the Valley of Barva, near the Canoas river.

In 1777, the dwellers of La Lajuela and Ciruelas, having been served with notice to move to Villa Vieja (today's Heredia), requested the provisional construction of a public place of prayer in the house of Don Dionysius Oconitrillo, of Spanish origin, 30 metres north of where Alajuela's cathedral is today.

After increases of population in the five existing quarters then: Targuaz, Puás, Ciruelas, La Lajuela and Rio Grande, the citizens faced difficulties to maintain their religious obligations, so they requested permission to establish a parish and a public place of prayer from the Bishop of Nicaragua and Costa Rica, Monsignor don Esteban Lorenzo de Tristán.

According to a motion issued in the Spanish Parliament of Cádiz on 19 May 1812, the first town hall of Alajuela was founded in 1813. On 18 December of the same year, the La Lajuela quarter obtained the title of town and it was renamed. It was first called "Villa Hermosa", then it was called "San Juan Nepomuceno de Alajuela" and finally the title of city was granted on 20 November 1824 and with it the name "Alajuela" which remains today.

Participation in important historical events by citizens of Alajuela has ensured the city's reputation as a storied place in Costa Rican history. The national hero Juan Santamaría, who died during the Filibuster War in 1856 to remove invaders threatening Costa Rica's sovereignty, was born in Alajuela. This historical event is celebrated and remembered every year on 11 April and it is a national holiday.

The area often experiences earthquakes. The 2009 magnitude 6.1 earthquake caused several landslides.{{Cite news | title = 10 confirmed dead, 32 injured after quake in Costa Rica | url = http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/01/09/crica.quake/ | date = 2009-01-09 | work = CNN.com | publisher = Cable News Network | archive-date = 2 April 2010 | access-date = 9 January 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100402175029/http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/01/09/crica.quake/ | url-status = dead

Economy

The main exports of the region are coffee, sugar-cane, maize, beans, tobacco, citrus fruits, strawberries, tubers like cassava, flowers and ornamental plants. Other commercial activities include poultry farming, beekeeping, pig farming and the dairy industry. More recently, Alajuela has seen important investment in free zone parks and heavy industry companies, with a considerable number of them dedicated to manufacturing a variety of medical devices.

Transportation

Alajuela is an important transport hub for the country, connecting the capital city of San José with northwestern Costa Rica. As a part of the Greater Metropolitan Area, most of the inhabitants of Alajuela work in other cities or regions of the Central Valley, and every day receives residents from other locations to work in local factories. Central America's second busiest airport, Juan Santamaría International Airport, is three kilometers south of the district center.

Road transportation

The district is covered by the following road routes:

Rail transportation

The Interurbano Line operated by Incofer goes through this district.

Sports

Liga Deportiva Alajuelense is the province's major football club, having won 30 league titles. The club has a historical rivalry with Deportivo Saprissa, both popularly viewed as the two best football clubs of Costa Rica. They play their home games at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto, located in this district, and a new stadium is currently being built on another location inside the Alajuela Province.

Gallery

File:AeropuertoJuanSantamaría.jpg|Juan Santamaría International Airport File:Skatepark Alajuela por la noche.jpg|Alajuela skatepark File:Santamaria, Juan -monumento Alajuela 04.jpg|Monument to Juan Santamaria, who was born in Alajuela, popular hero of the Filibuster War File:Alajuela likeluis.jpg|Alajuela´s catholic Cathedral is located in front of Alajuela´s central park (Officially named Parque General Tomás Guardia) File:Teatro Municipal Alajuela 2011.jpg|Municipal Theatre of Alajuela File:Iglesia Metodista de Alajuela.jpg|Alajuela´s Methodist Church

Sister cities

Notable residents

Historical

Born in or live in Alajuela

References

References

  1. "Dos lucidas exposiciones conmemorarán los 100 años de la Diócesis de Alajuela".
  2. (19 March 2019). "Declara oficial para efectos administrativos, la aprobación de la División Territorial Administrativa de la República N°41548-MGP".
  3. (8 March 2017). "División Territorial Administrativa de la República de Costa Rica". Editorial Digital de la Imprenta Nacional.
  4. "Área en kilómetros cuadrados, según provincia, cantón y distrito administrativo".
  5. Alajuela, Climate and info, in [http://costaricaweathercenter.com/weather-and-climate-alajuela/ Costa Rica WeatherCentre] {{Webarchive. link. (23 January 2018)
  6. "Censo. 2011. Población total por zona y sexo, según provincia, cantón y distrito".
  7. Ocampo Barrantes, Marlon. "Los Orígenes de la Población de Alajuela, 1601-1782". Editorial UNED, Costa Rica, 2009.
  8. nacion.com: [http://wvw.nacion.com/ln_ee/1995/septiembre/21/english.html Costa Rican News in Brief] {{Webarchive. link. (13 May 2014 , accessdate: 5/13/2014, 9/21/1995)
  9. Alajuela: [https://www.lahr.de/home/town_its_boroughs/sister_cities/alajuela.14086.10037,13940,14065,14086.htm Stadt Lahr online - Alajuela] {{Webarchive. link. (18 May 2015 , accessdate: 5/13/2014)
  10. Page 2: [http://www.butterflyfarm.co.cr/en/educational-resources/murals-of-la-guacima/feed/atom/Page-2.html Murals of La Guacima. Page 2] {{webarchive. link. (17 May 2014 , accessdate: 5/13/2014)
  11. : [http://downeybeat.com/2012/05/downey-looking-for-a-sister-that-may-not-exist-43737/ http://downeybeat.com/2012/05/downey-looking-for-a-sister-that-may-not-exist-43737/] {{Webarchive. link. (4 August 2019 , accessdate: 5/13/2014)
  12. "Sister Cities, Public Relations". Guadalajara municipal government.
  13. pref.ibaraki.jp: [http://www.pref.ibaraki.jp/bukyoku/seikan/kokuko/en/introduction/pro_04.htm IBARAKI Prefectural Government] {{Webarchive. link. (25 June 2012 , accessdate: 5/13/2014)

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alajuelagreater-metropolitan-area-(costa-rica)districts-of-alajuela-province