Cartago (canton)
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Settlement short description".Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".Expression error: Unexpected < operator. Cartago is a canton in the Cartago province of Costa Rica, with an estimated population of 165,417 as of 2022. It ranks as the fifth-most populous canton in the country and is the 42nd largest by area. Cartago is bordered by Desamparados and El Guarco to the south, Goicoechea and Vázquez de Coronado to the north, Oreamuno and Paraíso to the east, and Montes de Oca, La Unión, and Desamparados to the west.
The administrative and historical center of the canton is the City of Cartago, which comprises the Oriental and Occidental districts, rather than being a single district.[1][2] Founded in 1563 by Spanish conqueror Juan Vásquez de Coronado, Cartago is the second-oldest surviving city in Costa Rica, after Espíritu Santo de Esparza, which was established in 1557. It served as the colonial capital of Costa Rica from 1563 until 1823, after the Ochomogo War. Following the amendments to the Constitution of 1847, the canton itself was officially established as a municipal administrative division on 7 December 1848 by law N° 36.[3]
History
Geography
Cartago covers an area of 278.66 km² (107.59 sq mi)[4] and has a mean elevation of 1,575 m (5,167 ft).[1]
The canton is shaped like a T, extending southeast from its capital city to encompass a narrow strip of the Cordillera de Talamanca (Talamanca Mountain Range). This geographic configuration includes portions of the Pan-American Highway, making Cartago an important transit hub. The varied elevation and diverse landscapes contribute to the canton's natural diversity, which includes valleys, mountains, and fertile plains ideal for agriculture.
Government
Mayor
Under the Municipal Code of 1998, which regulates local government in Costa Rica, mayors and vice mayors are democratically elected every four years on a joint ticket by the canton's residents.[5]
Following the 2024 municipal elections, Mario Redondo Poveda was re-elected as mayor of Cartago, securing 43.51% of the vote. He was joined by Silvia María Navarro Gómez as first vice mayor and Marco Andrés Brenes Tinoco as second vice mayor, all serving for the term from 2024 to 2028.[6]
| Period | Name | Party |
|---|---|---|
| 2002–2006 | Harold Humberto Góngora FuentesTemplate:Efn | File:Bandera del Partido Unidad Social Cristiana.svg PUSC |
| 2006–2010 | Rolando Alberto Rodríguez Brenes | File:Bandera de Partido Liberación Nacional.svg PLN |
| 2010–2016 | ||
| 2016–2020 | ||
| 2020–2024 | Mario Redondo Poveda | File:Bandera Partido Alianza Demócrata Cristiana Costa Rica.svg ADC |
| 2024–2028 | File:Bandera Partido Actuemos Ya Costa Rica.svg PAY |
Municipal Council
Like the mayor and vice mayors, all members of the Municipal Council (known as regidores) are elected every four years through a closed list system, though on a separate ballot from the canton's executive officials. The Cartago Municipal Council consists of nine seats, held by regidores and their substitutes. Substitutes can participate in meetings but do not have voting rights unless the primary regidor (regidor propietario) is absent.[5]
The current president of the Municipal Council is Alonso Picado Chacón, a member of the Partido Actuemos Ya (Let's Act Now Party). The council's composition for the 2024–2028 term is as follows:
| Political parties in the Municipal Council of Cartago | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Political party | Regidores | ||||
| № | Primary | Substitute | |||
| File:Bandera Partido Actuemos Ya Costa Rica.svg | Let's Act Now Party (PAY) | 4 | Alonso Picado Chacón(P) | Roberto Carlos Solano Ortega | |
| Franci Noheli Camacho Vargas | Mónica Machado Barquero | ||||
| Andrés Damián Zúñiga Orozco | Jorge Armando Brenes Calderón | ||||
| Grettel Quesada Moya | Natalia Isabel Serrano Redondo | ||||
| File:Bandera de Partido Liberación Nacional.svg | National Liberation Party (PLN) | 3 | Jonathan Arce Moya | Braulio José Martínez Rojas | |
| Marcela Quesada Cerdas | Stephannie Melissa Meneses Quirós | ||||
| Caleb Andrés Pichardo Aguilar | Luis Martín Martínez Rojas | ||||
| File:Bandera Partido Agenda Democrática Nacional Costa Rica (2020-Presente).svg | National Democratic Agenda (ADN) | 1 | Marvin Alvarado Méndez | Manuel Enrique González Espinoza | |
| File:Bandera Partido Liberal Progresista Costa Rica.svg | Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) | 1 | Alberto Acevedo Gutiérrez | Armando José Canno Díaz | |
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Districts
The canton of Cartago is subdivided into the following districts:
- Oriental
- Occidental
- Carmen
- San Nicolás
- Aguacaliente
- Guadalupe
- Corralillo
- Tierra Blanca
- Dulce Nombre
- Llano Grande
- Quebradilla
Demographics
Template:CR Census population Cartago had a population of 165,417 inhabitants in 2022, up from 147,898 people at the time of the 2011 census.[9][10]
In 2022, Cartago had a Human Development Index of 0.791, the 3rd highest in its province, behind El Guarco and La Unión, and 18th in the country.[11]
Transportation
Road transportation
The canton is covered by the following road routes: Script error: No such module "Template wrapper".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Rail transportation
The Interurbano Line operated by Incofer goes through this canton.
Notes
References
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