San Rafael (canton)

San Rafael is a canton in the Heredia province of Costa Rica.^[2][3] The head city is in San Rafael district.

San Rafael
Canton
Skyline of San Rafael city, seen from Ángeles district
Flag Seal
San Rafael canton
San Rafael San Rafael canton location in Costa Rica
Coordinates: 10°02′30″N 84°04′30″W
Country	Costa Rica
Province	Heredia
Creation	28 May 1885[1]
Head city	San Rafael
Districts	Districts San Rafael San Josecito Santiago Ángeles Concepción
Government
• Type	Municipality
• Body	Municipalidad de San Rafael
Area
• Total	48.39 km2 (18.68 sq mi)
Elevation	1,343 m (4,406 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	45,965
• Density	950/km2 (2,500/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−06:00
Canton code	405
Website	www.munisrh.go.cr

History

San Rafael was created on 28 May 1885 by decree 10.^[1]

Geography

San Rafael has an area of 48.39 km²^[4] and a mean elevation of 1,343 metres.^[2]

The canton is northeast of the provincial capital city of Heredia, reaching from the suburbs high into the Cordillera Central (Central Mountain Range).

Districts

The canton of San Rafael is subdivided into the following districts:

1. San Rafael
2. San Josecito
3. Santiago
4. Ángeles
5. Concepción

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	±% p.a.
1892	4,204	—
1927	4,163	−0.03%
1950	5,254	+1.02%
1963	9,069	+4.29%
1973	16,013	+5.85%
1984	22,871	+3.29%
2000	37,293	+3.10%
2011	45,965	+1.92%
2022	48,848	+0.55%
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos[5] Centro Centroamericano de Población[6]

For the 2011 census, San Rafael had a population of 45,965 inhabitants.^[7]

Transportation

Road transportation

The canton is covered by the following road routes:

• National Route 113
• National Route 116
• National Route 502
• National Route 503