Montes de Oca (canton)

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Montes de Oca
Canton
Fuente de la Hispanidad and Mall San Pedro (right)
Fuente de la Hispanidad and Mall San Pedro (right)
Coat of arms of Montes de Oca
Coat of arms
Motto: Cuna de la Educación Superior (Cradle of Higher Education)
Montes de Oca canton in San José province
Montes de Oca canton in San José province
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Country Costa Rica
Province San José
Established August 2, 1915
Named for Don Faustino Montes de Oca
Capital San Pedro
Districts
4 districts (distritos)
  • San Pedro
  • Sabanilla
  • Mercedes
  • San Rafael
Government
 • Mayor[1] Fernando Trejos Ballestero (Partido Renovación Costarricense)
Area
 • Total 15.16 km2 (5.85 sq mi)
Elevation 1,205 m (3,953 ft)
Population (2010)[2]
 • Total 54,288
 • Density 3,600/km2 (9,300/sq mi)
Website www.montesdeoca.go.cr

Montes de Oca is the name of the 15th canton in the province of San José in Costa Rica. The canton covers an area of 15.16 square kilometres (5.85 sq mi),[3] and has a population of 54,288.[4] The capital city of the canton is San Pedro.

The elongated canton reaches from the suburbs of the national capital of San José eastward to the province of Cartago, and neighbors the cantons of Curridabat, San José, Cartago, and Goicoechea. The Río Torres delineate a portion of the northern boundary, while the Río Ocloro and Quebrada Poró mark the southern boundary.

The canton is known for its high level of commercial development, the number of universities and other centers of higher education, and its active night life. It is one of the most urbanized and vibrant cantons in the San José area, both day and night.

Montes de Oca ranks first in the Costa Rican cantonal HDI, with 0,946.

Districts

The canton of Montes de Oca is subdivided into four districts (distritos):[5]

District Postal code Alt. (m) Area (km2) Pop. (2008) Coordinates
San Pedro 11501 1,205 4.82 29,245 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Barrios (neighborhoods): Alhambra, Azáleas, Carmiol, Cedral, Dent (part), Francisco Peralta (part), Fuentes, Granja, Kezia, Lourdes, Monterrey, Nadori, Oriente, Pinto, Prados del Este, Roosevelt, San Gerardo (part), Santa Marta, Saprissa, Vargas Araya, Yoses
Sabanilla 11502 1,305 1.79 12,944 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Barrios (neighborhoods): Arboleda, Bloquera, Cedros, El Cristo (part), Españolita, Luciana, Marsella, Maravilla, Rodeo, Rosales, San Marino
Mercedes 11503 1,200 1.39 5,063 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Barrios (neighborhoods): Alma Máter, Damiana, Dent (part), Guaymí, Paso Hondo, Paulina
San Rafael 11504 1,340 7.16 8,562 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Barrios (neighborhoods): Alameda, Andrómeda, Begonia, Cuesta Grande (part), El Cristo (parte), Estéfana (part), Europa, Liburgia, Mansiones (part), Maruz, Salitrillos

Education

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Montes de Oca is known in Costa Rica as the Cradle of Higher Education as it is home to the University of Costa Rica as well as other university-level centers of study, such as the Universidad Latina and the Universidad Americana (UAM) Escuela Laboratorio. The canton can boast of 99% literacy, compared with 95% in Costa Rica at large.

Points of interest

  • Fuente de la Hispanidad, a large fountain in a major intersection that focuses on Costa Rica's cultural heritage. It is a major landmark in the area.
  • Mall San Pedro, a shopping center built in the mid-90s, contains tattoo parlors, a movie theater, a food court, video game shops, and clothing stores.
  • Iglesia de San Pedro (San Pedro Catholic Church)
  • Calle de la Amargura, a street centered around the nightlife of the University of Costa Rica.

History

The canton was established by law on August 2, 1915. Its name honors a former congressional representative from the area, Don Faustino Montes de Oca (1859–1902).

References

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  2. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. Instituto Geográfico Nacional (IGN), 2001.
  4. Estimates of Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC), 2010.
  5. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links