The Republic is politically divided into Provinces, which are again divided 
into Cantons and these into Districts. The Provinces are administered by 
governors appointed by the President. The canton chiefs hold office upon 
recommendation of the governors, and are assisted by municipal councils elected 
by popular vote. 
Costa Rica maintains a minister in Washington, D. C., as diplomatic repre¬ 
sentative to the United States. The Republic has consuls-general in New York 
and San Francisco, a consul in Norfolk, Virginia, and a vice-consul in Pasa¬ 
dena, California. Honorary consuls-general are at Chicago, St. Louis, New 
Orleans and Miami; honorary consuls at Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, 
Detroit, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Seattle, St. Paul, Toledo, Newark, Okla¬ 
homa City, Denver, Los Angeles, Mobile, Brownsville, Texas; Galveston, 
Houston, Newport News, Miami, New Haven, Dubuque, Hollywood, Cali¬ 
fornia; Lawrence, Kansas; Rochester, Minnesota; the Philippine Islands; St. 
Thomas, Virgin Islands; and the cities of Balboa and Cristobal in the Canal 
Zone. Honorary vice-consuls are at Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, San 
Francisco, Atlanta, New Orleans, Milwaukee, Kansas City, Missouri; 
Wichita, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The United States maintains a 
minister, a consul and two vice-consuls at San Jose and a vice-consul at 
Puerto Limon. 
GARDEN OF THE SANITARIUM FOR THE MENTALLY DEFECTIVE IN SAN JOSE 
12 
POPULATION 
Because of the equable climate in the highland region in contrast with the 
high and humid temperature prevailing on the coasts, the population of Costa 
Rica has tended to concentrate in the former, especially in the section surround¬ 
ing San Jose. It is estimated that nearly three fourths of the population is 
in the central meseta, or tableland. Heredia, Cartago and Alajuela, three of 
the most important cities in the Republic, are all within a short distance of 
San Jose and at approximately the same altitude, while the only cities of 
importance on the coasts are the seaports of Puerto Limon and Puntarenas, 
necessary channels for the foreign trade of the country. For a land devoted 
almost exclusively to agriculture, the city populations form a surprisingly large 
proportion of the total; the number of inhabitants in the capitals of the 
Provinces alone comprise 18 per cent of the Republic’s total population. 'The 
people of Costa Rica are democratic, not only politically, but economically. 
With the exception of the banana industry, which is largely controlled by 
foreign interests, Costa Rican agriculture is in the hands of small proprietors. 
The political subdivisions and capitals, with their populations, estimated as 
of December 31, 1936, 1 are as follows: 
Province 
Population 
Capital 
Population 
San lose 
192,513 
San Jose 
62,162 
Alajuela 
123,940 
Alajuela 
8,512 
Cartago 
89,298 
Cartago 
8,078 
Heredia 
46,460 
Heredia 
8,926 
Guanacaste 
67,578 
Liberia 
2,938 
Puntarenas 
36,783 
Puntarenas 
7,275 
Limon 
35,290 
Limon 
8,406 
591,862 
San Jose, 2 the capital and chief city of Costa Rica, is centrally situated in 
the highland plateau region at an altitude of 3,870 feet, and has a population 
of about 62,000 inhabitants. The climate is pleasant with a mean annual 
temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit and an annual variation of about 5 
degrees. San Jose is 103 miles from Puerto Limon, the chief port and means 
of access to the interior, 68 miles from Puntarenas and 12 miles from Cartago, 
the former capital. 
The streets of San Jose are well paved and are laid out in a regular checkei- 
board order. The three main thoroughfares are the Calle Central, or Central 
Street, the Avenida Central, or Central Avenue, and the Paseo de Colon, 
1 Memoria de la Secretaria de Hacienda y Comercio, ano 1936. . . . 
2 For a more lengthy description of Costa Rica’s capital city, see the Pan American Unions 
booklet “San Jose.” 
13 
