# Mora (canton)

Mora is the seventh canton in the San José province of Costa Rica. Its head city is Colón.

## Toponymy

Originally designated as Pacaca, a cacique name, the canton's name was changed to Mora in honor of Juan Rafael Mora Porras (1814-1860), the second President of Costa Rica.

## History

The canton of Pacaca was established by a decree of 25 May 1883.

## Government
### Mayor

According to Costa Rica's Municipal Code, mayors are elected every four years by the population of the canton. As of the latest municipal elections in 2024, the Progressive Liberal Party candidate, Rodrigo Alfonso Jiménez Cascante, was elected mayor of the canton with 44.73% of the votes, with Ariun Zaya Cabal Lombodorzh and Maynor Guevara Mora as first and second vice mayors, respectively.
Mayors of Mora since the 2002 elections :
| Period | Name | Party |
| 2002–2006 | Alcides Ovidio Araya Campos | PLN |
| 2006–2010 | Gilberto Monge Pizarro | PLN |
| 2010–2016 | Gilberto Monge Pizarro | PLN |
| 2016–2020 | Gilberto Monge Pizarro | PNG |
| 2020–2024 | Rodrigo Alfonso Jiménez Cascante | PNG |
| 2024–2028 | Rodrigo Alfonso Jiménez Cascante | PLP |

### Municipal Council

Like the mayor and vice mayors, members of the Municipal Council (called regidores) are elected every four years. Mora's Municipal Council has 5 seats for regidores and their substitutes, who can participate in meetings but not vote unless the owning regidor (regidor propietario) is absent. The current president of the Municipal Council is the United For Development Party member María Picado Ovares. The Municipal Council's composition for the 2024–2028 period is as follows:
Current composition of the Municipal Council of Mora after the 2024 municipal elections :
| Political parties in the Municipal Council of Mora ||||||
| Political party | Political party | Political party | Regidores | Regidores | Regidores |
| Political party | Political party | Political party | № | Owner | Substitute |
| | Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) | | 2 | Joarline de los Ángeles Mata Mata | Marianeth de los Ángeles Zamora Acuña |
| | Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) | | 2 | José Antonio Varela Monge | Mario Gerardo Villalobos Ramírez |
| | United For Development Party (PUEDE) | | 2 | María Picado Ovares$^{(P)}$ | Rose Mary Sánchez Pérez |
| | United For Development Party (PUEDE) | | 2 | Emmanuel Ferrer Venegas | Juan Gabriel Vásquez Solís |
| | National Liberation Party (PLN) | | 1 | Xinia María Vargas Vargas | Alexa Silva Varela |

## Geography

Mora has an area of 163.47 km$^2$ (63.12 sq mi) and a mean elevation of 807 m (2,648 ft).
The Virilla River establishes the northern boundary of the canton, with the Grande de Tárcoles River delineating its far western limit. The Chucás, Quebrada Grande, Viejo and Tabarcia rivers mark the canton's western boundary; the Jorco, Tabarcia and Negro rivers, the southern boundary; and a series of foothills rising into the Cerros de Escazú delineate the canton's eastern border.

## Districts

The canton of Mora is subdivided into seven districts:
* Colón
* Guayabo
* Tabarcia
* Piedras Negras
* Picagres
* Jaris
* Quitirrisí

## Demographics

Mora had an estimated population of 32,348 people in 2022, up from 26,294 at the time of 2011 census.
Mora had a Human Development Index of 0.801 in 2022.

## Transportation
### Road transportation

The canton is covered by the following road routes:
* National Route 22
* National Route 121
* National Route 136
* National Route 209
* National Route 239
* National Route 316