# Limón

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

**Wikidata**: [Q30620](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q30620)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limón)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/limon

## Summary
Limón, also widely known as Puerto Limón, is a city and district located in the Limón canton within the province of Limón, Costa Rica. Serving as the capital of both the province and the canton, it is a major human settlement situated at coordinates 10.0022155, -83.0840367. The city has evolved from a small settlement established in 1854 into a significant urban center with an estimated population of 71,514 as of 2022.

## Key Facts
- **Classification**: Limón is classified as a city and a district of Costa Rica.
- **Location**: It is situated in the Limón Canton and is the capital of the Limón Province.
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 10.0022155, Longitude -83.0840367.
- **Area**: The district covers an area of 59.18 square kilometres.
- **Elevation**: The city sits at an elevation of 3 metres above sea level.
- **Time Zone**: The region observes UTC−06:00.
- **Founding**: The city's inception dates to 1854; records also reference the date August 10, 1992.
- **Population (2022)**: 71,514 (estimated).
- **Population (2011)**: 61,072 (census).
- **Postal Code**: 70101.
- **Aliases**: Known internationally by several names, including Puerto Limón, Moín, Puerto Limon, プエルト・リモン (Japanese), 利蒙港 (Chinese), and Пуэрто-Лимон (Russian).
- **Sister Cities**: Limón is twinned with Galați and East Point.

## FAQs
**What is the population history of Limón?**
Limón has experienced significant population growth over the last century and a half. Census records show a rise from 637 residents in 1883 to 15,624 in 1927. The population continued to grow, reaching 40,830 in 1973 and 60,298 in 2000, with the most recent 2022 estimation placing the population at 71,514.

**What are the linguistic and naming variations for Limón?**
The entity is known by multiple aliases across different languages and databases. Common variations include Puerto Limón and Moín. In foreign languages, it appears as プエルト・リモン, 利蒙港, Пуэрто-Лимон, and ليمون. It is also identified by the title "Limón" on Wikipedia across more than 40 languages including English, Spanish, German, French, and Russian.

**What administrative role does Limón play?**
Limón functions as the administrative center for its region. It is the capital of the Limón Province and also serves as the capital of the Limón Canton.

## Why It Matters
Limón serves as a critical administrative and demographic hub within Costa Rica. As the capital of the Limón Province and Limón Canton, it acts as the central node for governance and regional organization on the country's Caribbean coast. Its sustained population growth—from a small settlement of 637 people in the late 19th century to a bustling city of over 71,000—highlights its enduring importance as a center of human settlement and economic activity. Furthermore, its recognition across a vast array of international encyclopedias and databases (such as the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, Encyclopædia Britannica, and various national libraries) underscores its global relevance.

## Notable For
- **Demographic Growth**: A steady population increase over 140 years, growing by over 11,000% between 1883 and 2022.
- **International Recognition**: The city is documented in major global knowledge bases, including having a dedicated BBC Things ID, a Library of Congress Authority ID, and an Encyclopædia Britannica entry.
- **Twin City Status**: It maintains international municipal relationships with Galați and East Point.
- **Sports Infrastructure**: The city is the owner of Estadio Juan Gobán.
- **Global Digital Presence**: It possesses a high volume of cross-language Wikipedia sitelinks (50), indicating broad international interest.

## Body

### Geography and Administration
Limón is a coastal district and city situated within Costa Rica. Geographically, it is positioned at a low elevation of 3 metres above sea level, covering a total land area of 59.18 square kilometres. The precise coordinates are 10.0022155 latitude and -83.0840367 longitude. Administratively, it falls under the Limón Canton and serves as the capital for both the canton and the broader Limón Province. The city is identified by the postal code 70101 and operates within the UTC−06:00 time zone.

### Historical Population Trends
The demographic history of Limón is well-documented through a series of censuses and estimates, showing consistent growth over more than a century.
- **19th Century**: The settlement began with a population of 637 in 1883, growing to 2,144 by 1892.
- **Early to Mid-20th Century**: By 1927, the population had reached 15,624. It slightly increased to 16,384 in 1950 before jumping to 29,039 in 1963.
- **Late 20th Century**: Growth continued with 40,830 residents recorded in 1973 and 52,602 in 1984.
- **21st Century**: The population reached 60,298 in 2000 and 61,072 in the 2011 census. A 2022 estimation places the population at 71,514.

### Civic Infrastructure and Identity
Limón maintains specific civic assets and relationships. It is the owner of the Estadio Juan Gobán, a significant local venue. The city engages in international cooperation through "twinning" relationships with Galați and East Point. The city's visual identity is represented by a page banner hosted on Wikimedia Commons, and it falls under the category "Limón, Costa Rica" for media classification.

### Digital and Academic Identifiers
Limón possesses a comprehensive digital footprint across numerous international databases and library systems.
- **Library & Archives**: It holds identifiers with the Library of Congress (n88278698), the National Library of Israel (987007567464805171), the U.S. National Archives (10037313), and the Bibliothèque nationale de France (150276954).
- **Encyclopedias**: The city is indexed in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, the Great Russian Encyclopedia Online (ID: 2144904), and the Encyclopædia Britannica Online (place/Limon-Costa-Rica).
- **Semantic Web**: It is tracked via VIAF ID 168721722, GeoNames ID 3622247, and a Who's on First ID 421172761. Additional identifiers include a Freebase ID (/m/04wst4), a BBC Things ID, and a Yale LUX ID.

### People and Community
The knowledge base categorizes individuals associated with the city into specific groups. There are distinct categories for people born in Limón ("Category:Births in Limón"), people who died there (referenced by Q127416930), and notable figures associated with the location ("Category:People of Limón, Costa Rica").

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. 2011 Costa Rican census
4. 1973 Costa Rican census
5. 1984 Costa Rican census
6. 2000 Costa Rican census
7. 1883 Costa Rican census
8. 1892 Costa Rican census
9. 1927 Costa Rican census
10. 1950 Costa Rican census
11. 1963 Costa Rican census
12. 2022 Costa Rican census
13. GeoNames
14. BBC Things
15. División Territorial Administrativa, 2024 (Costa Rica)