Alajuela

Alajuela has an area of and an elevation of . It is located in the Central Valley, 19 kilometres northwest of San José. ==Climate==

The climate is tropical, typical of the Central Valley, but slightly warmer than San José. Temperatures are moderate, averaging with a low humidity level, with dewpoints around 20 () almost all year round. Alajuela and its surroundings are famed for having "the best weather in the world". == Demographics ==

For the 2011 census, Alajuela had a population of inhabitants. ==History==

In pre-Columbian times, the land where the canton of Alajuela is today was part of the Western Huetar Kingdom, which was inhabited by native tribes, who at the time of the Spanish conquest were led by Chief Garabito. The first Spanish settlers established settlements in the region in about 1650. In a letter of obligation granted in 1764, the place is mentioned as La Lajuela in the Valley of Barva, near the Canoas river. In 1777, the dwellers of La Lajuela and Ciruelas, having been served with notice to move to Villa Vieja (today's Heredia), requested the provisional construction of a public place of prayer in the house of Don Dionysius Oconitrillo, of Spanish origin, 30 metres north of where Alajuela's cathedral is today. After population increases in the five existing quarters: Targuaz, Puás, Ciruelas, La Lajuela, and Rio Grande, the citizens faced difficulties maintaining their religious obligations, so they requested permission to establish a parish and a public place of prayer from the Bishop of Nicaragua and Costa Rica, Monsignor don Esteban Lorenzo de Tristán. ==Economy==

The main exports of the region are coffee, sugar-cane, maize, beans, tobacco, citrus fruits, strawberries, tubers like cassava, flowers and ornamental plants. Other commercial activities include poultry farming, beekeeping, pig farming and the dairy industry. More recently, Alajuela has seen important investment in free zone parks and heavy industry companies, with a considerable number of them dedicated to manufacturing a variety of medical devices. ==Transportation==

Alajuela is an important transport hub for the country, connecting the capital city of San José with northwestern Costa Rica. As a part of the Greater Metropolitan Area, most of the inhabitants of Alajuela work in other cities or regions of the Central Valley, and every day receives residents from other locations to work in local factories. Central America's second busiest airport, Juan Santamaría International Airport, is three kilometers south of the district center. Road transportation The district is covered by the following road routes: • National Route 3 • National Route 123 • National Route 124 • National Route 125 • National Route 130 • National Route 153 Rail transportation The Interurbano Line operated by Incofer goes through this district. ==Sports==

Liga Deportiva Alajuelense is the province's major football club, having won 30 league titles. The club has a historical rivalry with Deportivo Saprissa, both popularly viewed as the two best football clubs of Costa Rica. They play their home games at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto, located in this district, and a new stadium is currently being built on another location inside the Alajuela Province. ==Gallery==

File:AeropuertoJuanSantamaría.jpg|Juan Santamaría International Airport File:Skatepark Alajuela por la noche.jpg|Alajuela skatepark File:Santamaria, Juan -monumento Alajuela 04.jpg|Monument to Juan Santamaria, who was born in Alajuela, popular hero of the Filibuster War File:Alajuela likeluis.jpg|Alajuela´s catholic Cathedral is located in front of Alajuela´s central park (Officially named Parque General Tomás Guardia) File:Teatro Municipal Alajuela 2011.jpg|Municipal Theatre of Alajuela File:Iglesia Metodista de Alajuela.jpg|Alajuela´s Methodist Church ==Sister cities==

• San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Spain • Lahr, Germany • Montegrotto Terme, Italy • Bordano, Italy • Dothan, Alabama, USA • Guadalajara, Mexico • Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan • Hangzhou, China ==Notable residents==

Historical • Gregorio Jose Ramirez (1796–1823) Politician, Military Commander. • José María Alfaro Zamora (1799–1856) Costa Rican Head of State (1842–44, 1846–47) • Florentino Alfaro Zamora (1805–1873) Politician • Juan Alfaro Ruiz (1810–1856) Politician • Jose Maria Figueroa (1820–1900) Artist. He recorded the early events of Costa Rican history in his Album de Figueroa • Apolinar de Jesus Soto (1827–1911) Vice-President of Costa Rica (1886–1889). The title was called then Primer Designado • Juan Santamaría (1831–1856) Costa Rican national hero. • Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez (1831–1882) President of Costa Rica (1870–82) Born in Bagaces, Guardia married and lived in Alajuela most of his life • Emilia Solórzano Alfaro (1835–1914) Costa Rican First lady (1870–1882) For her activism in favor of Education and Human Rights, she was declared Benemerita de la Patria in 1972. • Leon Fernandez Bonilla (1840–1887) Historian, Lawyer, Diplomat, Journalist. Declared Benemerito de la Patria (Distinguished Citizen) in 1994. • Bernardo Soto Alfaro (1854–1931) President of Costa Rica (1885–1889) • Anastasio Alfaro (1865–1951) Zoologist, Geologist, Archeologist, Ethnologist. Creator of the Museo Nacional de Costa Rica. • Ricardo Fernandez Guardia (1867–1950) Historian, Author, Diplomat. Declared Benemerito de la Patria (Distinguished Citizen) in 1944. • León Cortés Castro (1882–1946) President of Costa Rica (1936–40) • Otilio Ulate (1891–1973) President of Costa Rica (1949–53) • Carlos Luis Fallas (1909–1966) Costa Rican most important author, political activist. Elected for the Congress (1944–48). Posthumously declared Benemérito de la Patria (Distinguished Citizen) in 1977. • Alejandro Morera Soto (1909–1995) Footballer. Played with LD Alajuelense in Costa Rica, and FC Barcelona, Spain. • Margarita Madrigal (1919–1983) Best-selling author of language textbooks. Born in or live in Alajuela • Fernando Durán (1939– ) Author • Edgar Zúñiga (1950– ) Sculptor • Jorge Arroyo (1959– ) Playwright ==References==