History of San Jose

Early History

When the first Spanish conquistadors first arrived in Costa Rica, they established their capital at Cartago near present-day San Jose.  Compared to other countries in Central America, Costa Rica was a sparely populated settlement of huts.  The natives here were not as advanced as the Mayas or the Aztecs, although they did have a fairly developed system of agriculture and a set of religious beliefs.  San Jose was officially established in 1712, and the new city quickly grew, rivaling Cartago’s population by the late 1820s.  This growth was fueled in large part by the tobacco trade.  Military quarters were established and a mint was founded.   

In 1821, the Spanish left, news of which took a while to reach Cost Rica.  Then began a violent struggle amidst the various city factions in Costa Rica that began fighting over what direction the country should take.  The leaders of Cartago and Heredia, old time traditionalists known for their favorable views on colonialism, favored annexation to Mexico.  In San José and Alajuela, the more progressive leader pushed for independence.  After a series of violent struggles, San Jose became the capital of the newly independent Costa Rica.   

The city was booming and its growth again began to fuel jealousy among the city states.  In 1837, the other city-states formed a coalition and launched an attack to overthrow the government in San Jose. The Josefinos won the “War of the League” (as it was known), and San Jose re-established its dominance as the capital.  

Modern Growth

By the middle of the eighteenth century, the coffee boom had taken off, and with it, San Jose’s economy reached new heights. A burgeoning class of affluent plantation owners became rich off of coffee exports. San Jose received a tramway and became the third city in the world to have street lighting, far ahead of many European cities.  It was also one of the first countries in the world to have public telephones installed.  

Since then, San Jose has enjoyed a relatively tranquil existence, although its population has increased many times over, from 70,000 at the start of WWII to a million today. The physical geography of the state has also expanded to include neighboring villages. Today the city is one of the most visited medical tourism destinations in this part of the world. The gorgeous weather, abundant flora and fauna, natural beauty, and its reputation for cutting edge cosmetic surgery make San Jose a medical tourism paradise like no other.