# Zarcero (canton)

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**Zarcero** is a [canton](/source/Cantons_of_Costa_Rica) in the [Alajuela](/source/Alajuela_Province) province of [Costa Rica](/source/Costa_Rica).[2][3]

Hiking trails, pure water creeks, friendly people, landscapes and natural attractions are features of the area.

## Toponymy

The name means an abundance of the [elmleaf or thornless blackberry](/source/Rubus_ulmifolius) plant, in Spanish called *zarzamora*.

It was originally given the name "Alfaro Ruiz" in remembrance of [Juan Alfaro Ruíz](/source/Second_Battle_of_Rivas#Juan_Alfaro_Ruiz), a hero from the [National Campaign of 1856](/source/Filibuster_War),[4] or Filibuster War. The head city of the canton is the eponymous [Zarcero](/source/Zarcero) district.

## History

Zarcero was created on 21 June 1915 by decree 27.[3][5]

## Geography

Zarcero has an area of 155.13 km2 (59.90 sq mi)[6] and a mean elevation of 1,777 metres.[2]

To the north, the region borders canton [San Carlos](/source/San_Carlos_(canton)), to the south it borders canton [Naranjo](/source/Naranjo_(canton)), to the east it borders canton [Sarchí](/source/Sarch%C3%AD_(canton)) and to the west it borders the canton [San Ramón](/source/San_Ram%C3%B3n_(canton)).

The canton itself is diamond-shaped, with the Espina River forming the border on the northwest and the southwest sides. The [Toro River](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C3%ADo_Toro_(Costa_Rica)) forms the southeastern border, and the La Vieja River borders the northeast.

## Districts

The canton of Zarcero is subdivided into the following [districts](/source/Districts_of_Costa_Rica):

1. [Zarcero](/source/Zarcero_District)
1. [Laguna](/source/Laguna_District)
1. [Tapezco](/source/Tapezco_District)
1. [Guadalupe](/source/Guadalupe_District,_Zarcero)
1. [Palmira](/source/Palmira_District,_Zarcero)
1. [Zapote](/source/Zapote_District,_Zarcero)
1. [Brisas](/source/Brisas_District)

## Demographics

For the [2011 census](/source/Costa_Rica_2011_Census), Zarcero had a population of 12,205 inhabitants.[7]

The canton has a 93% literacy rate, and by the year 2012 had a [Human Development Index](/source/Human_Development_Index) of 0.726 according to the [United Nations Development Program](/source/United_Nations_Development_Program). The region also has one of the lowest crime rates in the country.[8]

## Transportation

### Road transportation

The canton is covered by the following road routes:

- [National Route 141](/source/National_Route_141_(Costa_Rica))
- [National Route 741](/source/National_Route_741_(Costa_Rica))

## Economy

The economy of the canton is based on agriculture, primarily coffee and vegetables such as carrots, lettuce, potatoes and [chiverre](/source/Cucurbita_ficifolia).[9] Livestock and their products, especially "natilla Zarcero", a form of sour cream that originated in this area, make up another large portion of the economy. There are also smaller pastry, bread and other agriculturally-based industries in Zarcero. Tourism likewise has an impact on the economy. Two protected areas help attract tourist attention, a section of [Juan Castro Blanco National Park](/source/Juan_Castro_Blanco_National_Park) and [El Chayote Protected Zone](/source/El_Chayote_Protected_Zone).[10]

One feature of the canton is Evangelista Blanco Brenes Park, a park with [topiary](/source/Topiary)-designed bushes located in front of the Iglesia de San Rafael Arcángel in the center of the city of Zarcero.

## References

1. Hernández, Hermógenes (1985). [*Costa Rica: evolución territorial y principales censos de población 1502 - 1984*](https://web.archive.org/web/20201008142102/https://ccp.ucr.ac.cr/bvp/mapoteca/CostaRica/generales/atlas_censal/) (in Spanish). 1 ed. San José: Editorial Universidad Estatal a Distancia. pp. 164–173. ISBN 9977-64-243-5. Archived from [the original](https://ccp.ucr.ac.cr/bvp/mapoteca/CostaRica/generales/atlas_censal/) on 8 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.

1. ["Declara oficial para efectos administrativos, la aprobación de la División Territorial Administrativa de la República N°41548-MGP"](https://web.archive.org/web/20240224063957/https://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) (in Spanish). *Sistema Costarricense de Información Jurídica*. 19 March 2019. Archived from [the original](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) on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2020.

1. [*División Territorial Administrativa de la República de Costa Rica*](https://www.imprentanacional.go.cr/editorialdigital/libros/historiaygeografia/division_17.pdf) (in Spanish). Editorial Digital de la Imprenta Nacional. 8 March 2017. ISBN 978-9977-58-477-5.

1. Creedman, Theodore S (1991). *Historical Dictionary of Costa Rica*. London: The Scarecrow Press. pp. 41–42. ISBN 9780810822153.

1. Murillo Vargas, Juan Ramón (2015). *Centenario de Zarcero: un cantón pintoresco*. Costa Rica: Editorial Universidad Estatal A Distancia. ISBN 9789968481175.

1. ["Área en kilómetros cuadrados, según provincia, cantón y distrito administrativo"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200916045223/https://www.inec.cr/anuario-estadistico/anuario-estadistico-geografia) (in Spanish). *Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos*. Archived from [the original](https://www.inec.cr/anuario-estadistico/anuario-estadistico-geografia) on 16 September 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.

1. ["Censo. 2011. Población total por zona y sexo, según provincia, cantón y distrito"](https://www.inec.cr/censos/censos-2011) (in Spanish). *Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos*. Retrieved 26 September 2020.

1. Mora, Andrea (April 15, 2015). ["Zarcero inicia celebraciones de centenario del cantón"](http://www.elpais.cr/2015/04/15/zarcero-inicia-celebraciones-de-centenario-del-canton/) (in Spanish). *Elpaís.cr*. Retrieved August 5, 2017.

1. Robson, Pål André (May 2009). ["Neoliberalism and Social Response: A Preliminary Study of the Peasantry in Alfaro Ruiz, Costa Rica"](http://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1011&context=macabroad). Retrieved August 5, 2017.

1. ["El Chayote Protected Zone, National Parks Costa Rica"](https://web.archive.org/web/20040924033346/http://www.costarica-nationalparks.com/elchayoteprotectedzone.html). *www.costarica-nationalparks.com*. Costa Rica National Parks. Archived from [the original](http://www.costarica-nationalparks.com/elchayoteprotectedzone.html) on September 24, 2004. Retrieved August 5, 2017.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Zarcero (canton)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zarcero_(canton)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zarcero_(canton)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.