San Salvador

This article is about the Salvadoran capital city. For other places named "San Salvador", see San Salvador (disambiguation).

San Salvador, population 1.3 million (2004), is the capital of El Salvador. The city produces beer, tobacco products, textiles, and soaps. San Salvador was founded in the 16th century. The Pan American Highway runs through the city, connecting it with other urban areas in Central America and the United States. The city's modern downtown area has many high-rise buildings.

The city has suffered from severe earthquakes over the years. The most disastrous occurred in 1854. The most recent, in 2001, resulted in considerable damage, especially in Las Colinas suburb, where a landslide destroyed most of Las Colinas. In the 1980's conflicts in El Salvador resulted in a civil war, and many people fled from the city.