Leon

Leon, a city of Nicaragua, on an extensive plain, 32 miles by rail (1882) SE. of its port, Corindo. Once the boast of Spanish America, founded at the head of Lake Managua in 1523, removed hither in 1610, and sacked by Dampier in 1685, it is now partly in ruins, and of its noble buildings only the churches remain. The massive cathedral has been several times employed as a citadel during the civil wars, but has suffered very little. Pop., including the contiguous Indian pueblo of Subtiaba, about 25,000.