San Carlos is a canton in the Alajuela province of Costa Rica.[2][3] The capital city of the canton is Ciudad Quesada.
San Carlos | |
|---|---|
 Arenal Volcano as seen from Monteverde | |
.svg) Flag  Seal | |
 San Carlos canton | |
  San Carlos San Carlos canton location in Alajuela Province  San Carlos San Carlos canton location in Costa Rica | |
| Coordinates: 10°37′13″N 84°30′43″W / 10.6203924°N 84.512°W | |
| Country |  Costa Rica |
| Province | Alajuela |
| Creation | 26 September 1911[1] |
| Head city | Quesada |
| Districts | |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipality |
| • Body | Municipalidad de San Carlos |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3,347.98 km2 (1,292.66 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 340 m (1,120 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 163,745 |
| • Density | 49/km2 (130/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−06:00 |
| Canton code | 210 |
| Website | www |
History
San Carlos was created on 26 September 1911 by decree 17.[1]
Geography
San Carlos has an area of 3,347.98 km²[4] and a mean elevation of 340 meters.[2]
The canton encompasses a major portion of the San Carlos Plain, a wide expanse on the Caribbean side of the Cordillera Central (Central Mountain Range). San Carlos reaches north to the border of Nicaragua, east to the province of Heredia, west to the province of Guanacaste, and south into the heights of the Cordillera.
San Carlos is noted as the home of Arenal Volcano, one of the most active volcanoes in the world. The canton's principal economic activities include the production of oranges, yuca, pineapple, sugar cane, beef and dairy products. More than 50% of the national dairy production in Costa Rica comes from San Carlos.
Districts
The canton of San Carlos is subdivided into the following districts:
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1927 | 5,719 | — | |
| 1950 | 16,180 | 182.9% | |
| 1963 | 36,586 | 126.1% | |
| 1973 | 54,952 | 50.2% | |
| 1984 | 75,576 | 37.5% | |
| 2000 | 127,140 | 68.2% | |
| 2011 | 163,745 | 28.8% | |
Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos[5] | |||
For the 2011 census, San Carlos had a population of 163,745 inhabitants.[7]
Transportation
Road transportation
The canton is covered by the following road routes:
National Route 4
National Route 35
National Route 140
National Route 141
National Route 142
National Route 227
National Route 250
National Route 702
National Route 734
National Route 738
National Route 739
National Route 744
National Route 745
National Route 746
National Route 747
National Route 748
National Route 749
National Route 750
National Route 751
National Route 752
National Route 753
National Route 761
National Route 936
Education
There is a branch of the Costa Rica Institute of Technology in Santa Clara, San Carlos.
Sports
In federated soccer, San Carlos is represented by Asociación Deportiva San Carlos. This association also gives its name to numerous minor league teams that have notably excelled at the national level.
References
External links
- SIR-ZEE Web portal for business and government in the Northern Zone