Alajuelita (canton)

Alajuelita is a canton in the San José province of Costa Rica.

History
Alajuelita was created on 4 June 1909 by decree 58. The first settlements in the area occurred by 1650. The name "Alajuelita" comes from a diminutive form of the name of Alajuela Province due to original settlers coming from that province.

Geography
Alajuelita has an area of 21.17 km² and a mean elevation of 1,194 metres.

The odd-shaped canton reaches southwest from the suburbs of the national capital city of San José. It is delineated by the Tiribí River on the northeast, Cañas River on the east, Poás River on the southeast, and the Cerros de Escazú at it far southwestern end. The Santuario Nacional Santo Cristo de Esquipulas is located in this canton along with the San Miguel Hill, whose metallic cross built at its peak is definitely one of the more beloved landmarks in Costa Rican Central Region.

Districts
The canton of Alajuelita is subdivided into the following districts:
 * 1) Alajuelita
 * 2) San Josecito
 * 3) San Antonio
 * 4) Concepción
 * 5) San Felipe

Demographics
For the 2011 census, Alajuelita had a population of 77,603 inhabitants.

Education

 * Escuela San Felipe, founded 1966

Road transportation
The canton is covered by the following road routes: • CR RNS 105.svg National Route 105

• CR RNS 110.svg National Route 110

• CR RNS 177.svg National Route 177

• CR RNS 217.svg National Route 217