Sarchí Norte facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sarchí Norte
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District
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World's Largest Oxcart
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 Sarchí Norte
Location in Costa Rica
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| Country |  Costa Rica |
| Province | Alajuela |
| Canton | Sarchí |
| Area | |
| • Total | 21.3 km2 (8.2 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 970 m (3,180 ft) |
| Population
(2011)
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| • Total | 7,140 |
| • Density | 335.2/km2 (868.2/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−06:00 |
| Postal code |
21201
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Sarchí Norte is a special area called a district in the Sarchí canton. It is part of the Alajuela province in Costa Rica.
Contents
History of Sarchí Norte
Sarchí is very famous for its crafts. It has over 200 shops and small family workshops. They make many things from wood, like bowls and rocking chairs.
The most popular items are "carretas." These are oxcarts painted with bright, detailed designs. Long ago, these carts were used to carry coffee from the mountains to the Pacific coast.
Around 1890, Sarchí also became known for making furniture. Daniel Alfaro Corrales designed special chairs, which his brother Pedro Juvenal Alfaro Corrales then made in large numbers. These chairs are called "sillas sarchí" and are easy to spot because many of their parts are turned (shaped on a lathe).
Later, around 1900, Daniel Alfaro Corrales also improved the oxcart design. He made the wooden wheels stronger by building them in segments. This was a big step up from older, simpler designs.
The Sarchí canton (a type of county) was officially created on October 26, 1949. It was named after Dr. Carlos Luis Valverde Vega. He was a doctor and a founder of the National Medical Union. He was also the first person to die in the 1948 revolution.
A group of people worked hard to make Sarchí a canton. They are known as the founders. The canton officially opened on January 1, 1950.
The area was first settled in the early 1800s by Ambrosio José Avilés del Jesús Alfaro Godines. The name "Sarchí" comes from an old Aztec word, "xalachi." It means "relax place" or "down the sand place." Another idea is that it comes from a Nahuatl word meaning "open field" for animals.
Sarchí was given the title of "ciudad" (city) on September 21, 1963.
Geography of Sarchí Norte
Sarchí Norte covers an area of 21.3 square kilometers. It is located 970 meters above sea level.
The district sits on the side of the Central Mountain Range. It is on the eastern edge of Costa Rica's Central Valley. Sarchí Norte is about 27 kilometers northwest of Alajuela, a provincial capital. It is also 46 kilometers from San Jose, the country's capital city.
Fun Places to Visit in Sarchí Norte
- Church: This church is one of the most beautiful in Costa Rica. It has a high, curved wooden ceiling and amazing carvings. Local artists made these carvings.
- Mercado de Artesanías: This is a big store like a warehouse. It sells all kinds of crafts. A group of craftspeople runs it together. You can find it near the edge of Sarchí Norte, by the road to Naranjo.
- Taller Eloy Alfaro: This is a special workshop. They make oxcarts using old machines powered by a waterwheel! Many of these machines are the same ones used in the late 1800s.
- World's Largest Oxcart: You can see a huge, brightly painted oxcart in the main park in Sarchí Norte. It was built in 2006 to get the town into The Guinness Book of World Records. And it worked!
- Botanical Garden Else Kientzler: This garden has over 2,000 different plants from all over the world. It's a great place to relax, learn, and enjoy nature. The garden is very large, covering 7 hectares (about 17 acres).
Activities to Enjoy in Sarchí Norte
- Typical Dances: Every year on September 15, people gather in the park. They enjoy traditional dances in front of the church.
- Patronal Parties: On July 25, Sarchí celebrates its patron saint, Santiago (Saint Jack). People prepare and sell traditional foods during these parties.
Population of Sarchí Norte
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1864 | 934 | — | |
| 1883 | 739 | −20.9% | |
| 1892 | 1,032 | 39.6% | |
| 1927 | 1,539 | 49.1% | |
| 1950 | 1,979 | 28.6% | |
| 1963 | 3,755 | 89.7% | |
| 1973 | 3,525 | −6.1% | |
| 1984 | 4,336 | 23.0% | |
| 2000 | 6,470 | 49.2% | |
| 2011 | 7,140 | 10.4% | |
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Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos |
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In the 2011 census, Sarchí Norte had a population of 7,140 people.
Famous People from Sarchí Norte
- Ibo Bonilla Oconitrillo: He is a sculptor, architect, mathematician, and business manager.
- Daniel Alfaro Corrales: He designed the famous "Sarchí furniture" and the modern Costa Rican oxcart around 1900.
Getting Around Sarchí Norte
Roads in Sarchí Norte
The district is connected by these main roads:
National Route 118
National Route 708
National Route 710
See also
In Spanish: Sarchí Norte para niños
