Encyclopedia/3. History, Societies & Civilizations/09. Modern Nations/02. Americas • Curated by Admin Timeline.sg
History of Costa Rica (AI-generated, sourced to Wikipedia).
Chronological Storyline (29 Milestones)
10000 BCE
Early indigenous settlement
Hunter-gatherers arrive in the region, leaving behind Clovis-style spear points near Turrialba. Source — Wikipedia, "Costa Rica":
Flag of Costa Rica By See File history below for details. - Government of Costa Rica.CONSTRUCTION SHEET: FLAGS OF THE WORLD., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=343028
500 BCE
Guayabo de Turrialba thrives
The pre-Columbian city of Guayabo reaches its peak, becoming a major political and cultural center. Source — Wikipedia, "Costa Rica":
Guayabo Monument, Costa Rica By Lutz Maertens - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5708192
Sep 18, 1502 CE
Columbus arrives on coast
Christopher Columbus lands at Uvita Island during his fourth voyage, naming the region Costa Rica. Source — Wikipedia, "Costa Rica":
Diorama del Museo del Oro Precolombino que representa un asentamiento de la cultura del Diquís, en el Pacífico Sur de Costa Rica. By Rodtico21 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/44979762@N03/14819766684/, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34483339
Mar 1, 1561 CE
Spanish settlement begins
Juan de Cavallón leads the first successful Spanish expedition into the Central Valley. Source — Wikipedia, "Costa Rica":
Flag of Costa Rica By See File history below for details. - Government of Costa Rica.CONSTRUCTION SHEET: FLAGS OF THE WORLD., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=343028
1564 CE
Cartago founded as capital
Juan Vásquez de Coronado establishes Cartago, the first permanent Spanish settlement in the valley. Source — Wikipedia, "Costa Rica":
Basilica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles in Cartago, Costa Rica By Magalhães - Own work, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1723087
Feb 1, 1723 CE
Volcán Irazú erupts
A massive eruption of Volcán Irazú destroys the original church in Cartago and devastates surrounding areas. Source — Wikipedia, "Costa Rica":
Irazu Volcano Costa Rica By Rafael Golan - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17990842
Sep 15, 1821 CE
Independence from Spain
Costa Rica gains independence from Spain as part of the Mexican Empire's separation. Source — Wikipedia, "Costa Rica":
A scan of the Act of Independence of Central America (page 1). By José Cecilio del Valle - https://ahgua.ufm.edu/agca/acta-de-independencia-de-las-provincias-unidas-de-centro-america-15-de-septiembre-1821/acta-de-independencia-de-centroamerica-15-de-septiembre-1821-001/, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=133875813
1823 CE
Joins United Provinces
Costa Rica joins the Federal Republic of Central America after a brief civil war over imperial vs. republican rule. Source — Wikipedia, "Costa Rica":
Flag of the Federal Republic of Central America By Huhsunqu - This W3C-unspecified vector image was created with Inkscape .Description of flag design from: Meléndez Chaverri, Carlos (2000). José Matías Delgado, Prócer Centroamericano. Page 277. ISBN: 9992300574Coat of arms design derived from a depiction on the Constitution of Central America and from History of El Salvador Volume I, pp. 150–151 and Historia General de Centroamérica – de la Ilustración al Liberalismo (1750–1870) Volume III, p. 100, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=598888
1824 CE
First chief elected
Juan Mora Fernández becomes the first elected head of state, promoting coffee cultivation and education. Source — Wikipedia, "Costa Rica":
Juan Mora Fernández, Jefe de Estado de Costa Rica de 1825-1829 y 1829-1833. By Lorenzo Fortino (n.? - f. c.1870) - Galería de Expresidentes de la Asamblea Legislativa, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10874410
1838 CE
Full sovereignty achieved
Costa Rica formally withdraws from the Federal Republic of Central America, becoming a fully sovereign nation. Source — Wikipedia, "Costa Rica":
Diorama del Museo del Oro Precolombino que representa un asentamiento de la cultura del Diquís, en el Pacífico Sur de Costa Rica. By Rodtico21 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/44979762@N03/14819766684/, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34483339
Aug 1, 1848 CE
Republic officially declared
José María Castro Madriz declares Costa Rica a Republic, separating the head of state from the presidency. Source — Wikipedia, "Costa Rica":
Retrato de José María Castro, mandatario de Costa Rica 1847-1849 y 1866-1868 By Aquiles Bigot - http://www.asamblea.go.cr/Centro_de_informacion/Sala_Audiovisual/Expresindentes%20de%20Costa%20Rica/Forms/AllItems.aspx, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10883631
Apr 11, 1856 CE
Battle of Rivas fought
Costa Rican forces defeat William Walker's filibusters; Juan Santamaría becomes a national hero. Source — Wikipedia, "Costa Rica":
Primer plano del Monumento Nacional de Costa Rica, Parque Nacional, San José By Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz) - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=91001946
1871 CE
Railroad to Atlantic starts
Construction begins on the Atlantic Railroad to link the Central Valley to the port of Limón for coffee export. Source — Wikipedia, "Costa Rica":
Railroad routes of Costa Rica map sketch, includes all of the rights of way of Incofer (State owned railroad company), but most of the network is abandoned Tren Interubano Ferrocarril al Pacífico Ferrocarril al Atlántico Banana transportation Ferrocarril del Sur (Quepos) Ferrocarril del Sur (Golfito) By Roqz - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=99683952
1890 CE
Atlantic Railroad completed
Minor Cooper Keith completes the railroad to Limón, introducing Afro-Caribbean labor and the United Fruit Company. Source — Wikipedia, "Costa Rica":
Minor Cooper Keith in 1917 By Bain - Library of Congress, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40072122
1897 CE
National Theater inaugurated
The opulent National Theater opens in San José, funded by a coffee tax, symbolizing the coffee elite's wealth. Source — Wikipedia, "Costa Rica":
Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica, San josé By Andres Alvarez - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2488411
1917 CE
Tinoco dictatorship begins
Minister of War Federico Tinoco overthrows the government, ruling as a dictator until ousted in 1919. Source — Wikipedia, "Costa Rica":
José Federico Alberto de Jesús Tinoco Granados (1868-1931), President of Costa Rica (1917-1919). By AnonymousUnknown author - BONILLA, Harold H. Los Presidentes, T.1, Ed. UNED, San José, Costa Rica, p.231, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4536253
1931 CE
Communist party founded
Manuel Mora Valverde founds the Communist Party of Costa Rica, later playing a key role in social reforms. Source — Wikipedia, "Costa Rica":
Flag of Costa Rica By See File history below for details. - Government of Costa Rica.CONSTRUCTION SHEET: FLAGS OF THE WORLD., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=343028
1940 CE
Social reforms enacted
President Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia introduces the Social Guarantees and labor code, transforming national welfare. Source — Wikipedia, "Costa Rica":
photo from asamblea.go.cr By Asamblea Legislativa - http://www.asamblea.go.cr/ca/Presidentes%20de%20la%20Asamblea%20Legislativa/Forms/DispForm.aspx?ID=119, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=84597590
Mar 12, 1948 CE
Civil war erupts
A disputed election sparks a 44-day civil war, resulting in over 2,000 deaths and reshaping the political landscape. Source — Wikipedia, "Costa Rica":
Dicho monumento se encuentra en el Parque Ernesto Zumbado de Santa María de Dota By Deiver251285 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=48135541
Apr 1, 1948 CE
Figueres takes power
José Figueres Ferrer leads the victorious revolutionary junta, establishing the Second Republic. Source — Wikipedia, "Costa Rica":
Retrato de José Figueres Ferrer, presidente de Costa Rica en 1948-1949 / 1953 - 1958 / 1970 - 1974 By User:MadriCR - Trabajo derivado de: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jos%C3%A9_Figueres_Ferrer.jpg, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=89506333
Dec 1, 1948 CE
Army abolished
The revolutionary junta officially abolishes the national armed forces, making Costa Rica demilitarized. Source — Wikipedia, "Costa Rica":
Flag of Costa Rica By See File history below for details. - Government of Costa Rica.CONSTRUCTION SHEET: FLAGS OF THE WORLD., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=343028
Nov 7, 1949 CE
New constitution adopted
The current Political Constitution is ratified, granting women and Afro-Costa Ricans the right to vote. Source — Wikipedia, "Costa Rica":
Coat of arms of Costa Rica. By original from xrmap flag collection 2.9, HansenBCN - First version extracted from Flag of Costa Rica in the xrmap flag collection 2.9 (cr.svg). Own work based on: according to the law, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4285536
Mar 1, 1963 CE
Irazú erupts again
Volcán Irazú begins a major eruption lasting two years, covering San José in ash and devastating agriculture. Source — Wikipedia, "Costa Rica":
Irazu Volcano Costa Rica By Rafael Golan - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17990842
Aug 1, 1987 CE
Arias wins Nobel Prize
President Óscar Arias Sánchez wins the Nobel Peace Prize for his Central American peace plan. Source — Wikipedia, "Costa Rica":
Oscar Arias Sánchez, former president of Costa Rica 1986-1990 and 2006-2010. By MadriCR - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=68976417
Apr 22, 1991 CE
Limón earthquake strikes
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake hits the Caribbean coast, killing dozens and severely damaging infrastructure. Source — Wikipedia, "Costa Rica":
Flag of Costa Rica By See File history below for details. - Government of Costa Rica.CONSTRUCTION SHEET: FLAGS OF THE WORLD., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=343028
May 8, 2010 CE
First female president
Laura Chinchilla is inaugurated as Costa Rica's first female president, marking a milestone in gender equality. Source — Wikipedia, "Costa Rica":
Laura Chichilla Miranda, President of Costa Rica (2010-2014). Photograph taken from the website of the Municipality of Desamparados. By Unknown author - https://www.desamparados.go.cr/es/el-canton/hijos-predilectos/laura-chinchilla-miranda, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=101130154
Jun 1, 2014 CE
World Cup quarter-finals
The national football team reaches the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals for the first time, defeating top-ranked teams. Source — Wikipedia, "Costa Rica":
Selección Nacional de Costa Rica festejando el liderato del Grupo D. By [2] - [1], CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72849715
Aug 1, 2018 CE
Same-sex marriage legalized
The Constitutional Court rules that banning same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, taking effect in 2020. Source — Wikipedia, "Costa Rica":
Costa Rica (orthographic projection) By Keepscases - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8674503
Mar 6, 2020 CE
COVID-19 pandemic arrives
The first case of COVID-19 is confirmed in the country, leading to severe restrictions and a major economic impact. Source — Wikipedia, "Costa Rica":
Flag of Costa Rica By See File history below for details. - Government of Costa Rica.CONSTRUCTION SHEET: FLAGS OF THE WORLD., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=343028
