Managua, 1849Founded as a pre-Columbian fishing town, the city was incorporated in 1819 and given the name ''Leal Villa de Santiago de Managua''. Efforts to make Managua the capital of Nicaragua began in 1824, after the Central American nations formally attained their independence from Spain. Nicaragua became an independent nation in 1838. Managua's location between the rival cities of León and Granada made it a logical compromise site. Hence, Managua was officially selected as the nation's capital in 1852.