Nicoya

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Nicoya
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Nicoya
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Nicoya
Location in Costa Rica
Coordinates: 10°06′22″N85°29′10″W / 10.1061593°N 85.486153°W / 10.1061593; -85.486153
Country Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica
Province Guanacaste Province
Canton Nicoya Canton
Founded1523
Joined Republic of Costa Rica1824-1825
Government
   Mayor Eduardo Gutiérrez Rosales
Area
  Total310.61 km2 (119.93 sq mi)
Elevation
123 m (404 ft)
Highest elevation
[1]
123 m (404 ft)
Lowest elevation
[1]
3 m (10 ft)
Population
 (2011)
  Total24,833
  Density80/km2 (210/sq mi)
Time zone UTC−06:00
Postal code
50201

Nicoya is a district and head city of the Nicoya canton, in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica, located on the Nicoya Peninsula. [2] [3] It is one of the country's most important tourist zones; it serves as a transport hub to Guanacaste's beaches and national parks.

Contents

Geography

Nicoya has an area of 310.61 km2 [4] and an elevation of 123 metres. [2]

Locations

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.
1883 769
1927 4,215
1950 10,693153.7%
1963 20,55692.2%
1973 20,9151.7%
1984 21,4552.6%
2000 20,945−2.4%
2011 24,83318.6%

Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos [5]
Centro Centroamericano de Población [6]

For the 2011 census, Nicoya had a population of 24,833 inhabitants. [7]

In early 2006, a group of researchers led by adventure writer Dan Buettner and supported by National Geographic Magazine , the National Institute on Aging, and Allianz Healthcare, designated Nicoya as a Blue Zone. This designation is granted to global regions that are characterized by the longest life expectancies. Among the ideal Nicoyan lifestyle characteristics cited by the research were the water's high calcium and magnesium content, intense daily physical activity, year-long fruit consumption, and close inter-generational relationships.

Economy

As of 1850, Nicoya harvested pearls for exportation. [8]

Transportation

Road transportation

The district is covered by the following road routes:

Route 21 is the main road serving Nicoya, connecting the city with Liberia (76 km, north-bound). On the opposite way, Route 21 also connects Nicoya to the rest of Nicoya Peninsula, including Pueblo Viejo (exit to Route 18, and then connecting to Route 1), on the main way to San José (204 km vía Route 1).

Airports

Nicoya has also an airport for domestic flights with no current scheduled services.

Arts and culture

The town was built in an old colonial style, in the Cordillera Volcánica de Guanacaste. Agriculture and cattle form the backbone of the city's economy, as well as the province which surrounds it.

Governance

While the town elected 61-year-old Lorenzo Rosales Vargas [1] as mayor on December 3, 2006, he was only able to serve for about a year before quitting for health reasons. Since May 5, 2008 Eduardo Gutiérrez Rosales has been holding the office as Nicoya's first supply mayor. They are both members of the National Liberation Party (PLN). [9]

Sports

A.D. Guanacasteca [10] is the city's major football team, having spent several years in the Costa Rican Primera División. In 2004, they sold their license and were moved away from Nicoya to become Brujas F.C., but were reformed a year later. They currently play their home games at Estadio Chorotega.

Climate

This area typically has a pronounced dry season. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Nicoya has a tropical savanna climate, abbreviated "Aw" on climate maps. [11]

Education

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chira Island</span> Island and district in Puntarenas canton, Puntarenas province, Costa Rica

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Cruz (canton), Costa Rica</span> Canton in Guanacaste province, Costa Rica

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">La Cruz (canton)</span> Canton in Guanacaste province, Costa Rica

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Sámara is a district of the Nicoya canton, in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica.

Sardinal is a district of the Carrillo canton, in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica.

San Pablo is a district of the Nandayure canton, in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica. Located on the Nicoya Peninsula.

Porvenir is a district of the Nandayure canton, in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica. Located on the Nicoya Peninsula.

Bejuco is a district of the Nandayure canton, in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica. Located on the Nicoya Peninsula.

Veintisiete de Abril is a district of the Santa Cruz canton, in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica.

Matambú is a district of the Hojancha canton, in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica.

Mansión is a district of the Nicoya canton, in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica.

San Antonio is a district of the Nicoya canton, in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica.

Belén de Nosarita is a district of the Nicoya canton, in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica.

Lepanto is a district of the Puntarenas canton, in the Puntarenas province of Costa Rica.

Paquera is a district of the Puntarenas canton, in the Puntarenas province of Costa Rica.

Cóbano is a district of the Puntarenas canton, in the Puntarenas province of Costa Rica.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Nicoya". Costa Rica 2021. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  2. 1 2 "Declara oficial para efectos administrativos, la aprobación de la División Territorial Administrativa de la República N°41548-MGP". Sistema Costarricense de Información Jurídica (in Spanish). 19 March 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  3. División Territorial Administrativa de la República de Costa Rica (PDF) (in Spanish). Editorial Digital de la Imprenta Nacional. 8 March 2017. ISBN   978-9977-58-477-5.
  4. "Área en kilómetros cuadrados, según provincia, cantón y distrito administrativo". Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  5. "Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos" (in Spanish).
  6. "Sistema de Consulta de a Bases de Datos Estadísticas". Centro Centroamericano de Población (in Spanish).
  7. "Censo. 2011. Población total por zona y sexo, según provincia, cantón y distrito". Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  8. Baily, John (1850). Central America; Describing Each of the States of Guatemala, Honduras, Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. London: Trelawney Saunders. p. 181.
  9. Oliver Pérez (May 6, 2008). "Renunció alcalde de Municipalidad de Nicoya". La Nación. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  10. Liberia le celebra a su equipo Archived 2015-02-21 at the Wayback Machine - UNAFUT (in Spanish)
  11. Climate Summary for Nicoya, Costa Rica

Further reading