Puerto Limón, commonly known asLimón(Spanish for "lemon"),is the capital city and main hub ofLimón province, as well as of thecantón(county) of Limón inCosta Rica. It is the sixth-largest city inCosta Rica, with a population of over 55,000 (including surrounding towns), and is home of a multicultural community.Part of the community traces its roots to Italian, Jamaican and Chinese laborers who worked on a late nineteenth-century railroad project that connected San José to Puerto Limón. Until 1948, the Costa Rican government did not recognize Afro-Caribbean people as citizens and restricted their movement outside Limón province.As a result of this "travel ban", this Afro-Caribbean population became firmly established in the region, which influenced the decision to not move even after it was legally permitted. Nowadays, there is an important outflow of Limón natives who move to the country's Central Valley in search for better employment and education.The Afro-Caribbean community speaks Spanish andLimonese Creole, acreoleof English.
Puerto Limón
