Heredia, Costa Rica
Encyclopedia
Heredia is a city located in the Heredia province
of Costa Rica
and is the capital of that province. It is currently undergoing a rapid process of industrialization and is located 10 kilometers 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
, that accepts many international students.
Garabito
. In 1706 settles 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 enough 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 Audiencia de Guatemala who had conferred the status, don Alonso Fernández de Heredia
. During the 18th century the area around Heredia was developed, with the founding of towns like Barva
. 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 May 19, 1812, and in 1824 Heredia was promoted to city by Juan Rafael Mora, first President of the Republic. The 1848 constitution made Heredia the capital of Heredia Province
, promoted it to cantón, and assigned it seven parishes.
Heredia's nickname is "Ciudad de las Flores" (City of Flowers), but not because of the city's flowers, as many private tourist companies describe it. At the turn of the 19th century, the wealthy Flores family dominated political and social life in the city; one of the family's more famous members, Alfredo González Flores
, served as president of Costa Rica before being ousted in a coup by Federico Tinoco Granados
. Their home is now the city's municipal museum, located directly north of the central church. The name is also said to refer to the beauty of their women. Some of the most beautiful women in Costa Rica are said to reside in ths province.
For a brief period in the 1830s, Heredia served as the capital of Costa Rica. Today, this city is a sister city with Marietta, GA. The city is a friendship city with Richfield, MN.
People born in Hereida
People who lived in Heredia
Heredia Province
Heredia is a province of Costa Rica. It is located in the north-central part of the country. As a result, the province covers areas as diverse as the agriculture rich Northern plains of San Carlos as well as the more metropolitan areas like the city of Heredia located in the Central Valley...
of Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
and is the capital of that province. It is currently undergoing a rapid process of industrialization and is located 10 kilometers north of the country's capital, San José
San José, Costa Rica
San José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica. Located in the Central Valley, San José is the seat of national government, the focal point of political and economic activity, and the major transportation hub of this Central American nation.Founded in 1738 by order of Cabildo de León, San...
.
The city is home to one of the largest colleges in Costa Rica, the National University of Costa Rica
National University of Costa Rica
National University of Costa Rica in Heredia is one of five public universities in the country. Over 12,000 students study at its main campus. In addition to undergraduate programs, it offers 16 Masters of Art degrees and is strong in ecology and education related coursework.- External links :*...
, that accepts many international students.
History
Prior to its founding, the area around Heredia was inhabited by the a native tribe known as the Huetares, who were commanded at the coming of the Spanish by the CaciqueCacique
Cacique is a title derived from the Taíno word for the pre-Columbian chiefs or leaders of tribes in the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and the northern Lesser Antilles...
Garabito
Garabito
Garabito is the name of the eleventh canton in the province of Puntarenas in Costa Rica. The canton covers an area of 316.31 km² , and has a population of 11,259 . Its capital city is Jacó....
. In 1706 settles from Cartago
Cartago, Costa Rica
- See also :* Cartago Agrarian Union Party* Provincial Integration Party Three* Cartago in Spanish...
, 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 enough 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
Villa
A villa was originally an ancient Roman upper-class country house. Since its origins in the Roman villa, the idea and function of a villa have evolved considerably. After the fall of the Roman Republic, villas became small farming compounds, which were increasingly fortified in Late Antiquity,...
; it was later renamed Heredia in honor of the President of the Audiencia de Guatemala who had conferred the status, don Alonso Fernández de Heredia
Alonso Fernández de Heredia
Alonso Fernández de Heredia was a Spanish captain general and politician who belonged to theCaptaincy General of Guatemala and ruled Florida , Yucatan , Nicaragua and Honduras .- Biography :...
. During the 18th century the area around Heredia was developed, with the founding of towns like Barva
Barva
Barva is a small city and canton in Costa Rica, located 3 km north of Heredia. It was named in honor of Barvak, an indigenous chief who ruled the area before the arrival of the Spanish. It is divided into six political districts: Barva, Santa Lucía, San José de la Montaña, San Pedro, San...
. On October 31, 1796, Padre Felix de Alvarado laid the foundation stone for the rebuilding of the Iglesia de la Inmaculada
Iglesia de la Inmaculada
The Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepción, commonly known as La Inmaculada is a church located in Heredia, Costa Rica. The first church in Heredia was a small wooden construct built as early as 1704 in an attempt to convert the natives; nothing remains of the original building, which was replaced by...
. The Municipality of Heredia was founded on May 19, 1812, and in 1824 Heredia was promoted to city by Juan Rafael Mora, first President of the Republic. The 1848 constitution made Heredia the capital of Heredia Province
Heredia Province
Heredia is a province of Costa Rica. It is located in the north-central part of the country. As a result, the province covers areas as diverse as the agriculture rich Northern plains of San Carlos as well as the more metropolitan areas like the city of Heredia located in the Central Valley...
, promoted it to cantón, and assigned it seven parishes.
Heredia's nickname is "Ciudad de las Flores" (City of Flowers), but not because of the city's flowers, as many private tourist companies describe it. At the turn of the 19th century, the wealthy Flores family dominated political and social life in the city; one of the family's more famous members, Alfredo González Flores
Alfredo González Flores
Alfredo González Flores served as President of Costa Rica from 1914 to 1917. He was unable to complete his presidential mandate following a coup d'état on 27 January 1917, led by Federico Tinoco, his secretary for War and the Navy....
, served as president of Costa Rica before being ousted in a coup by Federico Tinoco Granados
Federico Tinoco Granados
Term of office: 27 January 1917 to13 August 1919– Preceded by: Alfredo González– Succeeded by: Juan Bautista QuirósDate of birth: 21 November 1868Place of birth:San JoséDate of death: 7 September 1931Place of death:Paris, France...
. Their home is now the city's municipal museum, located directly north of the central church. The name is also said to refer to the beauty of their women. Some of the most beautiful women in Costa Rica are said to reside in ths province.
For a brief period in the 1830s, Heredia served as the capital of Costa Rica. Today, this city is a sister city with Marietta, GA. The city is a friendship city with Richfield, MN.
Climate
Warm year-round, the temperatures are tempered by the amount of cloud cover that affects the area. The rains are spread throughout the year, but the rainiest period is May–October. Climate is relatively low throughout the yearPeople
The following are notable individuals who were born or lived in Heredia:People born in Hereida
- Fernando Baudrit SoleraFernando Baudrit SoleraFernando Baudrit Solera was a Costa Rican jurist.Born in Heredia, he was the son of Oscar Baudrit González and Carmen Solera Pérez. He married Adilia Gómez Mesén. He graduated from the Law School of Costa Rica...
former dean of the College of Law at the University of Costa RicaUniversity of Costa RicaThe University of Costa Rica is a public university in the Republic of Costa Rica, in Central America. Its main campus, Ciudad Universitaria Rodrigo Facio, is located in San Pedro, in the province of San José. It is the oldest, largest, and most prestigious institution of higher learning in...
and public jurist
People who lived in Heredia