Country Costa Rica Capital San Pedro Area 15.16 km² Population 54,288 (2010) | Established August 2, 1915 Elevation 1,205 m (3,953 ft) Founded 2 August 1915 Province San José Province | |
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Named for Don Faustino Montes de Oca Districts 4 districts (distritos)
San Pedro
Sabanilla
Mercedes
San Rafael Colleges and Universities University of Costa Rica, Fidélitas University, Universidad Creativa de Costa Rica Points of interest Fundación Neotrópica, Rotonda de la Bandera, Fuente de La Hispanidad, La Campiña Hotel & C, Museo de Insectos | ||
Montes de Oca is the 15th canton in the province of San José in Costa Rica. The canton covers an area of 15.16 square kilometres (5.85 sq mi), and has a population of 54,288. The capital city of the canton is San Pedro.
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Map of San Jos%C3%A9, Montes de Oca, Costa Rica
The elongated canton reaches from the suburbs of the national capital of San José eastward to the province of Cartago, and neighbors the cantons of Curridabat, San José, Cartago, and Goicoechea. The Río Torres delineate a portion of the northern boundary, while the Río Ocloro and Quebrada Poró mark the southern boundary.
The canton is known for its high level of commercial development, the number of universities and other centers of higher education, and its active night life. It is one of the most urbanized and vibrant cantons in the San José area, both day and night.
Montes de Oca ranks first in the Costa Rican cantonal HDI, with 0,946.
Districts
The canton of Montes de Oca is subdivided into four districts (distritos):
Education
Montes de Oca is known in Costa Rica as the Cradle of Higher Education as it is home to the University of Costa Rica as well as other university-level centers of study, such as the Universidad Latina and the Universidad Americana (UAM) Escuela Laboratorio. The canton can boast of 99% literacy, compared with 95% in Costa Rica at large.
Points of interest
History
The canton was established by law on August 2, 1915. Its name honors a former congressional representative from the area, Don Faustino Montes de Oca (1859–1902).