Heredia, Costa Rica

Heredia
City and municipality
Images, from top down, left to right: Church of the Immaculate Conception of Heredia, Central Park, the Fort and Amphitheatre of Heredia, the Eurocenter, Heredia skyline during the night.
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname(s): Ciudad de las Flores  (Spanish) "City of Flowers"
Motto: Libertad, Paz, y Progreso  (Spanish) "Liberty, Peace and Progress"
Heredia and surrounding area
Heredia Location of Heredia within Costa Rica
Coordinates: 9°59′47″N 84°7′0″W / 9.99639°N 84.11667°W / 9.99639; -84.11667Coordinates: 9°59′47″N 84°7′0″W / 9.99639°N 84.11667°W / 9.99639; -84.11667
Country	Costa Rica
Province	Heredia Province
Canton	Heredia Canton
Founded	1705
Districts	5 Heredia Mercedes San Francisco Ulloa Varablanca
Government
• Mayor	José Manuel Ulate Avendaño (PLN)
• Municipal Council President	Manuel de Jesús Zumbado Araya
Elevation	1,150 m (3,770 ft)
Population (2012)
• Total	123,616
Climate	Aw
Website	http://www.heredia.go.cr/

Heredia (Spanish pronunciation: [eˈɾeðja]) is a city in the Heredia province of Costa Rica, of which it is the capital; it is 10 kilometers to the north of the country's capital, San José.

The city is home to one of the largest colleges in Costa Rica, the National University of Costa Rica, which accepts many international students.

Prior to its founding, the area around Heredia was inhabited by the native tribe that is known as the Huetares, who were commanded at the coming of the Spanish by the Cacique Garavito. In 1706 settlers from Cartago, set up a small church at a place they called "Alvirilla", which soon became more populated. Between 1716 and 1717 the settlers moved their village to the north, to a place the Indians called Cubujuquí. In 1736 Heredia was deemed sufficiently large to be granted its own parish, and the first incarnation of the Iglesia de la Inmaculada was built to serve as its parish church. In 1751, the Bishop of Nicaragua and Costa Rica, Monseñor Pedro Agustín Morel de Santa Cruz supervised the founding of the first school in Heredia, which was run by the church. This school is now known as the Liceo de Heredia. In 1763 the town was promoted to the status of Villa; it was later renamed Heredia in honor of the President of the Real Audiencia of Guatemala who had conferred the status, don Alonso Fernández de Heredia. During the 18th century the area around Heredia was developed, with the founding Barva and other towns. On October 31, 1796, Padre Felix de Alvarado laid the foundation stone for the rebuilding of the Iglesia de la Inmaculada. The Municipality of Heredia was founded on 19 May 1812, and in 1824, Heredia was promoted to city by Juan Rafael Mora, the first President of the Republic. The 1848 constitution made Heredia the capital of Heredia Province, promoted it to cantón, and assigned it seven parishes.