Alajuela

Alajuela (Spanish pronunciation: [alaˈxwela]) is a district in the Alajuela canton of the Alajuela Province of Costa Rica. As the seat of the Municipality of Alajuela canton, it is awarded the status of city. By virtue of being the city of the first canton of the province, it is also the capital of the Province of Alajuela.

Alajuela
Images, from top down, left to right: Alajuela skyline at night, Central Church, Juan Santamaría Statue, Central Park, Municipal Theater, a traditional Costa Rican bullock cart, the Juan Santamaría International Airport, Alejandro Morera Soto Stadium.
Nickname(s): 
Ciudad de los Mangos
(City of Mangoes)
Motto(s): 
Pro Patria Nostra — Sanguis Noster
For our country, our blood
Alajuela and surrounding area
Alajuela
Location of Alajuela within Costa Rica
Coordinates: 10°01′N 84°13′W
CountryCosta Rica
ProvinceAlajuela Province
CantonAlajuela
Founded1782
Government
  SyndicFrancisco Salazar Sánchez
Area
  Total8.88 km2 (3.43 sq mi)
Elevation
952 m (3,123 ft)
Population
 (2011)
  Total42,975
  Density4,800/km2 (13,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−06:00
Postal code
20101
ClimateAw
WebsiteOfficial website

Because of its location in the Costa Rican Central Valley, Alajuela is nowadays part of the conurbation of the Greater Metropolitan Area. The city is the birthplace of Juan Santamaría, the national hero of Costa Rica and the figure who gives the name to the country's main international airport, which is south of Alajuela downtown.

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