CHALATENANGO

city, northern El Salvador. It lies along the Tamulasco and Cholco rivers at an altitude of 1,660 feet (506 m). Originally an Indian settlement, it was placed under the Spanish colonial governor Carardalet in 1791 and was declared a town in 1847 and a city in 1871. The city's annual agricultural fair is a national event. Wheat, sugarcane, cassava, sisal (for cordage), indigo, coffee, and fruits are grown in the surrounding area. There is also some light-industrial development (pottery, rope making, and indigo processing) in Chalatenango itself. The town was damaged during clashes between government troops and leftist guerrillas in the early 1980s. Pop. (1985 est.) 11,654.