Alajuela information

Alajuela is the capital city of the province of Alajuela in Costa Rica. It is also the name of the district (distrito) that includes the city. Alajuela serves as the capital for the canton of Alajuela, an area much larger than the district.
The district of Alajuela covers an area of 8.88 km² (1), and has a population of 46,554 (2). It lies at an elevation of 952 meters above sea level (1) in the Central Valley (Valle Central), 19 kilometers northwest of the national capital city of San José.
Alajuela is the birthplace of Juan Santamaría, the national hero of Costa Rica. It hubs the Juan Santamaría International Airport, the main airport serving Costa Rica (IATA: SJO / ICAO: MROC), which is located 3 kilometers south of the city.
It was created by law Nº 36, of December 7, 1848 with two cantons and eight parochial districts. In the pre-Columbian epoch, the territory that today Alajuela occupies in his south part, was inhabited by the Indians of the cacicazgo Garabito, and to the north by that of the Votos.
The province of Alajuela is one of the most extensive of the country. It borders to the north on Nicaragua, on the south with to the province of San Jose, to this one on the province of Heredia and on the west on the provinces of Guanacaste and Puntarenas.
It participation in important historical facts has placed it in a seat of honour. Son of this ground the national hero Juan Santamaría, who burned the inn of Rivas in 1856. Alajuela has reputation of enjoying a good climate, with regard to other provinces located in the central valley; it is warmer than San Jose, for what his peoples show a very good health. (...) more....

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