The Republic if Costa Rica, located in southern Central America between Nicaragua and Panama, has an area of 19,575 sq. mi. (50,700 sq. km.) and a population of 3.8 million. Capital: San Jose. Agriculture predominates; coffee, bananas, beef and sugar contribute heavily to the county?s export earnings. ,Costa Rica was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1502, during his last voyage to the new world, and was a colony of Spain from 1522 until independence in 1821. Columbus named the territory Nueva Cartago; the name Costa Rica wasn?t generally employed until 1540. Bartholomew Columbus attempted to found the first settlement but was driven off by Indian attacks and the country wasn?t pacified until 1530. Costa Rica was absorbed for two years (1821-1948) into the Mexican Empire of Agustin de Iturbide. From 1823 to 1848 it was constituent state of the Central American Republic (q.v.). It was established as a republic in 1848.,, ,Constitution revisions followed in 1871 and 1948. In the early 1990?s, Costa Rica was beset with economic problems.,, Monetary System:,,, ,1 Peso = 100 Cervatos to 1896,, ,1 Colon = 100 Cemtimos,,