Bagaces is a canton in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica.[2][3] The head city is in Bagaces district.

Bagaces
Flag of Bagaces
Official seal of Bagaces
Map
Bagaces canton
Bagaces canton location in Costa Rica
Bagaces canton location in Costa Rica
Bagaces
Bagaces canton location in Costa Rica
Coordinates: 10°30′56″N 85°14′52″W / 10.515659°N 85.2477995°W / 10.515659; -85.2477995
Country Costa Rica
ProvinceGuanacaste
Creation7 December 1848[1]
Head cityBagaces
Districts
Government
 • TypeMunicipality
 • BodyMunicipalidad de Bagaces
Area
 • Total889.07 km2 (343.27 sq mi)
Elevation
396 m (1,299 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total19,536
 • Density22/km2 (57/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−06:00
Canton code504
Websitewww.bagaces.go.cr

History

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In the Pre-Columbian era, Bagaces was home to the Nicarao people who settled in Guanacaste after migrating from Central and southern Mexico. Evidence of Mesoamerican style markets and Jade showed that Bagaces had flourished during Pre-Columbian times.[4][5][6][7] Bagaces was created on 7 December 1848 by decree 167.[1] Bagaces is also one of the oldest settlements in early Spanish conquest in the 1540s. It became an important town after 1601 when the "Mule Trail" was established communicating Cartago, the capital of the province, with Guatemala, the capital of the Captaincy General. Bagaces was a necessary night stop and later acquired fame because of its dry bisquist (Biscocho) and cheese (Queso Bagaces), an important supply for the long ride.

Geography

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Bagaces has an area of 1,273.49 km²[8] and a mean elevation of 396 metres.[2]

The Salto River on the west and Tenorio River on the east delineate this canton, with the Tempisque River as the southern border and the northern border high in the Cordillera de Guanacaste. Miravalles Volcano sits near that border's midway point.

Districts

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The canton of Bagaces is subdivided into the following districts:

  1. Bagaces
  2. Fortuna
  3. Mogote
  4. Río Naranjo

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.±% p.a.
18641,638—    
1883991−2.61%
18921,476+4.53%
19271,890+0.71%
19504,079+3.40%
19639,836+7.01%
19739,828−0.01%
198410,103+0.25%
200015,972+2.90%
201119,536+1.85%
202223,709+1.78%
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos[9]
Centro Centroamericano de Población[10]

For the 2011 census, Bagaces had a population of 19,536 inhabitants.[11]

Transportation

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Road transportation

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The canton is covered by the following road routes:

References

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  1. ^ a b Hernández, Hermógenes (1985). Costa Rica: evolución territorial y principales censos de población 1502 - 1984 (in Spanish) (1 ed.). San José: Editorial Universidad Estatal a Distancia. pp. 164–173. ISBN 9977-64-243-5. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b "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. ^ "The Kingdom Of This World".
  5. ^ "The Aboriginals of Costa Rica".
  6. ^ "Las culturas indígenas y su medioambiente".
  7. ^ "Central American Nahua".
  8. ^ "Área en kilómetros cuadrados, según provincia, cantón y distrito administrativo". Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  9. ^ "Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos" (in Spanish).
  10. ^ Centro Centroamericano de Población de la Universidad de Costa Rica. "Sistema de Consulta a Bases de Datos Estadísticas" (in Spanish).
  11. ^ "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.