# Alajuela

> district in Alajuela canton, and city of Alajuela province, Costa Rica

**Wikidata**: [Q37104](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37104)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alajuela)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/alajuela

## Summary

Alajuela is a district and city in Alajuela canton, serving as the capital of Alajuela Province in Costa Rica. Founded on October 12, 1782, it is located at coordinates 10.016475°N, 84.21386666666666°W at an elevation of 952 metres above sea level. The district covers an area of 10.61 square kilometres and had an estimated population of 44,374 as of 2022.

## Key Facts

- **Official Name:** Alajuela
- **Type:** District and city in Costa Rica; capital of Alajuela Province
- **Country:** Costa Rica
- **Located In:** Alajuela Canton
- **Coordinates:** Latitude 10.016475, Longitude -84.21386666666666
- **Elevation:** 952 metres above sea level
- **Area:** 10.61 square kilometres
- **Timezone:** UTC−06:00
- **Founding Date:** October 12, 1782
- **Postal Code:** 20101
- **Population (2022 est.):** 44,374
- **Population (2011 census):** 42,975
- **Population (2000 census):** 42,889
- **Population (1984 census):** 34,556
- **Population (1973 census):** 33,122
- **Population (1963 census):** 24,224
- **Population (1950 census):** 13,903
- **Population (1927 census):** 8,496
- **Population (1892 census):** 3,828
- **Population (1883 census):** 3,532
- **Population (1864 census):** 2,339
- **Capital Of:** Alajuela Province
- **Instance Of:** City, district of Costa Rica
- **UN/LOCODE:** CRAJU
- **Wikidata ID:** 11239221 (GeoNames)
- **OpenStreetMap Node ID:** 13232456231
- **OpenStreetMap Relation ID:** 5641981
- **OpenWeatherMap City ID:** 3624955

## FAQs

**What type of administrative division is Alajuela?**

Alajuela is both a district within Alajuela canton and a city that serves as the capital of Alajuela Province in Costa Rica. It is classified as a city and a district of Costa Rica.

**When was Alajuela founded?**

Alajuela was founded on October 12, 1782.

**What is the population of Alajuela?**

According to the most recent 2022 estimation, Alajuela has a population of 44,374 residents. The 2011 census recorded 42,975 inhabitants.

**What are the sister cities of Alajuela?**

Alajuela is twinned with several cities worldwide: Lahr/Schwarzwald (Germany), San Bartolomé de Tirajana (Spain), Montegrotto Terme (Italy), Bordano (Italy), Downey (United States), Dothan (United States), Guadalajara (Mexico), Ibaraki Prefecture (Japan), Hangzhou (China), and Alcalá de Henares (Spain, partnership started in 2011).

**What is the elevation and climate of Alajuela?**

Alajuela sits at 952 metres above sea level and uses Central Standard Time (UTC−06:00).

**What is the area of Alajuela district?**

The district covers 10.61 square kilometres.

**What are some alternative names or aliases for Alajuela?**

Alajuela is also known as Alajuela District, Distrito de Alajuela, district d'Alajuela, Аладжуела (Russian), and округ Алахуэла (Russian).

## Why It Matters

Alajuela serves as the administrative heart of Alajuela Province, one of Costa Rica's seven provinces, making it a crucial centre for regional governance, commerce, and transportation. Its founding in 1782 places it among the older settlements in Costa Rica's Central Valley, and its growth from a small settlement of just 2,339 residents in 1864 to over 44,000 today reflects the broader development of Costa Rica as a nation. The city's elevation of 952 metres and its location at the foot of the Poás Volcano make it a gateway to one of Costa Rica's most visited national parks, contributing to tourism in the region. As a sister city to ten municipalities across four continents, Alajuela maintains international cultural and administrative connections that facilitate exchange programmes, trade, and diplomatic relations. Its inclusion in numerous encyclopedic sources—from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica to contemporary Chinese and Russian encyclopedias—demonstrates its historical and cultural significance beyond Costa Rica's borders.

## Notable For

- Capital of Alajuela Province, one of Costa Rica's seven provinces
- Founded in 1782, making it one of the oldest settlements in Costa Rica's Central Valley
- Located at the base of Poás Volcano, a major tourist destination
- Home to the "Juan Park" (Parque Juan) a notable urban green space
- Sister city relationships with ten municipalities across Germany, Spain, Italy, United States, Mexico, Japan, and China
- Featured in multiple encyclopedic references including the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, and Meyers Konversations-Lexikon
- Represents a significant urban centre in Costa Rica's agricultural heartland, known for coffee and sugarcane production

## Body

### History and Foundation

Alajuela was founded on October 12, 1782, establishing itself as one of the earliest settlements in Costa Rica's Central Valley region. The city's founding occurred during the Spanish colonial period, and its strategic location at a favourable elevation and climate contributed to its gradual development as an agricultural and administrative centre. Over the centuries, Alajuela evolved from a small colonial settlement into a provincial capital, playing a role in Costa Rica's independence movements and subsequent national development.

### Geography and Location

The city is situated at latitude 10.016475 and longitude -84.21386666666666, positioned within the Central Valley at an elevation of 952 metres above sea level. This elevation provides the city with a mild tropical highland climate, distinct from the hotter coastal regions of Costa Rica. The district covers an area of 10.61 square kilometres, making it a moderately sized urban centre within the canton. Alajuela lies at the foot of the Poás Volcano, one of Costa Rica's most active volcanoes and a major attraction within the country's national park system. The city uses Central Standard Time (UTC−06:00), consistent with mainland Costa Rica.

### Administrative Structure

Alajuela functions as both a district within Alajuela canton and as the capital city of Alajuela Province. The postal code for the area is 20101. The city's administrative classification includes being a district of Costa Rica, which is a third-level administrative division in the country's political organization. The UN/LOCODE for Alajuela is CRAJU, used in international shipping and trade documentation.

### Population and Demographics

The population of Alajuela has grown substantially over nearly 160 years of recorded census data. In 1864, the first recorded census showed 2,339 residents. By 1883, the population had grown to 3,532, and by 1892, it reached 3,828. The early 20th century saw accelerated growth: 8,496 residents in 1927, jumping to 13,903 by 1950. The mid-20th century brought continued expansion: 24,224 in 1963, 33,122 in 1973, and 34,556 in 1984. The turn of the millennium saw 42,889 residents in 2000, and the 2011 census recorded 42,975 inhabitants. The most recent 2022 estimation puts the population at 44,374, representing steady but moderate growth in recent decades.

### International Connections

Alajuela maintains twin city relationships with ten municipalities around the world, reflecting its commitment to international cultural and administrative exchange. Its sister cities include Lahr/Schwarzwald in Germany, San Bartolomé de Tirajana in Spain, Montegrotto Terme and Bordano in Italy, Downey and Dothan in the United States, Guadalajara in Mexico, Ibaraki Prefecture in Japan, Hangzhou in China, and Alcalá de Henares in Spain (with the partnership beginning in 2011). These relationships facilitate programmes in trade, culture, education, and municipal administration.

### Encyclopedic and Cultural References

Alajuela has been documented in numerous encyclopedic and reference works across multiple languages and eras. It appears in the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921), the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (4th edition, 1885–1890), and the Great Dictionary of Geographical Names (2003). Contemporary references include the Encyclopædia Britannica online, the Encyclopedia of China (second edition), and the Great Russian Encyclopedia online (2017). The city has dedicated Wikipedia articles in over 40 languages, demonstrating its international recognition.

### Identification Codes and Identifiers

Alajuela is catalogued across numerous international databases and identification systems. Its GeoNames ID is 11239221. The OpenStreetMap node ID is 13232456231 and the relation ID is 5641981. The OpenWeatherMap city ID is 3624955. The Library of Congress authority ID is n83147874, and the VIAF ID is 104146153152505252536. The Yale Lux ID is place/14a66ef1-c9b2-4029-b424-399441178416. The city has a Google Play store identifier of "Alajuela" and is listed on Quora under the topic "Alajuela-Costa-Rica."

### Category Associations

Alajuela is associated with several Wikimedia Commons categories, including Category:Alajuela for the city itself and Category:Births in Alajuela for notable people born there. Category:People from Alajuela covers associated individuals, while Q32381318 relates to people who died in the city. The Wikipedia sitelink count stands at 52, indicating substantial presence across Wikimedia projects.

### Visual Documentation

The city has been documented visually through multiple images available on Wikimedia Commons, including a banner image (Alajuela_Banner.jpg) and a photograph of Juan Park (Alajuela,_Costa_Rica_-_Juan_Park.png). These images are sourced from Wikivoyage and other travel documentation platforms, reflecting Alajuela's role as a destination for tourists visiting the Poás Volcano region.

## References

1. [Source](http://downeybeat.com/2012/05/downey-looking-for-a-sister-that-may-not-exist-43737/)
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. 2011 Costa Rican census
5. 1973 Costa Rican census
6. 1984 Costa Rican census
7. 2000 Costa Rican census
8. 1864 Costa Rican census
9. 1883 Costa Rican census
10. 1892 Costa Rican census
11. 1927 Costa Rican census
12. 1950 Costa Rican census
13. 1963 Costa Rican census
14. 2022 Costa Rican census
15. GeoNames
16. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/cr.htm)
17. División Territorial Administrativa, 2024 (Costa Rica)