City (pop., 1994: city, 823,301; 1999 est.: metro area, 3,119,000), capital of Guatemala.
The largest city in Central America , it lies in the central highlands at an elevation of about 4,900 ft (1,490 m). Founded in 1776, it replaced earthquake-damaged Antigua Guatemala as the capital of the captaincy general of Guatemala. After independence from Spain, it served as capital of the province of Central America under the Mexican Empire of Agustín de Iturbide and later of the Republic of Guatemala. It is the country's political, social, cultural, and economic centre and the site of San Carlos University of Guatemala (1676); its museums include the National Archaeological Museum, which houses a collection of rare Mayan artifacts. The modern city was largely rebuilt after a series of earthquakes in 1917–18; it was severely damaged again in 1976.