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| San Jose History |
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With its relatively short history and the many earthquakes it has survived, San Jose (the city only got its present name in 1813) does not have many historical buildings nor famous sights to see. Nevertheless, there are many things to discover during the day and by night. The development of the city is defined by its short but eventful history that begins in 1737. At that time Cartago, just 20 kilo- meters east of modern San Jose, was the capital of Costa Rica. In 1737, Cartago's church elders decided to build a parish church dedicated to St. Joseph. It would serve the 200 farms surrounding the small village of Villa Nueva del Boca de la Monte (New Town at the Mouth of the Mountain), and 2,000 other settlers scattered throughout the western part of the valley, saving them the long walk to attend Sunday church services in Cartago.
Years later, when the settlement failed to grow as expected because of the short-
age of drinking water, the clergy and the mayor forced some farm families to settle in San Jose. The city's water supply remained a problem until 1751, when the inhabitants finally managed to complete an eight-kilometer-long canal which brought water from the Rio Tomes to the city. By 1785, San Jose had more than 5,000 inhabitants and was larger than Cartago, the capital. But even in 1821, when Costa Rica gained its independence, San Josh remained little more than a collection of sprawling farms and workshops like so many other villages in the country.
But the idyllic rural character of the settlement was about to end. In 1821, the neighboring cities of Cartago and neighboring cities of Cartago and Heredia, led by monarchists, chose to join the Central American Federation under the leadership of Mexico. San Jose and Alajuela preferred full independence for Costa Rica. The differences of opinion between the republicans of San Jose and the monarchists from Cartago soon escalated into a military confrontation that climaxed in the battle of April 5, 1823, in the hills of Ochomogo. Soldiers from San Jose and Alajuela fought troops representing Cartago and Heredia. San Jose's victory at Ochomogo established Costa Rica as an independent state.
The battle was barely forgotten before a new quarrel broke out among the cities of the high plateau. In addition to Cartago, Alajuela and Heredia now wanted the honor of becoming the new capital of the independent state. They joined forces against the upstart city of San Jose and kindled the conflict that would flare into the civil war of September 1837. To everyone's amazement San Jose's forces proved victorious, and the city became the new capital.
In the second half of the 19th century, income from coffee plantations (which had massive political support) brought new prosperity to the capital. San Jose blossomed and grew more beautiful every day. So much money from coffee exports flowed into the town that San Jose became only the third city in the world to light its streets with electricity. Its neighboring cities, already jealous of San Jose's status as a capital, were absolutely green with envy.
With money from the sale of coffee beans, the city's aristocrats financed the construction of libraries, museums and theaters. Concerts, opera performances featuring internationally-famous stars, lavish balls and sumptuous banquets won the new capital attention throughout Central America.
Famous architects from Paris and Milan traveled to San Jose, and demonstrated their skills in the public buildings and private mansions that they designed. In 1940, more than one hundred years following its elevation to capital, San Jose still only had 70,000 inhabitants. It was not until after World War II, when large numbers of poor European immigrants arrived in Costa Rica, that the city expanded appreciably.
The sudden increase in population led San Jose's politicians and city planners to make decisions that many of its citizens regret today. Countless beautiful historic buildings fell victim - especially in the 1950s - to uncontrolled expansion. The politicians were less interested in preserving the past than in building for the future. They envisioned a new, attractive 20th century capital whose skyline was filled with skyscrapers made of glass, steel and marble. |
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| Full Service San Jose History Vacation Planner |
| Click here to start planning a great Central American vacation, tour or cruise with our Virtuoso Travel Advisors. You may call us too, but we'd really appreciate it if you complete a vacation planner first so we can determine which destination specialist to introduce you to. Thank you very much! Call 1 800 330 8820 or 415 446 5252 to book your San Jose History vacation. | |
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