Figure 1.--This was a portrait used to make a post card for tourists. It was sent home to the United States in 1912. It was entitled "market boy".

Costa Rica is a small Central Americn country, spanning the Istmus between Panama and Nicaragua. The climate is sub-tropical moderated by the elvations that exist in lrge areas of the country. We do not yet have much information on Costa Rica. We have begun a basic history of the country which was the first Central American country to achieve a modicum of stability. In this, Costa Rica is different than much of Centra America. And the ethnic balamce is also different. The population is largely of European origins. The indigenous (Native American) and Black population is relatively small. The economy as in other Central American countries has been based on agricultural commodities. Coffee is especially important. Since World War II, tourism has become increasingly important along with foreign retirees. Here stability is an important factor. Costa Rica is both a democratic and peaceful country. It has not even had an army since 1949. The country's biodiversity has attracted increasing interest in recent years. Despite the fact that the coutryb is small, covering a miniscule part of the earth's surfce area, it is the habitat for an estimated 6 percent of the world's biodiversity. We have only limited information on boys' activities at this time. An important activity is religion. Most Costa Ricans are Catholic and the Catholic Church has played an important roile in Costa Rican society. As far as we can tell, clothing in Costa Rica was very similar to that of the other Central American countries during the Spanish colonia era and the early independence period. Here the relatively small Native American population was a factor. Major changes began to occur after World War II when American boys' wear began to be the dominant styles worn. This is today the general pattern throughout Central America and Mexico.

Geography

Costa Rica is a small Central American country, spanning the Isthmus between the two countries it borders, Panama and Nicaragua. Interior mountains create the country's spine. the Cordillera de Guanacaste in the north near Nicaragua. has only moderate elevators. The Cordillera Central and the Cordillera de Talamanca form the bulk of the interior highlands. This was no small matter. Most of the capital cities n Central and South America are located in higher interior elevations. The more tropical lowlands exposed Europeans to tropical diseases. It is in the interior mountains that here that Cerro Chirripó (3,819 meters) is located, the country's highest point. Costa Rica has 14 volcnoes, 6 of which have been active in the 20th and early 21st centuries. The largest volcano is Irazú (3,431 m). Volcanoes can wreak huge damage, but they also have positive impact. enrich the soil creating incredibly fertile soil. The most important river is the Térraba (160 km). Thee is also a small lake -- Lake Arenal. The the 10th parallel crosses Costa Rica. Costa Rica is located close to the equator, resulting in a sub-tropical climate, partially moderated by the elevations in the interior mountain uplands. Costa Rica is located close to the equator There are only two seasons. The dry season occurs (December to April). This rainy season sometimes called the green season lasts (May to November). The warmest months are at the end of the dry season (March and April). The coolest are at the beginning of the dry season (December and January). Precipitation occurs year round and here is some rain during the dry season and some dry days during the rainy season. Over a quarter of the country is composed of conservation and natural protected territory. The country's biodiversity has attracted increasing interest in recent years. Despite the fact that the country is small, covering a minuscule part of the earth's surface area, it is the habitat for an estimated 6 percent of the world's biodiversity. Costa Rica has one of the larger uninhabited islands in the world. The Cocos Island, with a surface of only about 24 kilometers (km), hugely increased Costa Rica's Pacific Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

History

Costa Rica is both a democratic and peaceful country--a rare island of stability in the turbulent modern history of Central America. Costa Rica was at the time Columbus reached it inhabited by several different Native American with a population of about 0.4 million people. He sailed along the coast on his fourth and last voyage (1502). The Spanish conquest began two decades later (1524). Settlement proceeded slowly. The country was a backwater in the Spanish Empire. Costa Rica achieved its independence at the same time as Mexico (1821). Some Costa Ricans wanted to join Mexico and for a short time Costa Rica united with its larger neighbor to the north. Agustín de Iturbide who achieved independence for Mexico attempted to turn it into a monarchy. Costa Rica established an independent republic (1848) and has remained so except for a military dictatorship established by Tomás Guardia (1870-82). Somewhat apart from the general Latin American pattern, the Guardia period was one of progressive reform. The country gradually developed one of the most democratic traditions in Latin America. This was confirmed after a brief civil war after World War II (1948). Óscar Arias Sánchez became president (1986) and played an important role in ending the Nicaraguan and Salvadoran Civil Wars. Costa Rica has not even had an army since 1949.

Economy

The pre-Colombian economy was primarily hunter gathering by primitive Native American tribes. The modern territory of Costa Rica was beyond the extent of the Maya to the north. There are no important Mayan sites in Costa Rica. There must have been, however, trade connections. The name Costa Rica means 'rich coast' in Spanish. However most of the country's population don't live near the coast. The coast of Central America was Columbus' first land fall on the mainland of the Americas. The name was based on the Spanish seeing gold jewelry being worn by the the natives they spotted along the coast. Costa Rica was the first Central American country to achieve a modicum of stability. In this, Costa Rica is different than much of Central America which has been reflected in the economy. The economy as in other Central American countries has been based on agricultural commodities. Coffee is especially important. Since World War II, tourism has become increasingly important along with foreign retirees. Here stability is an important factor. Unlike many other Latin American countries, Costa Rica does not have important natural resources like oil or metals. Tourism has become an important part of the country's economy. Among the activities that tourists enjoy is whale watching. They are also attracted by the country's biodiversity, in part because of the large protected areas. Costa Rica is a very small country. It has just about 0.1 percent of the world's total area, but 5 percent of the biodiversity. Costa Rica is an important exporter of agricultural products, especially bananas and coffee. Despite the country's small area, it accounts for 10 percent of the total exports of banana worldwide. That is the second place just behind Ecuador, another small country. Costa Rica is also the biggest producer of pineapple worldwide. Costa Rica is developing a mixed economy. It is one of the world's biggest producer of medical equipment, specially body prothesis. Several companies of the industry like St Jude Medical, Boston Scientific, among others manufacture their products here which are then exported to the rest of the world. Since the Great Recession 2010, Costa Rica has impressive if not spectacular economic growth, 3.8 percent (2017). The major exports are still bananas, coffee, sugar, and beef. Exports of industrial and processed agricultural products are diversifying export shipments to include value-added goods. A bright spot is medical devices. Costa Rica's impressive biodiversity also makes it a key destination for ecotourism. Foreign investors are attracted by the country's political stability and high educational levels compared to other countries in the region. The Government has offered incentives in free-trade zones. Investors face, however, many of the same issues concerning the political culture of the region which prevent Latin American countries from replicating the success of the Asian Tigers. Problems include inadequate infrastructure, high energy costs, a complicated and unfriendly bureaucracy, weak investor protection, and weak contract enforcement. There is also rising fiscal deficit, rising public debt, and relatively low levels of domestic revenue.

Ethnicity

The ethnic make up of Costa Ricans also different than the rest of Central America. The population is largely of European origins. The indigenous (Native American) and Black population is relatively small. What is now Costa Rica was on the far southern fringe of the Mayan culyural area. Panama to the south has a relatively substanial African population. Costa Rica has a larger European population than the rest of Central Amerrica. Most of the population is of European ancestry with a substantia, but but smaller Mestizo popultion than most of the rest of Central America. This may have changed slightly with the large numbers of recent Nicaraguan migrants who have fled Nicaraguan in recent years. (The Communist regime in Nicaragua is both oppressive and has created a failing ecinomy--only marginlly better than Cuba or Venezuela.) About 85 percent of the population is of European or mestizo ancestry. And the Costan Rican mestizo population is more heavily European that the mestizo population in the rest of Central America. Mestizo has, however, a somewhat different meaning in Costa Rica than in the rest of Latin America. Costa Ricans tend to have a concept of mestizo almost entirely focused on European ancestry. In many other Latin American countries today, other countries embrace their indigenous heritage to some extent, although this varies. In Costa Rica it is more symbolic. We do not fully understand this, but it probably restates to the fact Costa Rica was not part of a major advanced indigenous civilization. We believe that the mestizo population is more dominantly European than many other Latin American countries, although we do not yet have DNA study data. About 2 percent of the population is Amer-Indiam (some 0.1 million peope) who live on 22 authorized reservations. Over 5 percent of Costaa Ricans are Mulatto with about 2 percenr are of African ancestery, mostly located in Limón province (Caribbean coast) as a result of the importaion of 19th century imprtation of Jamaican laborers. As a result, of the relatively small Amer-Indian and African populaions, Costa Rica is the most ethnically homogeneous country in Central America.

Demographics

Costa Rica had demographic data like many developing counties through the World War II era, but after the War negan a steady move towaard developed levels. Costa Rica has a relatively stable population of over 5.2 million (2026). The high growth rates of earlier years has leveled off. As in mot of Latin America, the firtility rate was very high, over 6, but began to fall after 1960, at first very steeply. The rate fell below the 2.1 level replacement rate (2005). It was only 1.3 (2005). Infant mortality fell steeply agter World War II from anout 130 per 1,000 births to 22 (1980) and then began to level off. It was only 6 (2025). With the birth rate falling, the Costa Rican population is aging. The median age is about 35 years and rising. This is very high in Latin America which a few years had median ages in the teens. Life expectany increased steadily (1950s-80s), but began to plateau (1990s). It is currently 84 years for women and 79 yeats for men (2025). The age structure was under 15 years (less than 20 percent), working-age/15-64 years (nearly 70 percent), and elderly/65 plus years (over 10 percent). This is close to the American media age vwhicjh is a little under 40 years. As alate as World War II, the population was heanily rurat. 65 percent (1950). The Urban opulation reached 50 percent (1990). The population is today heavily urbanized--something like 85 percent of the popultions lives in urban areas (2025). Most of the population lives in the Central Valley. Most of the population is of European ancestry with a substantial, but but smaller Mestizo popultion than most of the rest of Central America. This may have changed slightly with the large numbers of recent Nicaraguan migrants who have fled Nicaraguan in recent years. (The Communist regime in Nicaragua is both oppressive and has created a failing ecinomy--only marginlly better than Cuba or Venezuela.) About 85 percent of the population is of European or mestizo ancestry. This is dicussed in more detail in the Ethicity section.

Religion

Costa Rica is primrily a Roman Catholic country. The number of practicing Catholic is howvermuch morev limited. Some 75 percent of the population identifies as Catholi. Onlyabout 15 percent identifies as Protestant, but much more are actully practicing church members. Around 10 percent of the population does mot identify as having any religious afiliation. We note in America and Europe an inication of increased interest in relgion/ We donot if the same phenomnon s occurring in Latin America.

Regions

Costa Rica is commonly divided into four major areas which have distinct climatic patterns despite the country being so small. The Pacific is notable for sun, sand, surf, and modern wellness activities, The tourist industry is important and draws beachgoers and surfers. The Caribbean coast is also popular with tourists. It has big waves and beaches. It is warm like like the Pacific coast, but more humid. The world famous Tortuguero National Park is located along the Pacific coast. It is an important turtle nesting and wildlife. Boats have traditionally been the most common form of transportation needed to move through palm tree-lined canals. The Northern Plains has moderate elevations and consists of fertile plains and the iconic Arenal Volcano along with bio-dense rain-forests for which the country bis noted. Sarapiqui is particularly important. This area attracts tourists interested in nature, both flora and fauna. The country has a notable record in environmental stewardship. And the iconic green macaw numbers among other species are increasing, especially in Sarapiqui. The Central Valley is the country's economic and population center. As in so many Latin America countries, the capital, San Jose, is located here in the interior highlands. The Central Valley is most important coffee-producing area. Costa Rica's major crop. .

Activities

We have only limited information on boys' activities at this time. An important activity is religion. Most Costa Ricans are Catholic and the Catholic Church has played an important role in Costa Rican society.

Chronology

As far as we can tell, clothing in Costa Rica was very similar to that of the other Central American countries during the Spanish colonial era and the early independence period. Here the relatively small Amer-Indian population was a factor. The well-to-do dressed like Europeans. The rest of the population dressed in plain clothing and depending on their income a few European items. Photography began to appear (1840s). Our archive pf 19th century Costa Rrican photographs is very limited. Boys tended to wear a simple shirt and mostly long pants and go barefooted. In San Jose we see them wearing European styles, in the countryside plainer clothing, but not as far as we can tell not white compesino garments more common in areas where Amer-indian populations. Our photographic rchive is more extensive (20th century). Major changes began to occur after World War II when American boys' wear began to be the dominant styles worn. This is today the general pattern throughout Central America and Mexico.

Families

The family in most countries is a cornerstone of most county's society. The major exception is totalitarian countries, Communist and Fascist (both Socialist variants, where the totalitarisn state aggressively intrudes on family life. The HBC family section is a valuable section. In terms of fashion, family images put boys fashion into the context of the day, showing what girls and adults were also wearing. Family images also produce insights on many other areas covered by HBC, especially the chronology, demographics, economy, ethnicity, garments, gender, and other important sections on our country pages. At this time we archived only a few Costa Rican family and information about the family is still sketchy. One issue is that peasant families in Costa Rica were not generally Amer-Indian and Mestizo families as was generally the case in Central America and they were probably small landowners, also often not the case.

Created: 3:37 AM 8/27/2008
Last updated: 9:00 AM 5/2/2026