Vásquez de Coronado (canton)

Vásquez de Coronado
Canton

Flag
Coat of arms
Etymology: From the conquistador Juan Vasquez de Coronado
Nickname(s): Coronado, Coro
Coordinates: CR 10°4′53″N 83°58′53″W / 10.08139°N 83.98139°W / 10.08139; -83.98139Coordinates: CR 10°4′53″N 83°58′53″W / 10.08139°N 83.98139°W / 10.08139; -83.98139
Country Costa Rica
Province San José
Capital San Isidro de Coronado
Districts 5 districts
Founded November 15, 1910
Local Celebration 15 May, Saint Isidro Labrador's Day
Government
 • Type Municipality
 • Mayor Leonardo Herrera (PLN)
Area
 • Total 222 km2 (86 sq mi)
Elevation 1,385 m (4,544 ft)
Time zone UTC
Website coromuni.go.cr

Vásquez de Coronado, also spelled Vázquez de Coronado and commonly known as Coronado,[1] is the 11th canton in the province of San José in Costa Rica. The canton covers an area of 222.20 km²,[2] and has a population of 59,113.[3] The capital city of the canton is San Isidro.

Río Sucio in Braulio Carrillo National Park.

The canton of the highlands rises out of the suburbs of San José to encompass a major portion of the Cordillera Central (Central Mountain Range) and Braulio Carrillo National Park. The Río Sucio (Dirty River) forms the western boundary of the canton, while the Río Macho, Río Zurquí and Río Patria establish the canton's limits to the east. The northern tip of the canton is marked by the confluence of the Sucio and Patria rivers.

Districts

The canton of Coronado is subdivided into five districts (distritos):[1]

  1. San Isidro
  2. San Rafael
  3. Dulce Nombre de Jesús
  4. Patalillo
  5. Cascajal

History

The canton was established by decree on November 15, 1910. It was named in honor of the first Spanish colonial governor of Costa Rica, Juan Vásquez de Coronado, nephew of the famous explorer Francisco Vásquez de Coronado.

Physical Landscape

The canton is geologically formed from volcanic materials associated with the Irazu and Barva volcanos. It has an irregular morphology with soils suitable for agriculture and dairy farming. The canton has high rainfall and a typical mountain climate, in fact, many Costa Ricans traditionally associate this canton with its cold climate. Coronado has a maximum altitude of 1,510 m in San Rafael district and a minimum of 1,335 m in Patalillo district. The canton has rivers that descend to the Atlantic seaboard such as Sucio, Patria and Zurquí that also serve as boundaries with the provinces of Cartago, Heredia and the canton of Moravia respectively. In the Pacific slope, the rivers Agra, Ipís and the Virilla and its tributaries (Durazno, Macho, Quebrada Varela). The rivers Ipís, Durazno and Macho serve as boundaries of the canton, the first two with Goicoechea and the last with Moravia.

Economy

The main economic activities include dairy farming, dairy and agribusiness, coffee and other agricultural products, trade, and services such tourism. The municipality has a vibrant commercial activity of the most diverse nature which involves factories, supermarkets, grocery stores, private health services, agro-veterinary services, bank branches, clothing and footwear, electrical shops, restaurants, video stores, bars and more.

Public Services

Since the fire that affected Dr. Rafael Calderon Guardia Hospital Nacional in 2005, the Coronado Integrated Health Center serves 24-hour emergency and outpatient. Emergencies of all kinds are served and the center supports Goicoechea and Moravia cantons that do not have emergency services 24 hours, or on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays. Currently the Directorate Medical Center is in charge of Dr. Rojas Cerna, and coordination of emergency services is in charge of Soto Porras, Charpantier and Rivera doctors.


Institutions

The canton of Coronado is home to important institutions such as :


References

  1. 1 2 "División Territorial Administrativa de Costa Rica" (PDF) (in Spanish). Instituto de Fomento y Asesoria Municipal (IFAM). May 5, 2009.
  2. ↑ Instituto Geográfico Nacional (IGN), 2001.
  3. ↑ Estimates of Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC), May 2003.
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