San Miguel | |
|---|---|
&sq=Envato&lang=en&file=File:Vista_desde_el_valle_de_la_ciudad_de_San_Miguel.jpg) | |
&sq=Envato&lang=en&file=File:Flag_of_San_Miguel_Department.png) Flag &sq=Envato&lang=en&file=File:Escudo_de_la_ciudad_de_San_miguel.gif) Coat of arms | |
&sq=Envato&lang=en&file=File:San_Miguel_in_El_Salvador.svg) Location within El Salvador | |
| Coordinates: 13°31′19″N 88°14′02″W / 13.522°N 88.234°W | |
| Country |  El Salvador |
| Created (given current status) | 1824 |
| Capital | San Miguel |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2,077.1 km2 (802.0 sq mi) |
| • Rank | Ranked 2nd |
| Population (2017) | |
| • Total | 678,000 |
| • Rank | Ranked 3rd |
| • Density | 330/km2 (850/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) |
| ISO 3166 code | SV-SM |
San Miguel (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈsam miˈɣel]) is a department in the eastern part of El Salvador. The capital is San Miguel. The department is 2,077 km2 in area and has a population of over 678,000.
Before the Spanish conquest of El Salvador, the territory that now consists of the departments of San Miguel, La Unión and Morazán was the Lenca kingdom of Chaparrastique (Place of Beautiful Orchids).[1]
San Miguel was first known as San Miguel de la Frontera. The city was founded by Luis de Moscoso on May 8, 1530, where it is now Santa Elena. On July 11, 1812, the city was given the title of "Noble y Leal Ciudad" (noble and loyal city). It was made a department on June 12, 1824.
It is the location of Ciudad Barrios, the birthplace of Archbishop Óscar Romero.
- ^ Boland, Roy (2001). Culture and Customs of El Salvador. London: Greenwood Press. p. 13. ISBN 0-313-30620-6.