Palmares (canton)

Palmares is a canton in the Alajuela province of Costa Rica.

History
Palmares was created on 30 July 1888 by decree 68.

The first settlers in what today is Palmares are believed to have arrived in 1835 from the cities of Alajuela and Belén, looking for land where to cultivate tobacco and other products.

Geography
Palmares has an area of 38.06 km2 and a mean elevation of 1,028 metres.

The canton encompasses a circular area with the city of Palmares at its center. The Aguacate Mountains establish the boundary on the canton's southwestern edge and the Grande River delineates the boundary on its north and northeast sides.

Districts
The canton of Palmares is subdivided into the following districts:
 * 1) Palmares
 * 2) Zaragoza
 * 3) Buenos Aires
 * 4) Santiago
 * 5) Candelaria
 * 6) Esquipulas
 * 7) La Granja

Demographics
For the 2011 census, Palmares had a population of 34,716 inhabitants.

Road transportation
The canton is covered by the following road routes: • CR RNP 1.svg National Route 1

• CR RNS 135.svg National Route 135

• CR RNS 148.svg National Route 148

• CR RNS 169.svg National Route 169

• CR RNT 713.svg National Route 713

• CR RNT 714.svg National Route 714

• CR RNT 715.svg National Route 715