Limón facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Limón
District and city
Images, from top down, left to right: Panoramic view of Limón, Vargas Park, Playa Bonita, Historic Building of the Baptist Reverend Heath, Onlook of 2nd Avenue, the MS Zuiderdam docked at Limón's Port terminal.
Coat of arms Wordmark
Motto(s):  Paz y Trabajo (Peace and Work)
Limón Location in Costa Rica
Country	Costa Rica
Province	Limón
Canton	Limón
Founded	1870
Area
• Total	59.51 km2 (22.98 sq mi)
Elevation	3 m (9.8 ft)
Population  (2023)
• Total	98,500
• Density	1,655.2/km2 (4,286.9/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	limonense
Time zone	UTC−06:00
Postal code	70101
Climate	Af

Limón, also known as Puerto Limón (which means Port Lemon in English), is an important city in Costa Rica. It is the capital city of Limón Province and a major center for the region. Limón is the seventh largest city in Costa Rica. In 2011, it had a population of over 94,000 people.

This city is home to a large Afro-Costa Rican community. Many of their ancestors came from Italy, Jamaica, and China. They arrived in the late 1800s to help build a railroad that connected San José to Puerto Limón. For a long time, until 1948, Afro-Caribbean people were not recognized as full citizens by the government. They were also not allowed to travel outside the Limón province. This rule meant that the Afro-Caribbean population stayed and grew strong in the area. Even after the travel ban was lifted, many chose to remain. Today, some people from Limón move to the Central Valley to find more jobs or better schools. The Afro-Caribbean community in Limón speaks Spanish and Limonese Creole, which is a special English-based language.

Puerto Limón has three important port areas: Moín Container Terminal, Port of Limón, and Port of Moín. These ports are used to ship goods from Costa Rica to other countries. They also welcome large cruise ships. In 2016, the government promised money to build a new terminal just for cruise ships in Puerto Limón. The city's main hospital is called Hospital Dr. Tony Facio Castro. There are also two small islands nearby called Uvita Island and Isla de Pájaros.

What's in a Name?

The name Limón comes from the Spanish word for "lemon." "Puerto" means "port" or "harbor." So, Puerto Limón means "Lemon Port."

A Look Back in Time

Early Days

The famous explorer Christopher Columbus first landed in Costa Rica in 1502. He dropped anchor near Isla Uvita, which is just off the coast of Puerto Limón. However, Spanish settlers didn't explore the Atlantic coast much until the 1800s.

Around 1569, a governor named Perafán de Rivera gave large pieces of land in Matina to important people. These landowners found there weren't many local people to help work the land. So, they brought in African slaves to grow cocoa trees. Cocoa was the only crop that grew well there. These cocoa farms were the only way for the landowners, who lived in the capital city of Cartago, to make money. Because of the cocoa and the African slaves, Matina became a target for pirates.

Famous pirates, Edward Mansvelt and Henry Morgan, arrived near Limón in 1666. They tried to go inland to Cartago, which was the capital back then. But the local people in Turrialba bravely fought them off. The pirates left Costa Rica and never came back.

How the City Started

The town of Limón was officially started in 1854 by Philipp J. J. Valentini. In 1867, work began on a big railroad project. This railroad would connect the central highlands of Costa Rica to the sea. Limón was chosen to be a major port city. This was so that coffee from the Central Valley could be easily shipped out of the country.

Recent Events

On July 3, 1942, a cargo ship in the port was attacked by a German U-boat (submarine). It sank quickly. Twenty-three people from Limón who were working on the docks sadly lost their lives. Most of the ship's crew were on land, so only one of them died.

Puerto Limón was also hit by a big earthquake in 1991. This earthquake changed the land and coastline around the city.

Where is Limón?

The Siglo XXI neighborhood offers a great view of downtown Limón, Uvita Island, and the Caribbean Sea.

Limón covers an area of about 59.51 square kilometers (23 square miles). It is located very close to sea level, at an elevation of only 3 meters (9.8 feet).

Neighborhoods and Towns

Limón is made up of many different neighborhoods, called Barrios, and smaller towns, called Poblados.

• Barrios: Bellavista, Bohío, Bosque, Buenos Aires, Cangrejos, Cariari, Cerro Mocho, Cielo Amarillo, Cieneguita, Colina, Corales (1, 2 and 3), Cruce, Fortín, Garrón, Hospital, Jamaica Town, Japdeva, Laureles, Limoncito, Lirios, Moín, Piuta, Portete, Pueblo Nuevo, San Juan, Santa Eduvigis, Siglo XXI, Trinidad, Veracruz.
• Poblados: Buenos Aires, Cocal, Dos Bocas, Empalme Moín, Milla Nueve, Santa Rosa, Valle La Aurora, Villas del Mar Uno, Villas del Mar Dos, Villa Hermosa.

Limón's Weather

Limón has a tropical rainforest climate. This means it's usually warm and rainy all year round. The average temperature is about 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit). Even in its driest month (September), Limón still gets a lot of rain, around 140 millimeters (5.5 inches). Its wettest month (December) can get almost 450 millimeters (17.7 inches) of rain! Overall, Limón receives nearly 3600 millimeters (142 inches) of rain every year.

People of Limón

In 2011, Limón had a population of 94,415 people.

Afro-Costa Rican Community

The first African people arrived in Costa Rica with the Spanish explorers. Slave trading was common in many countries back then. These early African people came from parts of Africa like Gambia, Guinea, Ghana, and Benin. They were forced to work in Costa Rica. Over time, especially after slavery ended in 1824, these African people mixed with other groups, like the native Indians. They became part of the main culture.

However, the black population that arrived in the late 1800s was different. They came as hired workers, mostly from Jamaica, and some from Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago. This is why many black Costa Ricans today have English last names and speak English with a Jamaican accent.

In 1910, a famous leader named Marcus Mosiah Garvey visited Puerto Limón. He worked there for a few months and saw that people of African descent faced difficult conditions. For a long time, the descendants of Africans in Costa Rica faced unfair treatment. For example, they had to wait longer to get voting rights and were restricted in where they could travel.

Fun Festivals

Puerto Limón is famous for its yearly festival called Carnaval. This celebration happens during the week of October 12. This date is special because it's when Christopher Columbus first landed near Limón in 1502.

The Carnaval was started by a local leader named Alfred Josiah Henry Smith, also known as "Mister King." He helped organize the first Carnaval in October 1949. The event lasts for about a week, including two weekends. It features a big parade, delicious food, lively music, and lots of dancing. On the last night, there's a concert in Parque Vargas with famous Latino or Caribbean music artists.

Sometimes, the Carnaval has faced challenges. In 2007, it was canceled because of a big outbreak of dengue fever. It was canceled again in 2008 because of problems with trash removal and health worries. Getting rid of trash was hard because the nearest landfill was far away. But the city worked to solve the problem. In 2009, Limón opened its own landfill, and the Carnaval was able to start up again after its two-year break!

Getting Around

Roads

Several important roads connect Limón to other parts of Costa Rica:

• National Route 32
• National Route 36
• National Route 240
• National Route 241
• National Route 257

Airport

Limón has its own airport, called Limón International Airport. It has a runway that is 1800 meters (5900 feet) long and 30 meters (98 feet) wide. It's located just 2 meters (6.6 feet) above sea level. In 2011, a local airline started offering regular flights to Limón. This was done to help bring more tourists to the Limón Province.

Sports in Limón

The city has a football (soccer) team called Limón Black Star. They play their games at the Juan Gobán stadium, which is in downtown Limón.

Famous People from Limón

Many notable people, including athletes, artists, and community leaders, have come from Limón.

City Friends

Limón has a "sister city" in another country. This means they share a special friendship and cultural exchange.

• Galați, Romania (since 1997)

Images for kids

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  This picture from 2004 shows the amphitheater at the Balvanero Vargas Park, a famous spot in the city.

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  A 2015 picture shows that the amphitheater was not being taken care of.

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  In October 2019, people from the community and local companies worked together to fix it up!

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  A view from the Balvanero Vargas Park.

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  Inside the Balvanero Vargas Park.

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  The Black Star Line building before it was destroyed by a fire in 2016.

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  What was left of the Black Star Line building right after the fire.

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  The post office building in October 2015.

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  The pavilion (a covered area) at the Balvanero Vargas park.

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  The Municipal Palace, which is like the city hall.

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  The cathedral. Its bell tower is the tallest building in the city.

See also

In Spanish: Limón (Costa Rica) para niños