San Jose is the capital and largest city of the nation of Costa Rica. It is also the capital of the San Jose Province. San Jose is located in the center of the country at 9°56˛N 84°5˛W; it is on a mountain plateau at an elevation of about 1,170 meters (3,839 feet) above sea level.
According to Costa Rica 2000 Census, the city had a population of 309,672 people in San Jose Canton: the latter half of the 20th century was a period of rapid growth for the city, considering that in 1950 its population was a mere 86,900. The metropolitan area of San Jose exceeds the canton limits.
History
San Jose was a small village of little significance until 1824. In that year, Costa Rica's first elected head of state, liberal Juan Mora Fernandez, decided to move the government of Costa Rica from the old Spanish colonial capital of Cartago and make a fresh start with a new city. This was a time of much optimism in the newly independent nation of Central America, of which Costa Rica was at that time a state (see: History of Central America). The new capital of San Jose grew rapidly, extending into the Central Valley. Because of its late 18th century origin, San Jose has little of the Spanish colonial architecture common in most other Latin American capitals.
The University of Costa Rica was established here in 1843. San Jose also serves as the headquarters of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Along with Alajuela, Heredia, Cartago and other cities, the population reached 1.57 million in 2004, number 76 in the list of largest cities in the Americas. The cities of Heredia, Alajuela and San Jose are very close to each other. The Juan Santamaria International Airport and the Palacio de los Deportes are located in the Gran Area Metropolitana (Grand Metropolitan Area), not far from San Jose city.
Important places in the city include the Banco Central de Costa Rica, the Banco Nacional (much taller than other buildings nearby, giving the city its particular skyline), La Sabana Metropolitan Park, Avenida Central (which is one of the major commercial areas in the city). The Central Park and la Plaza de la Cultura are visited by thousands of workers and tourists every day. The Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica (National Theater of Costa Rica), Melico Salazar Theater, and the Cathedral are landmarks in the central area. In the south, the Clinica Biblica (a private hospital), the Pacific Train Station are important buildings.
Climate
San Jose includes the entire array of all climates possible in Costa Rica since its territory extends from almost sea level at several points near the central Pacific coast up to the country's highest peak, Mt. Chirripo, at an elevation of 3,820 m. Additionally, a small portion of the province protrudes down the very wet eastern slopes of the Central Volcanic Cordillera in a section of Braulio Carrillo National Park. Thus, the entire range of temperatures and rainfall patterns that affect Costa Rica can be experienced somewhere in the province.
Nonetheless, the climate in majority of the province of San Jose (including San Jose city) is moderate, where nothing more than a sweater or lightweight jacket and an umbrella are all the protection from the elements required. This mild climatic region lies in an altitudinal band between 700 and 1300 meters above sea level and is under the influence of a distinct dry season from mid November through mid May and a corresponding wet season during the remaining half of the year - the characteristic weather pattern for essentially all of the nation's territory on the western side of the continental divide.
Attractions
The Costa Rican National Theater and the Melico Salazar offer hectic calendars of cultural activities, featuring theather and dance groups and orchestra music throughout the year.
Besides the nightlife in San Jose, there are many other museums and attractions offering a different alternative to explore the city. One of these is the Gold Museum offering a rare look at the different gold artifacts of ancient Latin American civilizations. A second interesting attraction for the less adventurous is the Lancaster Botanical Gardens just outside of San Jose. There are some cafes in the downtown area, in the Central Mail building, The National Theater and the Melico Salazar, where national coffee is prepared and served in the Costa Rican typical ways.
Geographical Division 
