Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica Genealogy

Guide to Canton of Atenas ancestry, family history and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, church records, parish registers, and civil registration.

History

 * During the conquest, the current territory of Athens was the domain of King Garabito, as part of the Huetar Kingdom of the West.
 * During the colony, the Athens area went unnoticed by the Spanish, who did not found any town in the place.
 * The current canton of Atenas began its development as one of the many sesteos, where food and shelter were provided to the carters of that time and their oxen, which transported the grain of gold, as well as other products and merchandise.
 * In 1833, the residents of Sabana Larga requested permission to build a small hermitage in Sabana Larga, also agreeing to give up land to install a cavalry, for the benefit of those interested in settling in the region.
 * The residents decided to move to the vicinity of the geographical point called "Poza Azul", which had a greater abundance of the aquifer element, as well as a flatter topography. This happened in the month of June 1834.
 * On October 27, 1865, the title of town was granted to the population.
 * On August 7, 1868, it was created as a Canton.
 * The Canton of Athens has a population of approximately 28,000 people.

Civil Registration

 * 1823-1975 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1860-1975 Costa Rica, Civil Registration, 1860-1975 at Ancestry - images ($)

Church Records

 * 1595-1992 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * Costa Rica, Alajuela, Atenas, Parroquia San Rafael Arcángel, registros parroquiales, 1846-2017 - Click on the link to see the records’ availability.
 * Iglesia Católica. San Rafael (Atenas, Alajuela) Registros parroquiales, 1846-1932 - Click on the link to see the records’ availability.

Cemeteries
Indexes of burials in the cemeteries of the Atenas Canton may be found at findagrave.com
 * 1958-2013 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * Cementerio de Atenas
 * Dirección: Calle 8, Atenas