Liberia History, Costa Rica

Before the 20th century, much of Costa Rica was dry, open cattle country, reminiscent of the American West.  Central American won its independence from Spain and these provinces formed the Central American Federation.  Guanacaste, the province where Liberia lies, was part of Nicaragua.  In 1824, Guanacaste separated from Nicaragua and joined Costa Rica.

Costa Rica has had a very quiet history and as such does not have its own army.  The country prefers to use its revenue for social programs and education.  During one of the few incidents in the history of the country, returning troops brought cholera into the cities and country sides.  The resulting epidemic was responsible for more than ten thousand deaths across the country.  This was especially devastating as the country’s population was only 100,000 at the time of the epidemic.  Imagine a country losing a tenth of their population with one tragic event. 

Liberia was a transportation hub that connected the capital city of San Jose to both borders.  Nowadays, while there is still a lot of ranching operations, Liberia is beginning to turn towards the tourism industry for growth.  The volcanoes and the national parks draw thousands to the island every season and less than 30 miles away, there is a large project under construction that boasts it will be the next Cancun.

 Now Liberia is a more pleasant and safe alternative to visiting San Jose. The major Costa Rica destinations are relatively close by.  The historic buildings of the city are located in the center of the town, but are a little rough and could use a paint job.  This adds a fair amount of local flavor to the city. 

Liberia is a great place to visit and one that is rich in history and culture.