The city has suffered from severe earthquakes over the years. The most disastrous occurred in 1854. The most recent, in 2001, resulted in considerable damage, especially in Las Colinas suburb, where a landslide destroyed most of Las Colinas.
SanSalvador is also the overall transportation and economic hub of the nation, since it is home to one third of the population and one half of the country's wealth.
SanSalvador is a large city whose population is starkly divided between the wealthy and impoverished.
During the 1980s, conflicts in ElSalvador erupted into a civil war, and many people fled to the city since most of the fighting occurred outside of it (SanSalvador itself was not directly affected by the war until the final offensive of 1989).