{{Infobox settlement |official_name = El Realejo |native_name = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English --> |nickname = |motto = |image_skyline = |imagesize = |image_caption = |image_flag = |image_seal = |image_shield = |image_map = |mapsize = |map_caption = Map of Managua |pushpin_map = Nicaragua<!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map --> |pushpin_label_position = right |pushpin_mapsize = 250 |pushpin_map_caption = Location in Nicaragua |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = Nicaragua |subdivision_type1 = Department |subdivision_name1 = Chinandega |subdivision_type2 = Municipality |subdivision_name2 = El Realejo |government_type = |leader_title = Mayor |leader_name = Bertha Lorena Jarquin |leader_title1 = <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager --> |leader_name1 = |leader_title2 = |leader_name2 = |leader_title3 = |leader_name3 = |established_title = Founded |established_date = 1532 |established_title2 = |established_date2 = |established_title3 = |established_date3 = |area_magnitude = |area_total = |TotalArea_sq_mi = |area_land = |LandArea_sq_mi = |area_water = |WaterArea_sq_mi = |area_water_percent = |area_urban = |UrbanArea_sq_mi = |area_metro = |MetroArea_sq_mi = |population_as_of = 2005 |population_note = |population_total = 8838 |population_density = |population_density_mi2 = |population_metro = |population_density_metro_km2 = |population_density_metro_mi2 = |population_urban = 3954 |timezone = |utc_offset = GMT-6 |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |coordinates = {{coord|12|32|N|87|10|W|display=inline}} |elevation = |elevation_ft = |postal_code_type = <!-- enter ZIP code, Postcode, Post code, Postal code... --> |postal_code = |website = |footnotes = }}
'''El Realejo''' is a municipality in the Chinandega department of Nicaragua.
==History== The town of El Realejo was constructed in 1532, during the first years of Spanish colonization. During this period it served as Nicaragua's principal port, and remained so until the beginning of the 17th century, when pirate attacks started to threaten the town's commercial life-line. The importance of El Realejo was further diminished by the construction of Corinto, which came to be Nicaragua's new principal port.<ref>[http://vianica.com/visit/chinandega Explore Nicaragua: Chinandega<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
In 1845 a shipment of weapons for the government in León was seized by the invading forces of Francisco Malespín during the ''Guerra de Malespín''.
== Economy == Today, the economy is based on agriculture, fishing, and the raising of animals. El Realejo is characterized by open expanses of tropical savannah that give way to mountains and beaches.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sister-cities.org/icrc/cityseek/list/display?recID=54293 |title=Sister Cities International<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2006-12-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621100213/http://sister-cities.org/icrc/cityseek/list/display?recID=54293 |archive-date=2010-06-21 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
{{Coord|12|32|N|87|10|W|region:NI_type:city|display=title}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Chinandega Department}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Municipalities of the Chinandega Department Category:1532 establishments in the Spanish Empire Category:Populated places established in 1532
{{Nicaragua-geo-stub}}