Limón
is the capital city and main hub of Limón province, as well as of the cantón
(county) of Limón in Costa Rica. It has a populace of about 60,000 (including
surrounding towns), and is home to a booming Afro-Caribbean community. Part of
the community traces its roots to Jamaican laborers who worked on a late 19th
railroad project that connected San José to Puerto Limón.
Other parts of the
population trace their roots to the Panamanian, Nicaraguan and Colombian
turtle-hunters who ultimately settled along the Province of Limón's coast. Until
1948, the Costa Rican government did not recognize Afro-Caribbean people as
citizens and controlled their movement outside Limón province. Accordingly of
this “travel ban”, this Afro-Caribbean population became firmly established in
the region, which affected the decision to not move even after it was lawfully
allowed. The Afro-Caribbean community speaks Spanish and Limonese Creole, a
creole of English.