Zarcero (canton)
| Alfaro Ruiz (Zarcero) | |||
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| Cantón | |||
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 Location of Alfaro Ruiz in Alajuela Province |
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| Country | Costa Rica | ||
| Province | Alajuela | ||
| Founded | 21 June 1915 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 155.13 km2 (59.90 sq mi) | ||
| Population (June 2013) | |||
| • Total | 13,215 | ||
| • Density | 85/km2 (220/sq mi) | ||
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Zarcero is the 11th canton in Alajuela, a province in Costa Rica. It is located west of the Costa Rican Central Valley, 67 kilometres (42 mi) northeast of the national capital, San José. The region covers an area of 155.13 square kilometers (59.90 sq mi), and is divided into seven districts. To the north, the region borders canton San Carlos, to the south it borders canton Naranjo, to the east it borders canton Valverde Vega and to the west it borders the canton San Ramón. Zarcero was founded on June 21, 1915, and was originally given the name "Alfaro Ruiz" in remembrance of Juan Alfaro Ruíz, a hero from the National Campaign of 1856, or Filibuster War. The capital of the canton is the city of Zarcero.
According to the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses, in 2013 the canton Zarcero had a population of 13,215. The canton has a 93% literacy rate, and by the year 2012 had a Human Development Index of 0.726 according to the United Nations Development Program. The region also has one of the lowest crime rates in the country.
The economy of the canton is based on agriculture, primarily coffee and vegetables such as carrots, lettuce, potatoes and chiverre. Livestock and their products, especially "natilla Zarcero", a form of sour cream that originated in this area, make up another large portion of the economy. There are also smaller pastry, bread and other agriculturally-based industries in Zarcero. Tourism likewise has an impact on the economy. Two protected areas help attract tourist attention, a section of Juan Castro Blanco National Park and El Chayote Protected Zone.
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