A little over 200 years ago, San Jose was only a small village with muddy streets and a few torn buildings, but it became the country's capital city in 1837. San Jose is the name of a local patron saint. San Jose is now considered more cosmopolitan than any other Central American capital.

As recently as the 1940's San Jose still had only 70,000 residents, a mere tenth of the nation's population. After World War II, the capital city began to mushroom, growing without constraint and invading neighboring villages. This growth continues as the city expands and the suburban districts become part of the great metropolitan area.

The city of San Jose was named the Hispanic American Capital of Culture for 2006. San Jose will be the meeting point of music, art, culture and fraternity among the Hispanic American Countries. The capital will offer a series of activities, such as the International Arts' Festival and other cultural gatherings, from January to December, 2006.