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Costa Rica gains its independence from Spain and joins the Mexican Empire.
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The Mexican Empire falls; Costa Rica joins El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua as the United Provinces of Central America.
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Battle of Rivas; Costa Rica beat William Walker's invading Nicaraguans.
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William Walker, conqueror of Nicaragua, surrendered to the US Navy. Cornelius Vanderbilt helped finance a Costa Rican army, which defeated Walker’s forces, and paid men under Walker’s command to defect. Walker later sought protection on a British naval vessel, whose captain turned him over to Hondurans, who executed him in 1860.
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US businessman Minor Cooper Keith introduces banana cultivation and starts the United Fruit Company.
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Ricardo Jimenez Oreamuno (b.1859) began serving his first term as president of Costa Rica. In 1914 he was succeeded by Alfredo Gonzalez Flores.
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Ricardo Jimenez Oreamuno (b.1859) began serving his 2nd term as president of Costa Rica. In 1928 he was succeeded by Cleto Gonzalez Viquez.
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Costa Rica’s President José Figueres Ferrer abolished the military after victory in a civil war.
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A new constitution is adopted after a bloody 44-day civil war. 1963 The Absoluta Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve is created. It is the first of many protected areas in the country.
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The Absoluta Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve is created. It is the first of many protected areas in the country.
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Arenal volcano erupts, causing many casualties.
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Arias (very popular in Costa Rica) was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in recognition of his efforts to achieve the beginnings of peace in the region.
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Government says Costa Rica on course to become first voluntarily 'carbon neutral' country.
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Former president Rafael Angel Calderon is sentenced to five years in jail after being convicted of corruption.
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Laura Chinchilla becomes Costa Rica’s first woman President.
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A powerful earthquake kills two people in the Nicoya peninsula west of San Jose, coinciding with the eruption of the San Cristobal volcano in neighbouring Nicaragua.
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Luis Guillermo Solis wins presidential election.
