San Salvador, city, capital of El Salvador and its San Salvador Department, on the Ace Chaute River, in the central part of the country. Situated at an altitude of about 685 m (about 2240 ft) near San Salvador Volcano, it is the country's largest city and its main commercial, manufacturing, transportation, and cultural center. Major manufactures include processed food, alcoholic beverages, textiles, clothing, building materials, leather goods, tobacco products, and soap. San Salvador is the site of the University of El Salvador (1841); the José Simeón Cañas Central American University (1965); the Dr. José Matías Delgado University (1977); colleges of music, social work, and agriculture; the National Library; and the National General Archive, housed in the National Palace. Points of interest include the David J. Guzmán National Museum, with collections of historical and ethnographical items; the Tazumal Museum, featuring archaeological displays; and the National Zoological Park and Botanical Garden. Lake Ilopango and the port city of La Libertad are nearby.
Established by the Spanish in 1528, the settlement achieved city status in 1546. San Salvador served as the capital of the United Provinces of Central America during the 1830s and has been the capital of El Salvador since 1841, except for the period from 1854 to 1859, when it was rebuilt after suffering great devastation during an earthquake. The city also was badly damaged by earthquakes in 1873 and 1917, and it suffered severely from civil strife during the 1980s. Population (1992) 415,346.
