The first colony in Costa Rica is established as Cartago
Irazú volcano erupted, almost completely destroys Cartago
Date unknown.
Coffee is introduced to Costa Rica
Central America gains independence from Spain; disputed over Costa Rica joining independent Mexico or confederation of Central American states
Date Unknown
Established
San José founded
Costa Rica Joins Central Africa
The date is actually unknown.
Costa Rica joins Central America with El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua
Costa Rica becomes ndependent
Led by Juan Rafael Mora, Costa Rica took lead in organising Central American resistance against William Walker
US adventurer, William Walker, took over Nicaragua, attempted to take Costa Rica
Mora ousted, fled to El Salvador
Mora attacked Costa Rica to attempt to recoup the presidency; after initial victories, he was defeated, captured, taken before firing squad
Banana cultivation began
Earthquake destroyed Cartago, 700 killed
Frederico Tinoco ousted President Alfredo Gonzalez
US Marines invaded Costa Rica
US Navy purchased two-thirds of the island of Vieques, for $1.4 million
(1940 - 1944) President Rafael Angel Calderon Guradia introduced liberal reforms: recognition of workers' rights, minimum wages
Civil War Begins
Civil War Ends
New constitution in effect; women, people of African descent given right to vote; armed forces abolished, replaced with civil guard; social security, national banks introduced
razu volcano erupted, destroyed over 400 homes, 40 killed, crops seriously damaged
Arenal volcano erupted, destroyed town of Tabacón, killed 78
Economy sharply deteriorated
Harsh austerity program introduced to pull Costa Rica out of economic decline
US-trained anti-guerrilla force clashed with Sandinista troops
Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras signed peace plan devised by Oscar Arias Sanchez; Sanchez won Nobel Peace Prize
Earthquake in Limon region killed 27, injured 400, left 13,000 homeless
One million tourists visited Costa Rica
Nicaragua, Costa Rica settled border dispute over navigation along San Juan River
Energy, telecommunications workers struck over privatization plans; teachers struck due to problems in receiving salaries; three ministers resigned; US Navy left Vieques Island
Three diplomats from Chile killed by security guard at embassy in San Jose; three former presidents investigated for contractor payments
