View source for Escazú (canton)

{{Short description|Canton in San José province, Costa Rica}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Expand Spanish|Cantón de Escazú|topic=geo|date=July 2024}}{{Infobox settlement
|name                    = Escazú
|native_name_lang        = es
|settlement_type         = [[Cantons of Costa Rica|Canton]]
|pushpin_map             = Costa Rica San José#Costa Rica
|pushpin_mapsize         = 300px
|pushpin_map_alt         = Escazú canton location in San José Province##Escazú canton location in Costa Rica
|pushpin_map_caption     = Escazú canton location in San José Province##Escazú canton location in Costa Rica
|coordinates             = {{coord|9.9167075|-84.1532395|type:adm2nd_region:CR|display=inline,title}}
|image_flag              = Bandera Cantón Escazú Costa Rica.svg
|image_seal              = Escudo Cantón Escazú Costa Rica.svg
|image_map               = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|type=shape|title=Escazú canton}}
|map_alt                 = Escazú canton
|map_caption             = Escazú canton
|image_skyline           = Escazú at night 2009.jpg
|image_alt               = Escazú at night.
|image_caption           = Escazú at night.
|established_title       = Creation
|established_date        = 7 December 1848
|subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name        = {{CRI}}
|subdivision_type1       = [[Provinces of Costa Rica|Province]]
|subdivision_name1       = [[San José Province|San José]]
|seat_type               = Head city
|seat                    = [[Escazú District|Escazú]]
|government_type         = [[Local government in Costa Rica|Municipality]]
|governing_body          = {{lang|es|Municipalidad de Escazú}}
|leader_title            = Mayor
|leader_name             = Orlando Esteban Umaña Umaña [[New Generation Party (Costa Rica)|(PNG)]]
|parts_type              = [[Districts of Costa Rica|Districts]]
|parts_style             = list
|parts                   = Districts
|p1                      = [[Escazú District|Escazú]]
|p2                      = [[San Antonio District, Escazú|San Antonio]]
|p3                      = [[San Rafael District, Escazú|San Rafael]]
|area_total_km2          = 34.53
|elevation_m             = 1129
|population_total        = 56509
|population_as_of        = 2011
|population_est          = 71500
|pop_est_as_of           = 2022
|population_density_km2  = auto
|timezone1               = [[UTC−06:00]]
|blank_name              = Canton code
|blank_info              = 102
|website                 = {{URL|https://www.escazu.go.cr}}
}}
'''Escazú''' is the second [[Cantons of Costa Rica|canton]] in the province of [[San José Province|San José]] in Costa Rica.<ref name="divadm">{{cite web |lang=es |title=Declara oficial para efectos administrativos, la aprobación de la División Territorial Administrativa de la República N°41548-MGP |url=http://www.pgrweb.go.cr/scij/Busqueda/Normativa/Normas/nrm_texto_completo.aspx?param1=NRTC&nValor1=1&nValor2=88416&nValor3=115607&param2=1&strTipM=TC&lResultado=1&strSim=simp |website=Sistema Costarricense de Información Jurídica |access-date=26 September 2020 |date=19 March 2019}}</ref><ref name="dta2017">{{cite book |lang=es |title=División Territorial Administrativa de la República de Costa Rica|date=8 March 2017|publisher=Editorial Digital de la Imprenta Nacional|isbn=978-9977-58-477-5|url=https://www.imprentanacional.go.cr/editorialdigital/libros/historiaygeografia/division_17.pdf}}</ref>
The canton lies west of the [[San José Canton]], and its whole territory is part of the [[Greater Metropolitan Area (Costa Rica)|Greater Metropolitan Area]].
The canton was one of the country's earliest, established on December 7, 1848.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Municipalidad de Escazú, Costa Rica – Reseña Histórica|url = http://www.escazu.go.cr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=97&Itemid=242|website = escazu.go.cr|access-date = 20 December 2015}}</ref> As the metropolitan area has expanded Escazú has become a suburban area on the west side of the national capital city of [[San José, Costa Rica|San José]]. It is delineated by the Río Tiribí on its northern border. The peak of Cerro Cedral in the [[Cerros de Escazú]] marks the southern limit of the canton.
==Toponymy==
The name "Escazú" derives from the indigenous word "Izt-kat-zu", which means "resting stone". The story tells of Indians traveling from [[Aserrí (canton)|Aserrí]] (south of San José) to Pacaca (near [[Ciudad Colón]]), who used to stop and rest at this location, which was about halfway between the two villages.{{cn|date=December 2023}}
==History==
Escazú was first mentioned as a canton in a decree dated 7 December 1848.<ref name="crevoterritorial">{{cite book |last1=Hernández |first1=Hermógenes |title=Costa Rica: evolución territorial y principales censos de población 1502 - 1984 |date=1985 |publisher=Editorial Universidad Estatal a Distancia |location=San José |isbn=9977-64-243-5 |pages=164–173 |edition=1 |url=https://ccp.ucr.ac.cr/bvp/mapoteca/CostaRica/generales/atlas_censal/ |access-date=5 October 2020 |language=es}}</ref>
The first inhabitants were natives from the [[Huetar people|Guetaras]] or [[Huaca]] tribes. By 1755, villagers were ordered out of Escazú and moved to San José by force. From 1796 to 1799, the church of San Miguel was built with the cooperation of the people who had already been re-established at this site. By 1801, the population of Escazú reached 1,325. On May 28, 1920, the government of Costa Rica granted Escazú the status of City, head of the Canton (County) of Escazú.
Popular legend tags Escazú as {{lang|es|La Ciudad de las Brujas}} (the City of the Witches), leading to its municipal seal, a depiction of a witch on a broomstick flying over the surrounding mountains. It has been suggested that this reputation stems from the perception of [[Crypto-Jewish]] traditions since a large number of [[Conversos]] were known to have settled in the area.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Metal |first1=Roots |title=The Witches of Escazú and Other Jewish Fairytales |date=2021 |isbn=979-8-9851054-0-7 |page=14-15}}</ref>
==Landmarks==
Local landmarks in the canton include the Costa Rica Country Club, the Multiplaza Mall, and, more recently, Avenida Escazú. These new complexes hold some of the world's most luxurious brands in [[Multiplaza]] Mall. Escazú is also home to several diplomatic missions, including the residence of the Ambassador from the United States.
== Geography ==
Escazú has an area of {{Cvt|34.53|km2}}<ref name="ignarea">{{Cite web |author=Instituto Geográfico Nacional de Costa Rica |date=2024-06-20 |title=División Territorial Administrativa, 2024 – Totales de Provincias, Cantones y Distritos de Costa Rica |trans-title=Administrative Territorial Division, 2024 – Totals of Provinces, Cantons and Districts of Costa Rica |url=https://files.snitcr.go.cr/boletines/DTA-TABLA%20POR%20PROVINCIA-CANT%C3%93N-DISTRITO%202024.pdf |access-date=2024-07-16 |language=es |format=PDF}}</ref> and a mean elevation of {{cvt|1129|m}}.<ref name="divadm"/>
== Government ==
=== Mayor ===
According to Costa Rica's [[Local government in Costa Rica|Municipal Code]], mayors are elected every four years by the population of the canton.<ref name="codmuni">{{Cite web |author=Asamblea Legislativa de la República de Costa Rica |author-link=Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica |date=13 May 2024 |title=Código Municipal |trans-title=Municipal Code |url=http://www.pgrweb.go.cr/scij/Busqueda/Normativa/Normas/nrm_texto_completo.aspx?nValor1=1&nValor2=40197 |access-date=21 July 2024 |website=Sistema Costarricense de Información Jurídica |language=es}}</ref> As of the latest [[2024 Costa Rican municipal elections|municipal elections in 2024]], the [[New Generation Party (Costa Rica)|New Generation Party]] candidate, Orlando Esteban Umaña Umaña, was elected mayor of the canton with 30.28% of the votes, with Ligia Hernández Rojas and Sylvia Alpizar Antillón as first and second vice mayors, respectively.<ref name="2024alcdec">{{Cite web |author=Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones |author-link=Supreme Electoral Court of Costa Rica |date=21 February 2024 |title=N.° 1658-E11-2024 - Declaratoria de elección de alcaldías y vicealcaldías de las municipalidades de los cantones de la provincia de San José, para el período comprendido entre el primero de mayo de dos mil veinticuatro y el treinta de abril de dos mil veintiocho. |url=https://www.tse.go.cr/juris/relevantes/1658-E11-2024.html |access-date=21 July 2024 |language=es}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto"
|+ Mayors of Escazú since the [[2002 Costa Rican municipal elections|2002 elections]]<ref name="decs">{{Cite web |author=Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones |author-link=Supreme Electoral Court of Costa Rica |title=Resoluciones declaratorias de elección |url=https://www.tse.go.cr/declaratorias.htm |access-date=21 July 2024 |website=Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones |language=es}}</ref>
!Period
!Name
!Party
|-
|[[2002 Costa Rican municipal elections|2002–2006]]
| rowspan="2" |Marco Antonio Segura Seco
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Bandera de Partido Liberación Nacional.svg|border|frameless|upright=.1]] [[National Liberation Party (Costa Rica)|PLN]]
|-
|[[2006 Costa Rican municipal elections|2006–2010]]
|-
|[[2010 Costa Rican municipal elections|2010–2016]]
| rowspan="3" |Arnoldo Valentín Barahona Cortés
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Bandera Partido Yunta Progresista Escazuceña Costa Rica.svg|border|frameless|upright=.1]] [[Escazu's Progressive Yoke|YUNTA]]
|-
|[[2016 Costa Rican municipal elections|2016–2020]]
|-
|[[2020 Costa Rican municipal elections|2020–2024]]
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Bandera Partido Nueva Generación Costa Rica.svg|border|frameless|upright=.1]] [[New Generation Party (Costa Rica)|PNG]]
|-
|[[2024 Costa Rican municipal elections|2024–2028]]
|Orlando Esteban Umaña Umaña
|}
=== Municipal Council ===
Like the mayor and vice mayors, members of the Municipal Council (called {{lang|es|regidores}}) are elected every four years. Escazú's Municipal Council has 7 seats for regidores and their substitutes, who can participate in meetings but not vote unless the owning regidor ({{Lang|es|regidor propietario}}) is absent.<ref name="codmuni" /> The current president of the Municipal Council is the Terra Escazú regidor Mario Arce Guillén, with [[National Liberation Party (Costa Rica)|National Liberation Party]] member Silvia Quesada Marcela Zamora as vice president.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Concejo Municipal de Escazú |date=13 May 2024 |title=ACTA 02-2024 Sesión Ordinaria 02 |url=https://www.escazu.go.cr/sites/default/files/Documentos/acta_02-24_ord._02-24_13-05-2024_0.pdf |access-date=21 July 2024 |language=es}}</ref> The Municipal Council's composition for the 2024–2028 period is as follows:
{| class="wikitable" border="1" style="margin:auto;"
|+ Current composition of the Municipal Council of Escazú after the [[2024 Costa Rican municipal elections|2024 municipal elections]]<ref name="2024regdec">{{Cite web |author=Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones |author-link=Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones de Costa Rica |date=12 February 2024 |title=N.° 2218-E11-2024 - Declaratoria de elección de regidurías de las municipalidades de los cantones de la provincia de San José, para el período comprendido entre el primero de mayo de dos mil veinticuatro y el treinta de abril de dos mil veintiocho. |url=https://www.tse.go.cr/juris/relevantes/2218-E11-2024.html |access-date=21 July 2024 |language=es}}</ref>
|-
| colspan="6" |[[File:Costa_Rica_Escazú_Concejo_Municipal_2024.svg|frameless|center]]
|-
! colspan="6" |'''Political parties in the Municipal Council of Escazú'''
|-----
! colspan="3" rowspan="2" |Political party
! colspan="3" |Regidores
|-
!№
!Owner
!Substitute
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Bandera Partido Nueva Generación Costa Rica.svg|border|frameless|upright=.2]]
| rowspan="2" |[[New Generation Party (Costa Rica)|New Generation Party]] (PNG)
| rowspan="2" bgcolor="#DE7324" |
| rowspan="2" |2
|José Campos Quesada
|Geovanni Andrés Vargas Delgado
|-
|Sigrid Miller Esquivel
|Ana María Barrenechea Soto
|-----
|[[File:Bandera Partido Unidos Podemos CR.svg|border|frameless|upright=.2]]
|[[United We Can]] (UP)
| bgcolor="#823D8D" |
| 1
|Laura Fonseca Herrera
|Seydi Vargas Rojas
|-----
|[[File:Bandera Partido Unidos Por Escazú CR.svg|border|frameless|upright=.2]]
|United for Escazú (UPES)
| bgcolor="#00758F" |
| 1
|Ricardo López Granados
|James Eduardo Chacón Castro
|-
|[[File:Bandera Partido Terra Escazú Costa Rica.svg|border|frameless|upright=.2]]
|Terra Escazú (TE)
| bgcolor="#773D0B" |
|1
|Mario Arce Guillén<sup>(P)</sup>
|Manuel Flores Fernández
|-
|[[File:Bandera Partido Yunta Progresista Escazuceña Costa Rica.svg|border|frameless|upright=.2]]
|[[Escazu's Progressive Yoke|Escazú's Progressive Yoke]] (YUNTA)
| bgcolor="#808080" |
|1
|Adriana Solís Araya
|Doris Mayela Agüero Córdoba
|-
|[[File:Bandera de Partido Liberación Nacional.svg|border|frameless|upright=.2]]
|[[National Liberation Party (Costa Rica)|National Liberation Party]] (PLN)
| bgcolor="#14A54E" |
|1
|Silvia Marcela Quesada Zamora<sup>(VP)</sup>
|Silvia María Castro Mendoza
|}
==Districts==
The canton of Escazú is subdivided into three [[Districts of Costa Rica|districts]]:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ifam.go.cr/PaginaIFAM/ifams/Descargas/CDI/Legal/Divisi%C3%B3n%20Territorial%20CR%20%20Publicado%20en%20La%20Gaceta%2026%20mayo%202009.pdf |title=División Territorial Administrativa de Costa Rica |language=es |publisher=Instituto de Fomento y Asesoria Municipal (IFAM) |date=May 5, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150802162747/http://www.ifam.go.cr/PaginaIFAM/ifams/Descargas/CDI/Legal/Divisi%C3%B3n%20Territorial%20CR%20%20Publicado%20en%20La%20Gaceta%2026%20mayo%202009.pdf |archive-date=August 2, 2015 }}</ref>
* [[Escazú (district)|Escazú]]
* [[San Antonio District, Escazú|San Antonio]]
* [[San Rafael District, Escazú|San Rafael]]
== Demographics ==
{{CR Census population}}
Escazú had an estimated {{formatnum:71500}} residents in 2022, up from {{formatnum:56509}} for the [[Costa Rica 2011 Census|2011 census]].<ref name="2022popest">{{Cite web |author=Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos |author-link=National Institute of Statistics and Census of Costa Rica |date=2023 |title=Resultados Estimacion de Poblacion y Vivienda 2022 |trans-title=2022 Population and Housing Estimate Results |url=https://admin.inec.cr/sites/default/files/2023-11/reResultadosEstimacionPoblacionVivienda2022_3.xlsx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240604233425/https://admin.inec.cr/sites/default/files/2023-11/reResultadosEstimacionPoblacionVivienda2022_3.xlsx |archive-date=2024-06-04 |access-date=2024-04-21 |language=es |format=XLSX}}</ref><ref name="censo2011">{{cite web |lang=es |title=Censo. 2011. Población total por zona y sexo, según provincia, cantón y distrito |url=https://www.inec.cr/censos/censos-2011 |website=Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos |access-date=26 September 2020}}</ref>
The canton's urban areas are home to 79.8% of its population. Children under ten account for 17.88% of the population, while 6.05% are over 65.
According to a publication by the [[United Nations Development Programme]], Escazú ranked as the 2nd highest canton in Costa Rica regarding [[Human Development Index|human development]] in 2022, with a score of {{formatnum:0.867}}, only behind [[Santa Ana (canton)|Santa Ana]].<ref name="" 2022hdi"="">{{Cite web |author=Sistema Nacional de Información y Registro Único de Beneficiarios del Estado |author2=Escuela de Estadística de la Universidad de Costa Rica |author-link2=University of Costa Rica |author3=Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo |author-link3=United Nations Development Programme |date=9 June 2023 |title=Atlas de Desarrollo Humano Cantonal en Costa Rica, 2022 |url=http://www.pnud.or.cr/mapa-cantonal/desarrollo-humano.html |access-date=21 July 2024}}</ref>
== Transportation ==
=== Road transportation ===
The following road routes cover the canton:
{{columns-list|
*[[File:CR RNP 27.svg|25px]] [[National Route 27 (Costa Rica)|National Route 27]]
*[[File:CR RNS 105.svg|25px]] [[National Route 105 (Costa Rica)|National Route 105]]
*[[File:CR RNS 121.svg|25px]] [[National Route 121 (Costa Rica)|National Route 121]]
*[[File:CR RNS 167.svg|25px]] [[National Route 167 (Costa Rica)|National Route 167]]
*[[File:CR RNS 177.svg|25px]] [[National Route 177 (Costa Rica)|National Route 177]]
*[[File:CR RNT 310.svg|25px]] [[National Route 310 (Costa Rica)|National Route 310]]
}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
<!--Navigation box--><br/>
{{Provinces and cantons of Costa Rica}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Escazu Canton}}
[[Category:Cantons of San José Province]]
[[Category:Greater Metropolitan Area (Costa Rica)]]