Alajuela (province)

Province of Alajuela Provincia de Alajuela
Province
Juan Santamaría statue, built in 1887
Flag Coat of arms
Location of the Province of Alajuela
Coordinates: 10°34′N 84°36′W / 10.567°N 84.600°W / 10.567; -84.600Coordinates: 10°34′N 84°36′W / 10.567°N 84.600°W / 10.567; -84.600
Country	Costa Rica
Provincial capital	Alajuela
Area
• Total	9,757.53 km2 (3,767.40 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	885,571
• Density	90,8/km2 (2,350/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Alajuelense, Alajuelan
ISO 3166 code	CR-A

Alajuela (Spanish pronunciation: [alaˈxwela]) is a province of Costa Rica. It is located in the north-central part of the country, bordering Nicaragua to the north. It also borders the provinces of Heredia to the east, San José to the south, Puntarenas to the southwest and Guanacaste to the west. As of 2011, the province had a population of 885,571. Alajuela is composed of 15 cantons, which are divided into 111 districts. It covers an area of 9,757.53 square kilometers.

The provincial cabecera is Alajuela. Other large cities include Quesada, Aguas Zarcas, Naranjo, Zarcero, Orotina, Sarchí Norte, Upala, San Ramón, Grecia and Los Chiles.

Costa Rica has been inhabited for nearly 10,000 years, but little is known of its pre-Columbian history. Alajuela was occupied by several indigenous groups just before the arrival of the Spanish. Despite being between two major civilizations, indigenous groups sparsely populated the area. The Hueteres lived in the south of the territory, while the Botos, Guatusos, Tices and Catapas lived in the north. In the 15th century, most of the region of modern Alajuela was under the control of Garabito, an indigenous leader of whom little is known. Only the Botos, who lived in Alajuela's northern plains, resisted conquest until the early 1800s.