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The Political Subdivision of Costa Rica

by rpetersen

The Political Subdivision of Costa Rica

The Republic of Costa Rica is divided into seven (7) Provinces which are divided into 81 Cantons that are in turn  divided into 478 districts.  Each Canton in Costa Rica is governed by a local Municipal government (Municipalidad).

The seven (7) provinces of Costa Rica are:

  1. San Jose 2. Alajuela 3. Cartago 4. Heredia 5. Guanacaste  6.  Puntarenas,  7.  Limon

 

San Jose
Alajuela
Heredia
Cartago
Guanacaste
Puntarenas
Limon

The 7 provinces 81 CANTONS and 478 districts with their size and date of incorporation are set forth below:

 

PROVINCE OF SAN JOSE

CANTON N° 1 SAN JOSE: Size: 45 Sq. Km. Founded: December 7, 1848

Districts: 1 Carmen,2 Merced, 3 Hospital, 4 Catedral, 5 Zapote, 6 San Francisco de Dos Rios, 7Uruca, 8 Mata Redonda.

CANTON N° 2 ESCAZU: Size: 35 Sq. Km Founded:December 7, 1848

Districts: 1Escazu Central, 2 San Antonio, 3 San Rafael

CANTON N°3 DESAMPARADOS: Size: 126 Sq Km,Founded November 4, 1862

Districts: 1 Desamparados Central, 2 San Miguel, 3 San Juan de Dios, 4 San Rafael, 5San Antonio, 6 Frailes, 7 Patarra, 8 San Cristobal, 9 Rosario, 10 Damas, 11San Rafael Abajo.

CANTON N° 4 PURISCAL: Size 561 Sq Km. Founded August 7, 1868.

Districts: 1 Santiago, 2 Mercedes Sur, 3 Barbacoas, 4 Grifo Alto, 5 SanRafael, 6 Candelaria, 7 Desamparaditos, 8 San Antonio.

CANTON N°5 TARRAZU Size: 233 Sq Km, FoundedAugust 7, 1868

Districts: 1 San Marcos, 2  San Lorenzo, 3 San Carlos.

CANTON N°6 ASERRI: Size: 182 Sq Km. FoundedNovember 27, 1882

Districts: 1 Aserri, 2  Tarbaca, 3 Vuelta de Jorco, 4 San Gabriel, 5 La legua, 6 Monterrey.

CANTON N° 7 MORA: Size: 161 Sq Km. Founded May 25, 1883.

Districts: 1 Colon, 2  Guayabo, 3 Tabarcia, 4 Piedras Negras, 5 Picagres

CANTON N°8 GOICOECHEA Size: 31 Sq Km. Founded June 8, 1891.

Districts: 1 Guadalupe, 2 San Francisco, 3 Calle Blancos, 4 Carmen, 5Ipis, 6 Rancho Redondo, 7 Mata de Platano .

CANTON N°9 SANTA ANA: Size: 62 Sq Km. Founden January 1, 1907

Districts: 1 Santa Ana, 2 Salitral,3 Pozos, 4 La Uruca, 5 Piedades, 6 Brasil

CANTON N°10 ALAJUELITA: Size 21 Sq Km. Founded April 5, 1909

Districts: 1 Alajuelita, 2 SanJosecito, 3 San Antonio, 4 Concepcion, 5 San Felipe

CANTON N°11 VASQUEZ DE CORONADO: Size 215 Sq Km. Founded Nov 15, 1910

Districts: 1 San Isidro, 2 SanRafael, 3 Jesus ( Dulce Nombre)

CANTON N°12: ACOSTA Size: 342 Sq Km. Founded: October 27, 1910

Districts: 1 San Ignacio, 2 Guaitil,3 Palmichal, 4 Cangrejal, 5 Sabanillas.

CANTON N°13 TIBAS: Size 9 Sq Km. Founded:July 27, 1917

Districts: 1 San Juan, 2 Cinco Esquinas, 3 Anselmo.

CANTON N°14 MORAVIA: Size: 29 Sq Km. Funded January8, 1914.

Districts: 1 San Vicente, 2 San Jeronimo, 3 La Trinidad.

CANTON N°15: MONTES DE OCA: Size 16 Sq Km. Founded October 2, 1915

Districtcs: 1 San Pedro, 2Sabanilla, 3 Mercedes, 4 San Rafael.

CANTON N°16: TURRUBARES: Size 415.69 Sq Km.Founded July 31, 1920

Districts:1 San Pablo, 2 San Pedro, 3 San Juan de Mata.

CANTON N°17 DOTA: Size 483 Sq Km. FoundedJuly 23, 1925.

Districts: 1 Santa Maria, 2 El Jardin, 3 Copey

CANTON N° 18 CURRIDABAT: Size 16 Sq Km.Founded August 21, 1929

Districts: 1 Curridabat, 2 Granadilla, 3 Sanchez, 4 Tirrases.

CANTON N° 19 PEREZ ZELEDON: Size: 1-800 SqKm. Founded October 9, 1931

Districts: 1 San Isidro del General, 2GENERAL, 3 Daniel Flores, 4 Rivas, 5 San Pedro, 6 Platanares, 7 Pejibaye, 8Cajon.

CANTON N° 20: LEON CORTES: Size 120 Sq Km.Founded June 12, 1962.

Districts:1 San Pablo, 2 San Andres, 3 Llano Bonito, 4 San Isidro, 5 Santa Cruz

 

PROVINCE OF ALAJUELA

CANTON N° 1:  ALAJUELA: Size: 389.14 Sq Km. Founded December 12, 1848.

Districts: 1 Alajuela, 2 San Jose, 3 Carrizal: 4 San Antonio, 5 Guacima,6 San Isidro, 7 Sabanilla, 8 San Rafael, 9 Rio Segundo, 10 Desamparados, 11Turrucares, 12 Tambor, 13 Garita, 14 Sarapiqui.

CANTON N° 2: SAN RAMON: Size 774.23 Sq Km. FoundedOctober 21, 1856.

Districts: 1 San Ramon, 2 Santiago, 3 San Juan, 4 Piedades Norte, 5 Piedades Sur, 6San Rafael, 7 San Isidro, 8 Angeles, 9 Alfaro, 10 Voho, 11 Concepcion, 12Zapotal, 13 Piedras Blancas.

CANTON N° 3 GRECIA: Size: 217.38 Sq Km. Founded July 24, 1867.

Districts: 1 Grecia, 2 San Isidro, 3 San Jose, 4 San Roque, 5 Tacares, 6Rio Cuarto, 7 Puente de Piedra, 8 Bolivar.

CANTON N° 4: SAN MATEO: Size 135 Sq Km. Founded October 7, 1868.

Districts: 1 San Mateo, 2 Desmonte, 3 Jesus Maria.

CANTON N° 5: ATENAS: Size: 125 Sq Km. Founded October 7 1868

Districts: 1 Atenas, 2 Jesus, 3 Mercedes, 4 San Isidro, 5 Concepcion, 6San Jose, 7 Santa Eulalia.

CANTON N° 6  NARANJO: Size: 128.31 Sq Km. Founded March 9, 1886.

Districts: 1 Naranjo, 2 San Miguel, 3 San Jose, 4 Cirri Sur, 5 SanJeronimo.

CANTON N° 7: PALMARES: Size: 45 Sq Km. FoundedJuly 30, 1888.

Districts: 1 Palmares, 2 Zaragoza, 3 Buenos Aires, 4 Santiago, 5 Candelaria, 6Esquipulas, 7 La Granja.

CANTON N° 8 POAS: Size 68.56 Sq Km. Founded October 15, 1901.

Districts: 1 San Pedro, 2 San Juan,3 San Rafael, 4 Carillos, 5 Sabana Redonda

CANTON N° 9: OROTINA: Size: 130 Sq Km.Founded August 1, 1908.

Districts: 1 Orotina, 2 Mastate, 3 Hacienda, Coyolar, 5 Ceiba.

CANTON N°10: SAN CARLOS: Size 3.373-40 Sq Km. Foundesd September 26, 1911.

Districts: 1 Quesada, 2 Florencia, 3 Buena Vista, 4 Aguas Zarcas, 5 Venecia, 6Pital, 7 Fortuna, 8 Tigra, 9 Palmera, 10 Venado, 11 Cutris.

CANTON N°11: ALFARO RUIZ:Size: 129.29 Sq Km. FoundedJune 29, 1915.

Districts: 1 Zarcero, 2 Laguna, 3 Tapezo, 4 Guadalupe, 5 Palmira, 6Zapote.

CANTON N° 12: VALVERDE VEGA: Size: 307.20 Sq Km. Founded October 26, 1949.

Districts: 1 Sarchi, 2 Sarchi Sur, 3Toro Amarillo, 4 San Pedro, 5 Rodriguez.

CANTON N° 13 UPALA: Size: 1.780 Sq Km.Founded: March 17, 1970.

District: 1 Upala, 2 Aguas Claras, 3 San Jose, 4 Bijagua, 5 Delicias.

CANTON N° 14 LOS CHILES: Size: 1.264 Sq Km.Founded March 17, 1970.

Districts: 1 Los Chiles, 2 Caflo Negro, 3 El Amparo, 4 San Jorge.

CANTON N°15 GUATUSO: Size 724 Sq Km. FoundedMarch 17, 1970.

Districts: 1 San Rafael, 2 Buena Vista, 3 Cote.

 

PROVINCE OF CARTAGO

CANTON N° 1 CARTAGO: Size: 143.23 Sq Km. Founded December 6, 1848.

Districts: 1 Oriental, 2 Occidental, 3 El Carmen, 4 San Nicolas, 5 SanFrancisco, 6 Guadalupe, 7 Coralillo, 8 Tierra Blanca, 9 Dulce Nombre, 10 LlanoGrande.

CANTON N° 2 PARAISO Size: 287.22 Sq Km. Founded December 12, 1848.

Districts: 1 Paraiso, 2 Santiago, 3 Orosi, 4 Cachi.

CANTON N° 3 LA UNION: Size: 48.00 Sq Km. Founded December 7, 1848.

Districts: 1 Tres Rios, 2 San Diego, 3 San Juan, 4 San Rafael, 5Concepcion, 6 Dulce Nombre, 7 San Ramon, 8 Rio Azul.

CANTON N° 4 JIMENEZ: Size: 345.65 Sq. Km. Founded August 19, 1903.

Districts:1Juan Viñas, 2 Tucurrique, 3 Pejibaye.

CANTON N° 5 TURRIALBA: Size: 1.644.57 Sq Km. Founded August 19, 1989.

Districts: 1 Turrialba, 2 Suiza, 3 Peralta, 4 Santa Cruz, 5 SantaTeresita, 6 Pavones, 7 Tuis, 8 Tayutic, 9 Santa Rosa.

CANTON N°6 ALVARADO: Size: 152.62 Sq Km. Founded July9, 1989.

Districts:1 Pacayas, 2 Cervantes, 3 Capellades.

CANTON N° 7 OREAMUNO: Size: 32.32 Sq Km. Founded October 17,1914.

Districts: 1 Sn Rafael, 2 Cot, 3 Potrero Cerrado, 4 Cipreses, 5 Santa Rosa.

CANTON N°8 EL GUARCO: Size: 194 Sq Km. Founded July 7,1939.

Districts:1 El Tejar, 2 San Isidro, 3 Tobosi, 4 Patio de Agua.

 

PROVINCE OF HEREDIA.

CANTON N° 1 HEREDIA: Size: 282.51 Sq Km. Founded December 7, 1848.

Districts: 1 Heredia, 2 Mercedes, 3 San Francisco, 4 Ulba, 5 Varablanca.

CANTON N° 2 BARVA: Size: 59.72 Sq Km. Founded December 7, 1848.

Districts: 1 Barva, 2 San Pedro, 3 San Pablo, 4 San Roque, 5 SantaLucia, 6 San Jose de la Montaña.

CANTON N° 3  SANTA BARBARA: Size: 73.50. Inni. Founded: September 29, 1882.

Districts:1 Santa Barbara, 2 San Pedro, 3 San Juan, 4 Jesus, 5 Santo Domingo.

CANTON N° 4 SANTO DOMINGO: Size: 31.01 Sq Km. Founded October 28, 1869.

Districts: 1 Santo Domingo, 2 San Vicente, 3 San Miguel Sur, 4 Paracito,5 Santo Tomas, 6 Santa Rosa, 7 Tures, 8 Para.

CANTON N° 5 SAN RAFAEL: Size:57.42 Sq Km. Founded May 5, 1885.

Districts. 1 San Rafael, 2 San Josecito, 3 Santiago, 4, Angeles, 5Concepcion.

CANTON N° 6 SAN ISIDRO: Size: 25.84 Sq Km. Founded July 13, 1905.

Districts: 1 San Isidro, 2 San Jose, 3 Concepcion.

CANTON N° 7 BELEN:  Size: 12.63 Sq Km. Founded June 8, 1907.

Districts: 1 San Antonio, 2 Ribera, 3 Asuncion.

CANTON N° 8 FLORES: Size:  7.61 Sq Km. Founded October 12, 1915. I

Districts: 1 San Joaquin, 2 Barrantes, 3 Llorente.

CANTON N° 9 SAN PABLO: Size 8.50 Sq. Km. Founded July 18, 1961. J

District: 1 San Pablo

CANTON N° 10 SARAPIQUI: Size: 2.349.37 Sq Km: Founded: November 8, 1970.

Districts: 1 Puerto Viejo, 2 La Virgen, 3 Horquetas.

 

PROVINCE OF GUANACASTE

CANTON N° 1 LIBERIA: Size: 1.567.65 Sq Km: Founded: December 7, 1948.

Districts: 1 Liberia, 2 Cañas Dulces, 3 Mayorga, Quebrada Grande, 4Nacascolo, 5 Curubande, Cereceda.

CANTON N° 2 NICOYA: Size: 1.316.00 Sq Km: Founded: December 7, 1948.

Districts: 1 Nicoya, 2 Mansion, 3 San Antonio, 4 Quebrada Honda, 5Samara.

CANTON N° 3  SANTA CRUZ: Size: 1.428.23 Sq Km: Founded: December 7, 1948.

Districts: 1 Santa Cruz, 2 Bolson, 3 Veintisiete de Abril, 4 Tempate, 5Cartagena.

CANTON N° 4 BAGACES: Size: 1.019.61 Sq Km: Founded: December 7, 1948.

Districts: 1 Bagaces,2 Fortuna, 3 Mogote.

CANTON N° 5 CARILLO: Size: 601.57 Sq Km: Founded: June 16, 1877.

Districts: 1Filadelfia, 2 Palmira, 3 Sardinal, 4 Belen.

CANTON N° 6 CAÑAS: Size: 938.04 Sq Km: Founded: July 12, 1854.

Districts: 1 Cañas.

CANTON N° 7 ABANGARES: Size: 662.75 Sq Km: Founded: January 1, 1989.

Districts: 1 Las Juntas, 2 La Sierra, 3 San Juan, 4 Colorado.

CANTON N° 8 TILARAN: Size: 623.15 Sq Km: Founded: August 21, 1923.

Districts: 1 Tilaran, 2 Quebrada Grande, 3 Tronadora, 4 Santa Rosa, 5Libano, 6 Tierras Morenas.

CANTON N° 9  NANDAYURE: Size: 586 Sq Km: Founded: October 15, 1961.

Districts: 1 Carmona, 2 Santa Rita, 3 Zapotal, 4 San Pablo, 5 Porvenir,6 Bejuco.

CANTON N° 10 LA CRUZ: Size: 430 Sq Km: Founded: July 23, 1969.

Districts: 1 La Cruz, 2 Santa Cecilia, 3 La Garita, 4 Santa Elena.

CANTON N° 11 HOJANCHA: Size: 215 Sq Km: Founded: November 11, 1971.

Districts: 1 Hojancha.

 

PROVINCE OF PUNTARENAS

CANTON N° 1 PUNTARENAS: Size: 2.165.64 Sq Km: Founded: December 12, 1984.

Districts: 1 Puntarenas, 2 Pitahaya, 3 Chomes,  4 Lepanto, 5 Paquera, 6 Manzanillo, 7 Guacimal, 8 Barranca, 9 Monte Verde, 10 Isla del Coco, 11 Cobano.

CANTON N° 2 ESPARZA: Size: 227.20 Sq Km: Founded: November 6, 1851.

Districts: 1 Esparza, 2 San Juan Grande, 3 Macacona, 4 San Rafael, 5 SanJeronimo.

CANTON N° 3 BUENOS AIRES: Size: 2.260 Sq Km: Founded: July 29, 1940.

Districts: 1 Buenos Aires, 2 Volcan, 3 Potrero Grande, 4 Boruca, 5Pilas, 6 Colinas.

CANTON N° 4 MONTES DE ORO: Size: 176.70 Sq Km: Founded: July 17, 1915.

Districts: 1 Miramar, 2 La Union, 3 San Isidro.

CANTON N° 5 OSA: Size: 2.262.20 Sq Km: Founded: July 29, 1940.

Districts: 1 Puerto Cortes, Palmar 2 Palmar Norte, 3 Sierpe.

CANTON N° 6 AGUIRRE: Size: 496.60 Sq Km: Founded: October 10, 1948.

Districts: 1 Quepos,2 Savegre, 3 Naranjito.

CANTON N° 7 GOLFITO: Size: 2.292.30 Sq Km: Founded: June 10, 1949.

Districts: 1 Golfito 2 Puerto Jimenez, 3 Guaycara.

CANTON N° 8 COTO BRUS: Size: 967.00 Sq Km: Founded: December 12, 1965.

Districts: 1 San Vitor, 2 Sabalito, 3 Agua Buena, 4 Limoncito.

CANTON N° 9 PARRITA: Size: 472 Sq Km: Founded: July 17, 1971.

Districts: 1 Parrita.

CANTON N° 10 CORREDORES: Size: 567 Sq Km: Founded: October 19, 1973.

Districts: 1 Neilyr,2 La Cuesta, 3 Canoas.

CANTON N° 11 GARABITO: Size: 350 Sq Km: Founded: September 25, 1980.

Districts: 1 Jaco.

 

PROVINCE OF LIMON

CANTON N° 1 LIMON: Size: 1.756 Sq Km: Founded: July 25, 1892.

Districts: 1 Limon.

CANTON N° 2 POCOCI: Size: 2.348Sq Km: Founded: September 19, 1911.

Districts: 1 Gaupiles, 2 Jimenez, 3 La Rita, 4 Roxana, 5 Cariari, 6Colorado.

CANTON N° 3 SIQUIRRES: Size: 920.00 Sq Km: Founded: September 19, 1911.

Districts: 1 Siquirres, 2 Pacuarito, 3 Florida, 4 Germania, 5 Cairo.

CANTON N° 4 TALAMANCA: Size: 3.004 Sq Km: Founded: May 20, 1969.

Districts: 1 Bratsi,2 Sixaola, 3 Cahuita.

CANTON N° 5 MATINA: Size: 770 Sq Km: Founded: June 27, 1969.

Districts: 1 Matina,2 Batan, 3 Carrandi.

CANTON N° 6 GUACIMO: Size: 502.00Sq Km: Founded: May 8, 1971.

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