Costa Rica is administratively divided into seven provinces which are subdivided into 84 cantons, and these are further subdivided into districts. Cantons are the only administrative division in Costa Rica that possess local government in the form of municipalities. Each municipality has its own mayor and several representatives, all of them chosen via municipal elections every four years.
Map of Central America with Costa Rica highlighted
The original 14 cantons were established in 1848, and the number has risen gradually by the division of existing cantons. Law no. 4366 of 19 August 1969, which outlines the creation of administrative divisions of Costa Rica, states that new cantons may only be created if they have at least one percent of the republic's total population, which was 5,044,197 as of the latest estimate (2022).[1][2] The newest canton, Puerto Jiménez, was created on June 21, 2022, from the canton of Golfito.[3]
According to the latest population estimate from the National Institute of Statistics and Census, the largest canton by population is the capital San José with a population of 352,381, while the smallest by population is Monteverde with 5,386 residents. The same estimate listed the largest canton by land area as San Carlos, which spans 3,352.14 km2 (1,294.27 sq mi) and the smallest as Flores at 6.75 km2 (2.61 sq mi).[4]
Each canton is controlled by a government unit called Municipalidad.[5] The term reflects the fact that the cantons in Costa Rica have approximately the same function as municipios ("municipalities") in many other Spanish-speaking countries. This administrative unit consists of two bodies: a municipal council (Concejo Municipal) and an executive officer called a mayor (alcalde / alcaldesa municipal), a title that was introduced in 1998.[5]
The mayor's main duties are to liaise with the municipal council, district councils and the entire administrative apparatus of the canton, and to approve and implement the decisions taken by the municipal council.[6] The number of members of the municipal council varies from one canton to another, and they are elected by local elections held every four years.[7] The head of the council is titled the municipal president (presidente municipal). The council's main task is to manage the canton at the local level, and is responsible for planning basic policies and establishing budgets. More specifically, the responsibilities include urban and agricultural planning and organizing cultural affairs, health care, education and industry.[8] Each municipal president appoints a number of working commissions that deal with issues specific to the municipality.[9]
Cities in Costa Ricaedit
According to the Executive Decree N°41548-MGP (Declara oficial para efectos administrativos, la aprobación de la División Territorial Administrativa de la República), a city in Costa Rica is a ceremonial title awarded to a district or districts which contain the administrative center regardless of factors such as population, population density, or economic indicators. This designation is also known as cabecera de cantón, head city of the canton.[10]
Cantonsedit
Largest Cantons of Costa Rica by population
San José, Costa Rica's capital and largest canton by population
Alajuela, Costa Rica's second largest canton by population
Desamparados, Costa Rica's third largest canton by population and suburb of San Jose
Pavilion of Ciudad Quesada, located in Costa Rica's fourth largest canton by population, San Carlos
^ abThe Eleventh Population Census (2022) experienced significant issues relating to the Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in only successfully sampling around 60% of homes, resulting in estimates being used."Estimación de Población y Vivienda 2022 Resultados Generales" [Population and Housing Estimate 2022 General Results] (PDF). inec.cr (in Spanish). Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos. 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
^Comisión Nacional de División Territorial Administrativa (1980). Estudio sobre la División Territorial Administrativa de la Republica de Costa Rica [Study on the Administrative Territorial Division of the Republic of Costa Rica] (in Spanish). Costa Rica: Imprenta Nacional. §53.
^Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Costa Rica (2022-06-21). "Ley N° 10195 - Creación del Cantón de Puerto Jiménez, Cantón Décimo Tercero de la Provincia de Puntarenas" [Law № 10195 - Creation of the Canton of Puerto Jiménez, Thirteenth Canton of the Province of Puntarenas]. Sistema Costarricense de Información Jurídica (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-04-21.
^ abcInstituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (2023). "Resultados Estimacion de Poblacion y Vivienda 2022" [2022 Population and Housing Estimate Results] (XLSX) (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-04-21.
^ abAlfaro and Zeledón (2006). Derechos ciudadanos y el gobierno local en Costa Rica [Rights of citizens and local governments in Costa Rica] (in Spanish). San José: Lara Segura & Asoc. p. 35.
^Alfaro and Zeledón (2006). Derechos ciudadanos y el gobierno local en Costa Rica [Rights of citizens and local governments in Costa Rica] (in Spanish). San José: Lara Segura & Asoc. pp. 36–37.
^ [The Elector] (PDF) (in Spanish). Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones. May 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-01-20. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
^Unidad de Información y Adiestramiento (1987). La Municipalidad y sus funciones [The Municipality and its functions] (in Spanish). San José. §6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Unidad de Información y Adiestramiento (1987). La Municipalidad y sus funciones [The Municipality and its functions] (in Spanish). San José. §11.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^ ab"Division Territorial Administrativa de Costa Rica" (in Spanish). Sistema Costarricense de Informacion Juridica. September 2, 2009. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
^ [Total population by area and sex, province, county and district] (in Spanish). Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos. 2011. Archived from the original (XLS) on March 5, 2016. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
^ [Administrative Territorial Divisions of Costa Rica] (PDF) (in Spanish). Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 2, 2015. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
January 01, 1970
cantons, costa, rica, costa, rica, administratively, divided, into, seven, provinces, which, subdivided, into, cantons, these, further, subdivided, into, districts, cantons, only, administrative, division, costa, rica, that, possess, local, government, form, m. Costa Rica is administratively divided into seven provinces which are subdivided into 84 cantons and these are further subdivided into districts Cantons are the only administrative division in Costa Rica that possess local government in the form of municipalities Each municipality has its own mayor and several representatives all of them chosen via municipal elections every four years Map of Central America with Costa Rica highlighted The original 14 cantons were established in 1848 and the number has risen gradually by the division of existing cantons Law no 4366 of 19 August 1969 which outlines the creation of administrative divisions of Costa Rica states that new cantons may only be created if they have at least one percent of the republic s total population which was 5 044 197 as of the latest estimate 2022 1 2 The newest canton Puerto Jimenez was created on June 21 2022 from the canton of Golfito 3 According to the latest population estimate from the National Institute of Statistics and Census the largest canton by population is the capital San Jose with a population of 352 381 while the smallest by population is Monteverde with 5 386 residents The same estimate listed the largest canton by land area as San Carlos which spans 3 352 14 km2 1 294 27 sq mi and the smallest as Flores at 6 75 km2 2 61 sq mi 4 Contents 1 Political structure 1 1 Cities in Costa Rica 2 Cantons 3 See also 4 Notes 5 ReferencesPolitical structure editMain article Local government in Costa Rica Each canton is controlled by a government unit called Municipalidad 5 The term reflects the fact that the cantons in Costa Rica have approximately the same function as municipios municipalities in many other Spanish speaking countries This administrative unit consists of two bodies a municipal council Concejo Municipal and an executive officer called a mayor alcalde alcaldesa municipal a title that was introduced in 1998 5 The mayor s main duties are to liaise with the municipal council district councils and the entire administrative apparatus of the canton and to approve and implement the decisions taken by the municipal council 6 The number of members of the municipal council varies from one canton to another and they are elected by local elections held every four years 7 The head of the council is titled the municipal president presidente municipal The council s main task is to manage the canton at the local level and is responsible for planning basic policies and establishing budgets More specifically the responsibilities include urban and agricultural planning and organizing cultural affairs health care education and industry 8 Each municipal president appoints a number of working commissions that deal with issues specific to the municipality 9 Cities in Costa Rica edit According to the Executive Decree N 41548 MGP Declara oficial para efectos administrativos la aprobacion de la Division Territorial Administrativa de la Republica a city in Costa Rica is a ceremonial title awarded to a district or districts which contain the administrative center regardless of factors such as population population density or economic indicators This designation is also known as cabecera de canton head city of the canton 10 Cantons editLargest Cantons of Costa Rica by population nbsp San Jose Costa Rica s capital and largest canton by population nbsp Alajuela Costa Rica s second largest canton by population nbsp Desamparados Costa Rica s third largest canton by population and suburb of San Jose nbsp Pavilion of Ciudad Quesada located in Costa Rica s fourth largest canton by population San Carlos Provincial Capital National Capital and Provincial Capital Canton City 10 Province Population 2022 a 4 Population 2011 11 Change Land area km2 4 Population density 2022 a Incorporation date 12 San Jose San Jose San Jose 352 381 288 054 22 3 44 62 7 897 4 km2 1848 Escazu Escazu San Jose 71 500 56 509 26 5 34 53 2 070 7 km2 1848 Desamparados Desamparados San Jose 223 226 208 411 7 1 118 89 1 877 6 km2 1862 Puriscal Santiago San Jose 38 525 33 004 16 7 555 04 69 4 km2 1868 Tarrazu San Marcos San Jose 17 810 16 280 9 4 291 27 61 1 km2 1868 Aserri Aserri San Jose 59 588 57 892 2 9 168 26 354 1 km2 1882 Mora Colon San Jose 32 348 26 294 23 0 163 48 197 9 km2 1883 Goicoechea Guadalupe San Jose 132 104 115 084 14 8 31 7 4 167 3 km2 1891 Santa Ana Santa Ana San Jose 58 020 49 123 18 1 61 42 944 6 km2 1907 Alajuelita Alajuelita San Jose 81 012 77 603 4 4 21 47 3 773 3 km2 1909 Vazquez de Coronado San Isidro San Jose 67 078 60 486 10 9 223 93 299 5 km2 1910 Acosta San Ignacio San Jose 22 542 20 209 11 5 342 56 65 8 km2 1910 Tibas San Juan San Jose 74 592 64 842 15 0 8 27 9 019 6 km2 1914 Moravia San Vicente San Jose 59 546 56 919 4 6 28 82 2 066 1 km2 1914 Montes de Oca San Pedro San Jose 53 862 49 132 9 6 15 78 3 413 3 km2 1915 Turrubares San Pablo San Jose 6 173 5 512 12 0 416 25 14 8 km2 1920 Dota Santa Maria San Jose 9 364 6 948 34 8 404 44 23 2 km2 1925 Curridabat Curridabat San Jose 71 026 65 206 8 9 16 06 4 422 5 km2 1929 Perez Zeledon San Isidro de El General San Jose 156 917 134 534 16 6 1 901 08 82 5 km2 1931 Leon Cortes Castro San Pablo San Jose 13 553 12 200 11 1 121 9 111 2 km2 1961 Alajuela Alajuela Alajuela 322 143 254 886 26 4 391 61 822 6 km2 1848 San Ramon San Ramon Alajuela 93 264 80 566 15 8 1 021 75 91 3 km2 1856 Grecia Grecia Alajuela 76 226 76 898 0 9 142 47 535 0 km2 1848 San Mateo San Mateo Alajuela 6 952 6 136 13 3 125 03 55 6 km2 1868 Atenas Atenas Alajuela 30 407 25 460 19 4 126 32 240 7 km2 1868 Naranjo Naranjo Alajuela 46 647 42 713 9 2 127 03 367 2 km2 1886 Palmares Palmares Alajuela 39 148 34 716 12 8 38 94 1 005 3 km2 1888 Poas San Pedro Alajuela 36 207 29 199 24 0 74 48 486 1 km2 1901 Orotina Orotina Alajuela 24 217 20 341 19 1 145 11 166 9 km2 1908 San Carlos Quesada Alajuela 198 742 163 745 21 4 3 352 14 59 3 km2 1911 Zarcero Zarcero Alajuela 15 153 12 205 24 2 157 36 96 3 km2 1915 Sarchi Sarchi Norte Alajuela 21 562 18 085 19 2 136 77 157 7 km2 1949 Upala Upala Alajuela 57 361 43 953 30 5 1 592 68 36 0 km2 1970 Los Chiles Los Chiles Alajuela 34 701 23 735 46 2 1 332 71 26 0 km2 1970 Guatuso San Rafael Alajuela 18 316 15 508 18 1 752 83 24 3 km2 1970 Rio Cuarto Rio Cuarto Alajuela 14 418 11 074 30 2 254 9 56 6 km2 2017 Cartago Cartago Cartago 165 417 147 898 11 8 278 66 593 6 km2 1848 Paraiso Paraiso Cartago 65 941 57 743 14 2 477 138 2 km2 1848 La Union Tres Rios Cartago 99 539 99 399 0 1 44 18 2 253 0 km2 1848 Jimenez Juan Vinas Cartago 18 710 14 669 27 5 250 07 74 8 km2 1903 Turrialba Turrialba Cartago 82 065 69 616 17 9 1 589 24 51 6 km2 1903 Alvarado Pacayas Cartago 17 134 14 312 19 7 79 19 216 4 km2 1908 Oreamuno San Rafael Cartago 48 911 45 473 7 6 202 89 241 1 km2 1914 El Guarco El Tejar Cartago 47 375 41 793 13 4 172 275 4 km2 1939 Heredia Heredia Heredia 131 901 123 616 6 7 283 12 465 9 km2 1848 Barva Barva Heredia 47 699 40 660 17 3 56 02 851 5 km2 1848 Santo Domingo Santo Domingo Heredia 45 932 40 072 14 6 25 4 1 808 3 km2 1869 Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Heredia 39 133 36 243 8 0 52 1 751 1 km2 1882 San Rafael San Rafael Heredia 48 848 45 965 6 3 48 31 1 011 1 km2 1885 San Isidro San Isidro Heredia 22 806 20 633 10 5 26 67 855 1 km2 1905 Belen San Antonio Heredia 23 759 21 633 9 8 12 38 1 919 1 km2 1907 Flores San Joaquin Heredia 22 026 20 037 9 9 6 75 3 263 1 km2 1915 San Pablo San Pablo Heredia 29 860 27 671 7 9 8 34 3 580 3 km2 1961 Sarapiqui Puerto Viejo Heredia 67 153 57 147 17 5 2 144 22 31 3 km2 1970 Liberia Liberia Guanacaste 80 130 62 987 27 2 1 442 17 55 6 km2 1848 Nicoya Nicoya Guanacaste 66 268 50 825 30 4 1 337 56 49 5 km2 1848 Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Guanacaste 72 366 55 104 31 3 1 320 8 54 8 km2 1848 Bagaces Bagaces Guanacaste 23 709 19 536 21 4 1 277 93 18 6 km2 1848 Carrillo Filadelfia Guanacaste 48 227 37 122 29 9 599 01 80 5 km2 1877 Canas Canas Guanacaste 31 738 26 201 21 1 687 04 46 2 km2 1878 Abangares Las Juntas Guanacaste 22 211 18 039 23 1 646 02 34 4 km2 1915 Tilaran Tilaran Guanacaste 21 232 19 640 8 1 669 24 31 7 km2 1923 Nandayure Carmona Guanacaste 11 874 11 121 6 8 568 14 20 9 km2 1961 La Cruz La Cruz Guanacaste 26 829 19 181 39 9 1 385 4 19 4 km2 1969 Hojancha Hojancha Guanacaste 8 224 7 197 14 3 262 99 31 3 km2 1971 Puntarenas Puntarenas Puntarenas 141 697 115 019 23 2 1 816 86 78 0 km2 1862 Esparza Esparza Espiritu Santo district Puntarenas 34 808 28 644 21 5 217 23 160 2 km2 1848 Buenos Aires Buenos Aires Puntarenas 50 562 45 244 11 8 2 382 94 21 2 km2 1914 Montes de Oro Miramar Puntarenas 16 395 12 950 26 6 247 6 66 2 km2 1915 Osa Puerto Cortes Puntarenas 36 088 29 433 22 6 1 932 7 18 7 km2 1940 Quepos Quepos Puntarenas 32 416 26 861 20 7 557 85 58 1 km2 1948 Golfito Golfito Puntarenas 44 086 39 150 12 6 1 752 75 25 2 km2 1949 Coto Brus San Vito Puntarenas 46 351 38 453 20 5 944 22 49 1 km2 1965 Parrita Parrita Puntarenas 20 068 16 115 24 5 483 22 41 5 km2 1971 Corredores Ciudad Neily Corredor district Puntarenas 51 023 41 831 22 0 623 62 81 8 km2 1973 Garabito Jaco Puntarenas 26 672 17 229 54 8 316 01 84 4 km2 1980 Monteverde Monteverde Puntarenas 5 386 4 155 29 6 53 47 100 7 km2 2021 Puerto Jimenez Puerto Jimenez Puntarenas 10 644 8 789 21 1 720 43 14 8 km2 2022 Limon Limon Limon 116 457 94 415 23 3 1 769 38 65 8 km2 1909 Pococi Guapiles Limon 146 320 125 962 16 2 2 188 17 66 9 km2 1911 Siquirres Siquirres Limon 63 765 56 786 12 3 855 14 74 6 km2 1969 Talamanca Bribri Bratsi district Limon 48 906 30 712 59 2 2 792 23 17 5 km2 1911 Matina Matina Limon 45 329 37 721 20 2 770 4 58 8 km2 1969 Guacimo Guacimo Limon 49 606 41 266 20 2 801 56 61 9 km2 1971 Costa Rica 5 044 197 4 301 712 17 3 51 146 63 b 98 6 km2See also edit nbsp Costa Rica portal nbsp Government portal Provinces of Costa Rica Districts of Costa RicaNotes edit a b The Eleventh Population Census 2022 experienced significant issues relating to the Covid 19 pandemic resulting in only successfully sampling around 60 of homes resulting in estimates being used Estimacion de Poblacion y Vivienda 2022 Resultados Generales Population and Housing Estimate 2022 General Results PDF inec cr in Spanish Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censos 2023 Retrieved April 24 2024 Not including Cocos Island s land area References edit Comision Nacional de Division Territorial Administrativa 1980 Estudio sobre la Division Territorial Administrativa de la Republica de Costa Rica Study on the Administrative Territorial Division of the Republic of Costa Rica in Spanish Costa Rica Imprenta Nacional 53 Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censos July 2023 Estimacion de Poblacion y Vivienda 2022 Resultados Generales 2022 Population and Housing Estimate General Results PDF in Spanish San Jose Costa Rica ISBN 978 9930 525 75 3 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Costa Rica 2022 06 21 Ley N 10195 Creacion del Canton de Puerto Jimenez Canton Decimo Tercero de la Provincia de Puntarenas Law 10195 Creation of the Canton of Puerto Jimenez Thirteenth Canton of the Province of Puntarenas Sistema Costarricense de Informacion Juridica in Spanish Retrieved 2024 04 21 a b c Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censos 2023 Resultados Estimacion de Poblacion y Vivienda 2022 2022 Population and Housing Estimate Results XLSX in Spanish Retrieved 2024 04 21 a b Alfaro and Zeledon 2006 Derechos ciudadanos y el gobierno local en Costa Rica Rights of citizens and local governments in Costa Rica in Spanish San Jose Lara Segura amp Asoc p 35 Alfaro and Zeledon 2006 Derechos ciudadanos y el gobierno local en Costa Rica Rights of citizens and local governments in Costa Rica in Spanish San Jose Lara Segura amp Asoc pp 36 37 El Elector The Elector PDF in Spanish Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones May 2011 Archived from the original PDF on 2013 01 20 Retrieved January 16 2016 Unidad de Informacion y Adiestramiento 1987 La Municipalidad y sus funciones The Municipality and its functions in Spanish San Jose 6 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Unidad de Informacion y Adiestramiento 1987 La Municipalidad y sus funciones The Municipality and its functions in Spanish San Jose 11 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link a b Division Territorial Administrativa de Costa Rica in Spanish Sistema Costarricense de Informacion Juridica September 2 2009 Retrieved May 3 2020 Poblacion total por zona y sexo segun provincia canton y distrito Total population by area and sex province county and district in Spanish Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censos 2011 Archived from the original XLS on March 5 2016 Retrieved December 23 2015 Division Territorial Administrativa de Costa Rica Administrative Territorial Divisions of Costa Rica PDF in Spanish Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censos 2009 Archived from the original PDF on August 2 2015 Retrieved December 30 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cantons of Costa Rica amp oldid 1220585463, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
