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It was a small city
during the colonial era, but its
location amongst fertile and flat lands, and its position as a commercial
center, improved its status little by little over the course of a few years.
The Spanish chronicler Friar Antonio
Vázquez Espinoza in his
compendium and description of the West
Indies describes his visit to
Chinandega in 1613 as follows: "The town of Chinandega is comprised of
many Indians, plentiful corn, and all of the fruits of the earth, and appears
to be a piece of paradise."
Officially a
settlement (poblado) from 1796,
well-planned roads were built at Chinandega after the design of the engineer Antonio Rojas. On March 30, 1835, a
law was instituted that mandated the established a fair that would fall on
December 8 of every year.
On March 15, 1836,
during the government of José
Núñez, it received the title of town (
