Mora is the seventh canton in the San José province of Costa Rica. Its head city is Colón.

Toponymy

Originally designated as Pacaca, a cacique name, the canton's name was changed to Mora in honor of Juan Rafael Mora Porras (1814-1860), the second President of Costa Rica.

History

The canton of Pacaca was established by a decree of 25 May 1883.

Government

Mayor

According to Costa Rica's Municipal Code, mayors are elected every four years by the population of the canton. As of the latest municipal elections in 2024, the Progressive Liberal Party candidate, Rodrigo Alfonso Jiménez Cascante, was elected mayor of the canton with 44.73% of the votes, with Ariun Zaya Cabal Lombodorzh and Maynor Guevara Mora as first and second vice mayors, respectively.

Municipal Council

Like the mayor and vice mayors, members of the Municipal Council (called regidores) are elected every four years. Mora's Municipal Council has 5 seats for regidores and their substitutes, who can participate in meetings but not vote unless the owning regidor (regidor propietario) is absent. The current president of the Municipal Council is the United For Development Party member María Picado Ovares. The Municipal Council's composition for the 2024–2028 period is as follows:

Geography

Mora has an area of 163.47 km2 and a mean elevation of 807 m. The Virilla River establishes the northern boundary of the canton, with the Grande de Tárcoles River delineating its far western limit. The Chucás, Quebrada Grande, Viejo and Tabarcia rivers mark the canton's western boundary; the Jorco, Tabarcia and Negro rivers, the southern boundary; and a series of foothills rising into the Cerros de Escazú delineate the canton's eastern border.

Districts

The canton of Mora is subdivided into seven districts:

Demographics

Mora had an estimated population of 32,348 people in 2022, up from 26,294 at the time of 2011 census. Mora had a Human Development Index of 0.801 in 2022.

Transportation

Road transportation

The canton is covered by the following road routes: • CR RNP 22.svg National Route 22 • CR RNS 121.svg National Route 121 • CR RNS 136.svg National Route 136 • CR RNS 209.svg National Route 209 • CR RNS 239.svg National Route 239 • CR RNT 316.svg National Route 316