Limón

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.