The Managua area had been inhabited by Native American peoples for centuries before the Spanish conquest of Central America in the 1500s. Until the 1820s Managua was a small, unimportant village. Efforts to make Managua Nicaragua's capital began in 1824, soon after the Central American nations became independent from Spain. Managua's location between the rival cities of León and Granada, whose forces fought for control through much of Nicaragua's history, made it an ideal compromise site. But it was not until 1857, after Granada was destroyed by a U.S. mercenary army led by William Walker, that the capital was firmly established in Managua.
Managua grew slowly, hampered by major floods in 1876 and 1885 and a disastrous earthquake in 1931, which destroyed much of the city. Under the rule of dictator Anastasio Somoza García and his family (1936-1979), it began to grow rapidly. New government buildings were erected, industry developed, and universities were established. The city was again heavily damaged by an earthquake on December 23, 1972. As many as 10,000 people died, many more fled, and much of the central city was destroyed, while relief funds went mostly to the Somozas and their associates. Despite this disaster, the city's population nearly doubled in the 1970s.
Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
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