# Cartago

> city in Costa Rica

**Wikidata**: [Q30617](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q30617)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartago,_Costa_Rica)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cartago

## Summary
Cartago is a city in Costa Rica founded on November 27, 1563. Located in Cartago Province at an elevation of 1,435 meters above sea level, it serves as the capital of both the Cartago Province and Cartago Canton. The city covers an area of 4.04 square kilometers and has an estimated population of 22,775 as of 2022.

## Key Facts
- **Official Name:** Cartago
- **Country:** Costa Rica
- **Foundation Date:** November 27, 1563
- **Location:** Cartago Province, Costa Rica
- **Coordinates:** 9.864291666666666°N, 83.92071111111112°W
- **Elevation:** 1,435 meters above sea level
- **Area:** 4.04 square kilometers
- **Population:** 22,129 (2011 census); 22,798 (2021 estimation); 22,775 (2022 estimation)
- **Administrative Role:** Capital of Cartago Province and Cartago Canton
- **UN/LOCODE:** CRCAR
- **Website:** https://www.muni-carta.go.cr/
- **Sister City:** Toluca de Lerdo (since August 16, 2000)
- **Wikipedia Title:** Cartago, Costa Rica

## FAQs
**What is the geographical location of Cartago?**
Cartago is situated in central Costa Rica within Cartago Province. It lies at coordinates 9.864291666666666°N latitude and 83.92071111111112°W longitude, positioned at an elevation of 1,435 meters above sea level.

**What is the population of Cartago?**
According to census data, Cartago had a population of 22,129 in 2011. Subsequent estimations show 22,798 residents in 2021 and 22,775 residents in 2022.

**When was Cartago founded?**
Cartago was officially founded on November 27, 1563.

**What is the administrative significance of Cartago?**
Cartago serves as the capital city of both Cartago Province and Cartago Canton. Historically, it served as the capital of several administrative divisions including Nuevo Cartago y Costa Rica Province (1540-1573), Province of Costa Rica (1573-1812 and 1814-1821), and Province of Nicaragua and Costa Rica (1812-1814).

**What are some alternative names for Cartago?**
Cartago is also known by several aliases including Santiago de Cartago, Nuevo Cartago, Cartago (Costa Rica), and various names in different languages such as カルタゴ (Japanese) and كارتاغو (Arabic).

## Why It Matters
Cartago holds significant historical importance as one of Costa Rica's earliest established cities, founded in 1563. Its role as a former capital of various provincial administrations from 1540 to 1821 underscores its political and historical significance in the region. As the current capital of Cartago Province and Canton, it continues to serve as an administrative center. The city's elevation at 1,435 meters above sea level positions it within Costa Rica's central highlands, a region known for its agricultural productivity and cultural heritage. Its twinning with Toluca de Lerdo since 2000 indicates its ongoing international connections and cultural exchange initiatives.

## Notable For
- Founded in 1563, making it one of the oldest cities in Costa Rica
- Former capital of multiple historical administrative divisions in Central America
- Capital of both Cartago Province and Cartago Canton
- Contains the administrative territorial entities of Oriental and Occidental
- Home to the Basilica Virgen de los Angeles, a significant religious site
- Featured in the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica
- Subject of coverage across 39 Wikipedia language editions
- Located at a high elevation of 1,435 meters above sea level
- Sister city relationship with Toluca de Lerdo since 2000

## Body

### Geography and Location
Cartago is located in central Costa Rica within Cartago Province. The city's precise coordinates are 9.864291666666666°N latitude and -83.92071111111112°W longitude. It sits at an elevation of 1,435 meters above sea level, positioning it in Costa Rica's mountainous central region. The city covers a total area of 4.04 square kilometers.

### Demographics
The population of Cartago has remained relatively stable in recent years:
- 2011 Census: 22,129 residents
- 2021 Estimation: 22,798 residents
- 2022 Estimation: 22,775 residents

These figures come from Costa Rica's National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC) population estimates and projections.

### Historical Administrative Role
Cartago has served as the capital of numerous administrative divisions throughout its history:

1. **Nuevo Cartago y Costa Rica Province** (1540-1573)
2. **Province of Costa Rica** (1573-1812)
3. **Province of Nicaragua and Costa Rica** (1812-1814)
4. **Province of Costa Rica** (1814-1821)
5. **Cartago Province** (current)
6. **Cartago Canton** (current)

### Notable Sites and Symbols
The city features several significant visual and cultural elements:

- **Basilica Virgen de los Angeles**: A prominent religious structure featured in official imagery of the city
- **Coat of Arms**: Cartago has an official heraldic emblem (Escudo de Cartago)
- **Flag**: The city maintains its own official flag (Bandera de Cartago)

### Administrative Structure
Cartago contains two administrative territorial entities:
- Oriental
- Occidental

### International Relations
Cartago maintains a sister city relationship with Toluca de Lerdo, established on August 16, 2000.

### Digital Presence and Identification
The city is documented across numerous international databases and identifier systems:
- **UN/LOCODE:** CRCAR
- **GeoNames ID:** 3624370
- **WOEID:** 57999
- **GND ID:** 7525405-0
- **VIAF ID:** 148937646
- **Library of Congress Authority ID:** n81129328
- **WorldCat Entities ID:** E39PBJtRKBRpgJF8YddxRFFHYP
- **OpenStreetMap Node ID:** 13232135222
- **Encyclopædia Britannica Online ID:** place/Cartago

### Online Resources
- **Official Website:** https://www.muni-carta.go.cr/
- **Curlie Directory:** Regional/Central_America/Costa_Rica/Cartago_Province/Localities/Cartago/
- **Quora Topic:** Cartago-Costa-Rica
- **Wikipedia:** Available in 39 languages including English, Spanish, German, French, Japanese, and others

### Cultural References
- Featured in the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica
- Has dedicated Wikipedia coverage across 39 language editions
- Maintains a Commons category for media files
- Featured in Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana

### Related Categories
- **Main Category:** Category:Cartago, Costa Rica
- **People Born Here:** Category:Births in Cartago, Costa Rica
- **Associated People:** Category:People of Cartago, Costa Rica
- **Deaths:** Category for people who died in Cartago

## References

1. [Source](https://portales.sre.gob.mx/coordinacionpolitica/images/stories/documentos_gobiernos/rai/mex/edomex6.pdf)
2. [Source](https://portales.sre.gob.mx/coordinacionpolitica/index.php/entidades/82-estado-de-mexico)
3. archINFORM
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. Czech National Authority Database
6. [Source](https://www.inec.cr/poblacion/estimaciones-y-proyecciones-de-poblacion)
7. [Estadísticas demográficas. 2011 – 2025. Proyecciones nacionales. Población total proyectada al 30 de junio por grupos de edades, según provincia, cantón, distrito y sexo. Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos](https://www.inec.cr/poblacion/estimaciones-y-proyecciones-de-poblacion)
8. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0
9. GeoNames
10. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/cr.htm)
11. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
12. museum-digital