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Alajuelita (canton)

Coordinates: 9°53′20″N 84°06′55″W / 9.8890038°N 84.1151684°W / 9.8890038; -84.1151684
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Alajuelita
Alajuelita Cross, was illuminated and visible from most of the Central Valley
Alajuelita Cross, was illuminated and visible from most of the Central Valley
Flag of Alajuelita
Official seal of Alajuelita
Map
Alajuelita canton
Alajuelita canton location in San José Province##Alajuelita canton location in Costa Rica
Alajuelita canton location in San José Province##Alajuelita canton location in Costa Rica
Alajuelita
Alajuelita canton location in San José Province
Alajuelita canton location in San José Province##Alajuelita canton location in Costa Rica
Alajuelita canton location in San José Province##Alajuelita canton location in Costa Rica
Alajuelita
Alajuelita canton location in Costa Rica
Coordinates: 9°53′20″N 84°06′55″W / 9.8890038°N 84.1151684°W / 9.8890038; -84.1151684
Country Costa Rica
ProvinceSan José
Creation4 June 1909
Head cityAlajuelita
Districts
Government
 • TypeMunicipality
 • BodyMunicipalidad de Alajuelita
 • MayorMaría del Rosario Siles Fernández[a] (PNG)
Area
 • Total21.47 km2 (8.29 sq mi)
Elevation
1,194 m (3,917 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total77,603
 • Estimate 
(2022)
81,012
 • Density3,600/km2 (9,400/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−06:00
Canton code110
Websitemunialajuelita.go.cr

Alajuelita is a canton in the San José province of Costa Rica.[1][2]

History

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Alajuelita was created on 4 June 1909 by decree 58.[2] The first settlements in the area occurred by 1650. The name "Alajuelita" comes from a diminutive form of the name of Alajuela Province due to original settlers coming from that province.

Geography

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Alajuelita has an area of 21.47 km2 (8.29 sq mi)[3] and a mean elevation of 1,194 m (3,917 ft).[1]

The odd-shaped canton reaches southwest from the suburbs of the national capital city of San José. It is delineated by the Tiribí River on the northeast, Cañas River on the east, Poás River on the southeast, and the Cerros de Escazú at it far southwestern end. The Santuario Nacional Santo Cristo de Esquipulas is located in this canton[4] along with the San Miguel Hill, whose metallic cross built at its peak is definitely one of the more beloved landmarks in Costa Rican Central Region.[5]

Government

[edit]

Mayor

[edit]

According to Costa Rica's Municipal Code, mayors are elected every four years by the population of the canton.[6] As of the latest municipal elections in 2024, the New Generation Party candidate, María del Rosario Siles Fernández[a], was elected mayor of the canton with 47.78% of the votes, with Jonathan Miguel Arrieta Ulloa and Javiera Tatiana Centeno Barboza as first and second vice mayors, respectively.[7]

Mayors of Alajuelita since the 2002 elections[8]
Period Name Party
2002–2006 Víctor Hugo Echavarría Ureña[b] PUSC
2006–2010 Tómas Poblador Soto PLN
2010–2016 Víctor Hugo Echavarría Ureña[b] PUSC
2016–2020 Modesto Alpizar Luna PNG
2020–2024
2024–2028 Michaell Álvarez Quirós

Municipal Council

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Like the mayor and vice mayors, members of the Municipal Council (called regidores) are elected every four years. Alajuelita's Municipal Council has 7 seats for regidores and their substitutes, who can participate in meetings but not vote unless the owning regidor (regidor propietario) is absent.[6] The current president of the Municipal Council is the Social Christian Unity Party member Henry David Salazar Quesada, with New Generation Party member Grettel Andrea Murillo Quirós as vice president.[9] The Municipal Council's composition for the 2024–2028 period is as follows:

Current composition of the Municipal Council of Alajuelita after the 2024 municipal elections[10]
Political parties in the Municipal Council of Alajuelita
Political party Regidores
Owner Substitute
New Generation Party (PNG) 3 Laura Alicia Araúz Tenorio Rosibel Calderón Chinchilla
José Alix Reyes Gómex[c] Hector Alonso Hidalgo Sánchez
Grettel Andrea Murillo Quirós(VP) Flor Zúñiga Rodríguez
Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC) 2 Henry David Salazar Quesada(P) Luis Fernando Chinchilla Retana
Patricia Mayela Guido Chinchilla Katherine Marcela Mora Bonilla
National Liberation Party (PLN) 1 Leyda María Badilla Sánchez Carolina Mora Sibaja
Our Town Party (PNP) 1 José Alberto Páez Zúñiga Esteban Emilio Chavarría Villalta

Districts

[edit]

The canton of Alajuelita is subdivided into the following districts:

  1. Alajuelita
  2. San Josecito
  3. San Antonio
  4. Concepción
  5. San Felipe

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.±% p.a.
19272,571—    
19503,920+1.85%
196310,848+8.14%
197323,013+7.81%
198431,390+2.86%
200070,297+5.17%
201177,603+0.90%
202297,158+2.06%
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos[11]
Centro Centroamericano de Población[12]

Alajuelita had an estimated population of 81,012 people in 2022, up from 77,603 at the time of the 2011 census.[13][14]

In 2022, Alajuelita had a Human Development Index of 0.712.[15]

Education

[edit]

Transportation

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Road transportation

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The canton is covered by the following road routes:

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Also legally named María del Rocío Siles Fernández.
  2. ^ a b Also legally named Víctor Hugo Chavarría Ureña.
  3. ^ Also legally named José Alex Reyes Gómez.

References

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  1. ^ a b "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.
  2. ^ a b 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.
  3. ^ Instituto Geográfico Nacional de Costa Rica (20 June 2024). "División Territorial Administrativa, 2024 – Totales de Provincias, Cantones y Distritos de Costa Rica" [Administrative Territorial Division, 2024 – Totals of Provinces, Cantons and Districts of Costa Rica] (PDF) (in Spanish).
  4. ^ "Santuario Nacional Santo Cristo de Esquipulas". 11 October 2017.
  5. ^ "La cruz del cerro San Miguel en Alajuelita" (PDF). kerwa.ucr.ac.cr (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  6. ^ a b Asamblea Legislativa de la República de Costa Rica (13 May 2024). "Código Municipal" [Municipal Code]. Sistema Costarricense de Información Jurídica (in Spanish).
  7. ^ Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (8 March 2024). "N.° 2157-E11-2024 - Declaratoria de elección de alcaldías y vicealcaldías de las municipalidades de los cantones de la provincia de Cartago, para el período comprendido entre el primero de mayo de dos mil veinticuatro y el treinta de abril de dos mil veintiocho" (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  8. ^ Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones. "Resoluciones declaratorias de elección". Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Concejo Municipal 2024 - 2028". Alajuelita Gobierno Local (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  10. ^ Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (12 March 2024). "N.° 2220-E11-2024 - Declaratoria de elección de regidurías de las municipalidades de los cantones de la provincia de Cartago, para el período comprendido entre el primero de mayo de dos mil veinticuatro y el treinta de abril de dos mil veintiocho" (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  11. ^ "Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos" (in Spanish).
  12. ^ Centro Centroamericano de Población de la Universidad de Costa Rica. "Sistema de Consulta a Bases de Datos Estadísticas" (in Spanish).
  13. ^ 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). ISBN 9789930525753. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ Sistema Nacional de Información y Registro Único de Beneficiarios del Estado; Escuela de Estadística de la Universidad de Costa Rica; Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo (9 June 2023). "Atlas de Desarrollo Humano Cantonal en Costa Rica, 2022". Retrieved 22 August 2024.