Heredia, Costa Rica facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Heredia
District, City
Images, from top down, left to right: Church of the Immaculate Conception of Heredia, Central Park, the Fort and Amphitheatre of Heredia, Heredia skyline during the night.
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname(s):  Ciudad de las Flores  (Spanish) "City of Flowers"
Motto(s):  Libertad, Paz, y Progreso  (Spanish) "Liberty, Peace and Progress"
Heredia Location in Costa Rica
Country	Costa Rica
Province	Heredia Province
Canton	Heredia Canton
Founded	1705
Area
• Total	2.95 km2 (1.14 sq mi)
Elevation	1,150 m (3,770 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	18,697
• Density	6,338/km2 (16,415/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−06:00
Postal code	40101
Climate	Am
Website	http://www.heredia.go.cr/

Heredia is a city in Costa Rica, a country in Central America. It is the capital of the Heredia Province. People often call Heredia the "City of Flowers" because of its beautiful plants.

Heredia is located about 10 kilometers (6 miles) north of San José, which is the capital city of Costa Rica. It is also home to the National University of Costa Rica, a large college that welcomes students from many different countries.

History of Heredia

The Cultural Centre "Escuela República de Argentina"

Before Heredia was founded, the area was home to a native tribe called the Huetares. Their leader was a Cacique named Garabito.

In 1706, settlers from Cartago built a small church in a place they called "Alvirilla." More people soon moved there. Between 1716 and 1717, the villagers moved north to a spot the native people called Cubujuquí.

Becoming a Town and City

By 1736, Cubujuquí was big enough to have its own church. The first version of the Iglesia de la Inmaculada (Church of the Immaculate Conception) was built then. In 1751, the first school in Heredia was started by the church. Today, this school is known as the Liceo de Heredia.

In 1763, the town became a Villa, which is a type of small city. It was later renamed Heredia. This name honored Don Alonso Fernández de Heredia, who was an important leader at the time.

On October 31, 1796, work began to rebuild the Iglesia de la Inmaculada. The local government of Heredia was created on May 19, 1812. In 1824, Heredia was officially made a city by Juan Mora Fernández, who was a key figure in Costa Rican history. In 1848, Heredia became the capital of Heredia Province.

Geography of Heredia

Heredia covers an area of about 2.95 square kilometers (1.14 square miles). It is located 1,150 meters (3,773 feet) above sea level.

Location in Costa Rica

Heredia is part of the Greater Metropolitan Area of Costa Rica. It is only about 11 kilometers (7 miles) north of San José, the country's capital.

Population of Heredia

In the 2011 census, Heredia had a population of 18,697 people. This number tells us how many people lived in the city at that time.

Getting Around Heredia

Roads in Heredia

Several important roads pass through Heredia, connecting it to other parts of Costa Rica. These include:

• National Route 3
• National Route 5
• National Route 112
• National Route 113
• National Route 126
• National Route 171

Train Travel in Heredia

The Interurbano Line train, run by Incofer, also goes through Heredia. The historic Heredia railway station is a busy stop in the southern part of the city.

Sports in Heredia

Heredia is well-known for its football (soccer) team, Herediano. They are a very successful team and have won the national league title 28 times! They play their home games at the Estadio Eladio Rosabal Cordero stadium.

Herediano (in yellow and red) playing against their rival team, Saprissa.

Sister Cities of Heredia

Heredia has "sister city" relationships with other cities around the world. This means they share cultural and educational exchanges. Heredia's sister cities include:

• Marietta in Georgia, USA
• Richfield in Minnesota, USA
• Ariel

Famous People from Heredia

Many notable people have come from Heredia, including:

• Óscar Arias - He was the President of Costa Rica twice (from 1986-1990 and 2006-2010). He also won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for his efforts to bring peace to Central America.
• Alfredo González Flores - Another former President of Costa Rica (from 1914-1917). His childhood home is now a National Monument.
• Fernando Baudrit Solera - A respected lawyer and former leader of the College of Law at the University of Costa Rica.
• Marvin Angulo - A professional footballer who plays as a midfielder.
• Anthony Contreras - A footballer who plays as a forward.
• Carlos Villegas - A footballer who plays as a winger.
• Manfred Ugalde - A footballer who plays for a team in the Netherlands.
• Jewison Bennette - A professional footballer who plays as a left winger for Herediano and the Costa Rica national team.
• Nathalia Alfaro - A professional beach volleyball player from Costa Rica.
• Paulo Wanchope - A famous former Costa Rica national football team player and manager.

Climate and Weather in Heredia

Heredia has a very warm climate all year round. The temperatures are made milder by the amount of clouds that cover the area. It rains throughout the year, but the wettest months are from May to October. Overall, the weather is quite pleasant.

See also

In Spanish: Heredia (distrito) para niños