Zarcero (canton)

{{Infobox settlement

|name = Zarcero

|native_name_lang = es

|settlement_type = Canton

|pushpin_map = Costa Rica Alajuela#Costa Rica

|pushpin_map_alt = Zarcero canton location in Alajuela Province##Zarcero canton location in Costa Rica

|pushpin_map_caption = Zarcero canton location in Alajuela Province##Zarcero canton location in Costa Rica

|coordinates = {{coord|10.2188363|-84.4163283|type:adm2nd_region:CR|display=inline,title}}

|image_flag = Bandera de Zarcero (Costa Rica).svg

|image_seal = Escudo del Cantón de Zarcero.jpg

|image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|type=shape|title=Zarcero canton}}

|map_alt = Zarcero canton

|map_caption = Zarcero canton

|image_skyline = Arches of Heaven in Zarcero, Costa Rica.jpg

|image_alt = Topiary in Zarcero

|image_caption = Topiary in Zarcero

|established_title = Creation

|established_date = 21 June 1915{{cite book |last1=Hernández |first1=Hermógenes |title=Costa Rica: evolución territorial y principales censos de población 1502 - 1984 |date=1985 |publisher=Editorial Universidad Estatal a Distancia |location=San José |isbn=9977-64-243-5 |pages=164–173 |edition=1 |url=https://ccp.ucr.ac.cr/bvp/mapoteca/CostaRica/generales/atlas_censal/ |access-date=5 October 2020 |language=es}}

|subdivision_type = Country

|subdivision_name = {{CRI}}

|subdivision_type1 = Province

|subdivision_name1 = Alajuela

|seat_type = Head city

|seat = Zarcero

|government_type = Municipality

|governing_body = {{lang|es|Municipalidad de Zarcero}}

|parts_type = Districts

|parts_style = list

|parts = Districts

|p1 = Zarcero

|p2 = Laguna

|p3 = Tapezco

|p4 = Guadalupe

|p5 = Palmira

|p6 = Zapote

|p7 = Brisas

|area_total_km2 = 155.13

|elevation_m = 1777

|population_total = 12205

|population_as_of = 2011

|population_density_km2 = auto

|timezone1 = UTC−06:00

|blank_name = Canton code

|blank_info = 211

|website = {{URL|https://zarcero.go.cr/}}

}}

Zarcero is a canton in the Alajuela province of Costa Rica.{{cite web |language=es |title=Declara oficial para efectos administrativos, la aprobación de la División Territorial Administrativa de la República N°41548-MGP |url=http://www.pgrweb.go.cr/scij/Busqueda/Normativa/Normas/nrm_texto_completo.aspx?param1=NRTC&nValor1=1&nValor2=88416&nValor3=115607¶m2=1&strTipM=TC&lResultado=1&strSim=simp |website=Sistema Costarricense de Información Jurídica |access-date=26 September 2020 |date=19 March 2019}}{{cite book |language=es |title=División Territorial Administrativa de la República de Costa Rica|date=8 March 2017|publisher=Editorial Digital de la Imprenta Nacional|isbn=978-9977-58-477-5|url=https://www.imprentanacional.go.cr/editorialdigital/libros/historiaygeografia/division_17.pdf}}

Hiking trails, pure water creeks, friendly people, landscapes and natural attractions are features of the area.

Toponymy

The name means an abundance of the elmleaf or thornless blackberry plant, in Spanish called {{lang|es|zarzamora}}.

It was originally given the name "Alfaro Ruiz" in remembrance of Juan Alfaro Ruíz, a hero from the National Campaign of 1856,{{Cite book |title=Historical Dictionary of Costa Rica |last=Creedman |first=Theodore S |publisher=The Scarecrow Press |year=1991 |isbn=9780810822153 |location=London |pages=41–42}} or Filibuster War. The head city of the canton is the eponymous Zarcero district.

History

Zarcero was created on 21 June 1915 by decree 27.{{Cite book |title=Centenario de Zarcero: un cantón pintoresco |last=Murillo Vargas |first=Juan Ramón |publisher=Editorial Universidad Estatal A Distancia |year=2015 |location=Costa Rica |isbn=9789968481175 }}

Geography

Zarcero has an area of {{formatnum:155.13}} km²{{cite web |language=es |title=Área en kilómetros cuadrados, según provincia, cantón y distrito administrativo |url=https://www.inec.cr/anuario-estadistico/anuario-estadistico-geografia |website=Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos |access-date=26 September 2020}} and a mean elevation of {{formatnum:1777}} metres.

To the north, the region borders canton San Carlos, to the south it borders canton Naranjo, to the east it borders canton Sarchí and to the west it borders the canton San Ramón.

The canton itself is diamond-shaped, with the Espina River forming the border on the northwest and the southwest sides. The Toro River forms the southeastern border, and the La Vieja River borders the northeast.

Districts

The canton of Zarcero is subdivided into the following districts:

Demographics

{{CR Census population

|1864=

|1883=

|1892=

|1927=3088

|1950=4676

|1963=4919

|1973=6342

|1984=7005

|2000=10845

|2011=12205

}}

For the 2011 census, Zarcero had a population of {{formatnum:12205}} inhabitants.{{cite web |language=es |title=Censo. 2011. Población total por zona y sexo, según provincia, cantón y distrito |url=https://www.inec.cr/censos/censos-2011 |website=Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos |access-date=26 September 2020}}

The canton has a 93% literacy rate, and by the year 2012 had a Human Development Index of 0.726 according to the United Nations Development Program. The region also has one of the lowest crime rates in the country.{{Cite news |url=http://www.elpais.cr/2015/04/15/zarcero-inicia-celebraciones-de-centenario-del-canton/ |title=Zarcero inicia celebraciones de centenario del cantón |last=Mora |first=Andrea |date=April 15, 2015 |work=Elpaís.cr |access-date=August 5, 2017 |language=es}}

Transportation

= Road transportation =

The canton is covered by the following road routes:

{{columns-list|

}}

Economy

The economy of the canton is based on agriculture, primarily coffee and vegetables such as carrots, lettuce, potatoes and chiverre.{{Cite web |url= http://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1011&context=macabroad |title=Neoliberalism and Social Response: A Preliminary Study of the Peasantry in Alfaro Ruiz, Costa Rica |last=Robson |first=Pål André |date=May 2009 |access-date=August 5, 2017}} Livestock and their products, especially "natilla Zarcero", a form of sour cream that originated in this area, make up another large portion of the economy. There are also smaller pastry, bread and other agriculturally-based industries in Zarcero. Tourism likewise has an impact on the economy. Two protected areas help attract tourist attention, a section of Juan Castro Blanco National Park and El Chayote Protected Zone.{{cite web |title=El Chayote Protected Zone, National Parks Costa Rica |url=http://www.costarica-nationalparks.com/elchayoteprotectedzone.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040924033346/http://www.costarica-nationalparks.com/elchayoteprotectedzone.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=September 24, 2004 |website=www.costarica-nationalparks.com |publisher=Costa Rica National Parks |access-date=August 5, 2017}}

One feature of the canton is Evangelista Blanco Brenes Park, a park with topiary-designed bushes located in front of the Iglesia de San Rafael Arcángel in the center of the city of Zarcero.

References

Category:Cantons of Alajuela Province

Category:Populated places in Alajuela Province