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Santo Domingo de Santa Bárbara, is the fifth district of the Santa Bárbara canton in Heredia, Costa Rica. Because it is often confused with the separate political entity of the canton of Santo Domingo de Heredia, Santo Domingo de Santa Bárbara is often called El Roble. It is named after Santo Domingo de Guzmán The district consists of several large neighborhoods: Amapola, Los Cartagos, Chagüites, Calle Quizarra, Calle Derrumbe, Calle Tranquera, Giralda, and Guarai.

History
The region of Santa Bárbara, like much of the Central Valley before Spanish settlers arrived, Santo Domingo was occupied by the Huetares, an indigenous tribe. The Huetare King, Cacique Garabito, dominated the area.

In early 1663, settler Joseph de Sandoval Ocampo set up cattle ranches in the area, including one toward the between the present-day areas of San Pedro and Purabá, which was called Tapatalanga or Anonos at the time. Heredia, Barva, and Alajuela, three neighboring cities, were populated and settled in the late 1700s. As trade increased between the three cities, the canton developed.

In 1825, Englishman John Hale bought the large holding that makes up the present-day district of Santo Domingo. He sold the land in 1837 to residents of the San Pedro, Jesús, and San Juan. The area of Santo Domingo is still sometimes referred to as "El Inglés" (the Englishman). In the mid-1800s, layman Horacio Morales contributed to the construction of Santo Domingo's church, located in the main plaza. 6

Because of its large quantity of oak trees, residents called the area El Roble (the Oak). When the community received an image of Santo Domingo, the name of the area became official. Around 1910, the first elementary classes were held at a local residence.

By 1982, there were 2,681 residents. 5

Santo Domingo is a new district in Santa Bárbara. 2

Economy
Santo Domingo's economy is based on agricultural. It is the largest coffee producing district of Santa Bárbara. As of 1973, it accounted for 46% of the canton's total production, with more than 3,504,013 kilograms produced per year. 4 It is also a major producer of sugarcane, poultry, and hardwood lumber. 4

Santo Domingo's real estate holdings, private, public, and ecclesiastic, should be measured and accounted for, according to national law. There are various commercial businesses in Santo Domingo, including a hardware store, small restaurants and corner stores.

Public and social services
An EBAIS, Equipo Básico de Atención Integral en Salud (Basic Medical Care Center), located on the main plaza, serves residents and non-residents of the district. The Catholic Church serves the region through the Archdiocese of Alajuela. A police unit is stationed in the Cartagos neighborhood. The district is partially electrified by the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad. Santo Domingo is also organized by the Ministry of Culture and Youth.

One elementary school, Aniceto Esquivel Sáenz, located on highway 126, serves the entire district. Students from the district usually attend El Roble High School, but may also go to the high schools in Barva or Heredia. In 2010, El Roble High School was awarded a prize for the best-finished mural in a national environmentalist contest.

The high school was also the scene of controversy in 2013, when a student was killed after drinking alcohol mixed with a white substance. It was then reported that "drugs are daily bread" for students in the high school who buy the drugs just outside the campus. Less than a month later, another student hung himself in a school bathroom.

Geography
Like much of Costa Rica, the Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos (National Risk Prevention Commission) puts Santo Domingo in a high-risk zone. This is due to the district's mountainous geography, which can lead to landslides and flooding. Several large rivers run through Santo Domingo. These include Río Desengaño in the north, Río Tambor, Río Pacayas, Río Las Ahogadas, Río Guararí, and Quebrada Las Conejas..

Cerro Guararí, the 26th highest mountain in the country, is located in the northeast of Santo Domingo, just below the Barva Volcano. Most of Santo Domingo is part of the Área de Conservación Cordillera Volcánica Central (Central Volcanic Range Conservation Area). It is 2,559 meters above sea level, in the southwest of the Braulio Carrillo National Park. Cerro Guararí is composed of coal at its peak. Cerro Inglés, often called Cerro Picacho, is another high mountain peak in the area.

In 2010, the canton outlined plans to prevent future natural disasters in the district.