Alajuela Province facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Province of Alajuela
Provincia de Alajuela
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Alajuela cathedral
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Location of the Province of Alajuela
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| Country | Costa Rica | ||
| Founded | 12 October 1782 | ||
| Capital city | Alajuela | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 9,757.53 km2 (3,767.40 sq mi) | ||
| Population
(2011)
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| • Total | 848,146 | ||
| • Density | 86.92220/km2 (225.12747/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Alajuelense | ||
| ISO 3166 code | CR-A | ||
Alajuela is a province in Costa Rica. It is located in the north-central part of the country. The province shares a border with Nicaragua to the north.
The main city and capital of the province is also called Alajuela.
Contents
Where is Alajuela Province?
Alajuela province is surrounded by other provinces of Costa Rica. To the east, it borders Heredia. To the south, you'll find San José. The Puntarenas province is to the southwest, and Guanacaste is to the west. As mentioned, Nicaragua is located to the north.
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Nicaragua | |
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| Guanacaste |  |
Heredia | ||
 Alajuela province  |
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| Puntarenas | San José |
Land and Nature in Alajuela
Alajuela is the third largest province in Costa Rica. It covers an area of about 9,757.53 square kilometers (3,767.40 square miles). Only the Puntarenas and Guanacaste provinces are larger.
The province is in the western part of Costa Rica's Central Valley. It has two main mountain ranges: the Cordillera Central and the Cordillera de Guanacaste. In the northern part, near Nicaragua, there are flat lands formed by the San Carlos and Frío rivers.
Alajuela is home to two of Costa Rica's most active volcanoes. These are the Poás Volcano, which is 2,708 meters (8,885 feet) high, and the Arenal Volcano, standing at 1,630 meters (5,348 feet) high.
People of Alajuela
People who live in Alajuela province are called Alajuelenses. This name is used for both men and women.
In 2011, the Alajuela province had a population of 848,146 people. This means there were about 86.9 people living in each square kilometer. The canton of Alajuela itself is the most populated area, with 254,886 residents.
How the population of Alajuela has grown over time
How Alajuela is Divided
The Alajuela province is split into 15 main areas called cantons. These cantons are then divided into smaller parts called Districts, with 113 districts in total.
| No. | Canton | Capital | Districts | Population (2011) |
Area (km²) |
Density (Inh./km²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alajuela | Alajuela | 14 | 254,886 | 388.43 | 656.2 |
| 2 | San Ramón | San Ramón de los Palmares | 13 | 80,566 | 395.72 | 203.6 |
| 3 | Grecia | Grecia | 8 | 76,898 | 395.72 | 194.3 |
| 4 | San Mateo | San Mateo de Alajuela | 4 | 6,136 | 125.90 | 48.7 |
| 5 | Atenas | Atenas | 8 | 25,460 | 127.19 | 200.2 |
| 6 | Naranjo | Naranjo de Alajuela | 8 | 42,713 | 126.62 | 337.3 |
| 7 | Palmares | Palmares de Alajuela | 7 | 34,716 | 38.06 | 912.1 |
| 8 | Poás | San Pedro de Poás | 5 | 29,199 | 73.84 | 395.4 |
| 9 | Orotina | Orotina | 5 | 20,341 | 141.92 | 143.3 |
| 10 | San Carlos | Ciudad Quesada | 13 | 163,745 | 3,347.98 | 48.9 |
| 11 | Zarcero | Zarcero | 7 | 12,205 | 155.13 | 78.7 |
| 12 | Valverde Vega | Sarchí | 5 | 18,085 | 120.25 | 150.4 |
| 13 | Upala | Upala | 8 | 43,953 | 1,580.67 | 27.8 |
| 14 | Los Chiles | Los Chiles | 4 | 23,735 | 1,358.86 | 17.5 |
| 15 | Guatuso | San Rafael de Guatuso | 4 | 15,508 | 758.32 | 20.5 |
Economy and Jobs in Alajuela
The main way people make a living in Alajuela is through farming. In the southern part of the province, farmers grow beautiful ornamental plants, coffee, root vegetables (like tubers), and leafy vegetables.
Further north and northeast, important crops include rice, corn, pineapple, bananas, and sugarcane.
Raising cattle is also a big industry in the province, especially in the San Carlos canton.
Alajuela has also become a place where many companies that make goods for export have set up their factories. These are often in special areas called free trade zones near the city of Alajuela.
Gallery
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World's Largest Oxcart, Sarchí, Valverde Vega.
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The Arenal Volcano in La Fortuna, San Carlos, is active. Night volcanic eruptions can be seen.
Images for kids
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Traditional indigenous territory of Guatusos
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Indigenous hut
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Costa Rican veterans of the 1856 campaign, taken in 1895
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Río Grande de Tárcoles
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Bauhinia blakeana
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Publicity art for Carlos Luis Fallas' "Mamita Yunai"
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Grecia's sheet metal church
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Ciudad Quesada's art deco cathedral
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Alejandro Morera Soto Stadium
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Aeropuerto Internacional Juan Santamaría
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The Plains Hermitage, Alajuela
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Cathedral of Alajuela and Central Park
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Cathedral of Palmares
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Church in San Mateo de Alajuela
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Sarchí Norte church
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Bullfighting ring in Palmares
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General Cañas Highway
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Lake Arenal created by hydroelectric dam
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River Celeste in Upala
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Ficus aurea (buttresses)
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Arenal Volcano
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See also
In Spanish: Provincia de Alajuela para niños
