1990: Deforestation

The Spanish colonial farmers began the trend of unsustainable land use when they did not follow the farming methods that the indigenous created. The indigenous changed which crops they grew on which land in order to preserve the nutrients in the soil and prevent deforestation. However, the Spanish grew the same crop year in and year out on the same tracts of land. To them, the forests were the enemy -- they covered the precious soil that they wanted to take advantage of. At one point, cattle was the new trend and the conversion from crops to pasture took a huge toll on the land. Also, once the topsoil is unprotected, it soon becomes eroded due to the rain, wind, and cattle.

In 1950, 75% of the country's surface was still covered with forest.

In 1990, 23% of Costa Rica remained covered with forest.

Now it's said that 51% of the country is back under forest cover.

2010: Laura Chinchilla

2010 -- the United Stated elects its first African American president and Costa Rica elects its first woman president, Laura Chinchilla. Is it possible to feel orgullosa of a culture of which one is not a part? If so, I feel it toward the Ticos. Ticos, known for their machismo, elected a woman. Costa Rica really is a remarkable country.

1723: Irazú Volcano

The first recorded explosion of Irazú Volcano was in 1723 when it covered Cartago in ash. At the time, the capital city only consisted of 70 adobe and thatch houses, two churches, and two chapels. The city had no doctor, druggist, or any sale of food. The main way of life was farming, and even the artisans were farmers as well. Most people did not live in the city; they only came into Cartago on festival days. And even then, the poorest Colonists seldom made it into Cartago.

Since 1723 Irazú has erupted 23 times, the latest being in the 1960s.

1948 & 1948: Civil War and the New Constitution

My favorite dates in Costa Rican history! Costa Rica´s 1948 civil war lasted only 44 days, and the end result was a Constitution that is baffling. In 1948 the new constituion gave women the right to vote, abolished slavery, established the national bank, and abolished the army. The abolishment of the army is a point of pride for the Ticos and for me, it is just one aspect of what makes Costa Rica a remarkable and peaceful place.

1889: Democracy

1889 was Costa Rica´s first democratic election. This is significant because it makes Costa Rica one of the world´s oldest democracies. It is significant to me because of where Costa Rica is situated geographically and culturally -- it is a Latin American country. Latin American countries are not exactly known for peace and democracy, and that is what makes Costa Rica so special. I believe that the election of 1889 directly lead to the peacful army-free country that today I know and love. Sure, its history is not spotless, but it is by far better than most.

1929: Heroin

"That's something that everyone knows [the identity of the heroin dealers] and it's only us, those who don't have money to defend ourselves, it's only us who suffer persecution and arrest, while those who are trafficking are given every opportunity to defend themselves."

- A San José shoemaker and heroin user under police questioning, 1933

Beginning at the end of the 19th Century, it was not uncommon to find excessive amounts of marijuana and opium use in San José. They were not clearly illegal yet and Costa Ricans took full advantage. With the beginning of the 1900s, the use of narcotic drugs also began due to the expansion of medical prescriptions and pharmacies. Addiction to morphine began in only the higher social classes, but in 1929 there was widespread panic in San José when it was discovered that hundreds of young workers and artisans were using heroin. At the time, Costa Rica was an important bridge in the international trafficking of opium because they had lax import/export taxes.

Retrieved from: The History of Costa Rica: Brief, Up-to-Date, and Illustrated, By Iván Molina Jiménez and Steven Palmer

1820s & 1930s: Coffee and Crisis

By the 1820´s, Costa Rica was colonized and the coffee boom had begun. The government began offering money to farmers to grow coffee on their land. Coffee barons came into power and powerful coffee families ran Costa rica well into the 20th century. Having visited both a coffee plantation and Cafe Britt, it is evident that coffee is well ingrained into the souls of the Ticos. With its volcanic soil and beautiful climate, Costa Rica is ideal for growing coffee.

But, like any major crop boom, it was followed by a terrible crash. In the 1930´s, like nearly every country in the world, Costa Rica´s economy tanked. Over-reliance on one crop and the economic inability of the export countires to continue to purchase coffe in high quantities caused a depression. And much like the United States, it took a war to truly bring the country out of this depression.

1502 & 1569: Columbus & The Indigenous

How different it must have looked when Columbus arrived here in 1502. Bountiful forests, remarkably diverse animal life, almost 400,000 indigenous peoples -- how different. Only 20 years after he first "sailed the ocean blue," Columbus discovered this paraiso. By 1569 when the last of the origional indigenous population was officially undermined, the country had already changed. Colonists, encomiendas, the Catholic Church -- the Spainsh brought more than disease and language to Costa Rica.

1871: Railway

In 1871, under the rule of dictator Colonel Tomás Guardia, construction on the Atlantic Railroad started. He borrowed money from England to construct the railroad and that debt still plagues Costa Rica. One of the main arguments against the construction of the railroad was that he used private contractors rather than the state to build it. He declared that private contractors were more efficient and trustworthy. Guardia enlisted John Meiggs, a U.S. engineer who had experience building railroads in the Andes, to head up this project. In 1876 Meigg's nephew, Minor Keith, took control and finished the railroad.

Construction of the railroad was very difficult and nearly 5,000 people died during the process. Malaria, yellow fever, dysentery, and a lack of fresh food all plagued the workers. Keith recruited Chinese and Italians and used thousands of West Indians to finish the job.

The railroad's main purpose was in transport coffee to the Caribbean coast so it could then be sent to Europe. Using the railroad cut 3 months off of travel time and was a much cheaper option. It also led to the growth of banana exports.

The railroad was such an accomplishment in terms of transporting coffee and that led to an immense increase in export revenue. The railroad was and still is a symbol of national progress.

1856-1857: Juan Santamaría & Cholera Outbreak

In March 1856, William Walker attacked Guanacaste as part of his grand plan to conquer Latin American countries under the name of the United States. Costa Ricans did not give in to Walker's forces; citizens from all social classes responded enthusiastically when President Mora called for an army of 9,000 men to chase Walker out of their country. As said in the national anthem, an American blacksmith helped the Ticos "forge their simple tools into arms" and they headed towards the Nicaraguan border.

A large farmhouse in Guanacaste served as Walker's headquarters. According to legend, a young drummer boy, Juan Santamaría, ran towards the house carrying a lit torch with the intent of burning the house down. He succeeded in torching the roof before he died a national hero in a storm of bullets. His act of bravery helped the Ticos win the fight against Walker and reclaim their loved nation. Today the main airport in San José is named after the young hero, Juan Santamaría.

However, the soldiers returning from Guanacaste brought home an even deadlier enemy -- cholera. In 1856 and 1857 the deadly bacterial infection killed 27,000 out of 110,000 Costa Ricans.

Costa Ricans do not take their liberty for granted and still celebrate the heroic act of Juan Santamaría every April 11th. This event shows the unity of Costa Ricans and how protective they are of their beloved nation. The cholera outbreak reveals how susceptible Costa Rica was to diseases and how destructing they could be.

1940: University of Costa Rica

Dr. Calderón accomplished many great things while acting as President of Costa Rica, but the establishment of the University of Costa Rica is one of the most well-known and loved. In 1940 they combined the independent schools of law, agronomy, fine arts, and pharmacy to form the first proper university. UCR remained the sole university in Costa Rica until 1972.

Today there are four public universities in Costa Rica and around fifty private schools. However, UCR remains the largest and best-funded institution. Some of the most popular areas of study are law, engineering, business administration, and medicine. Compared to the United States, University of Costa Rica is very cheap and is still able to offer students a chance at receiving quality education.

The founding of UCR was an important stepping stone for furthering education in Costa Rica. Young men and women from across the country aspire to someday attend a university and more often than not, UCR is at the top of their list. The generous number of universities in such a small country show how much education is valued in Costa Rica.

1711: Church Building

During the early 18th Century, the Colonists were scattered over a large area and poverty ran rampant. The tax collectors had a difficult time collecting money from them and local religious leaders feared that they weren't fulfilling their obligations as Catholics.

The Bishop of León was especially dismayed at the lack of attendance at mass. In response, he ordered the Colonists to build churches in hopes of getting them to become more active members of the Church. He was so set on this idea that three years later he decreed excommunication for all who failed to participate. Even then the Colonists were slow to obey. Historians believe that the main reason why they were unwilling was because they didn't have any decent clothing to wear to church.

This date in history shows the extreme level of Catholicism in Costa Rica, even in the early 1700s. Without the proper clothing, they didn't feel comfortable or welcome inside the church.