The ancient pueblo was constructed along the Los Angeles River, southeast of the modern plaza, near the Tongva town of Yaanga. The river's name comes from the Chumash language and means "flowing slowly through fertile land." The area was first settled by Mexican immigrants who were looking for farmland to grow food for their growing communities. Over time, the city grew up around the pueblo and now includes many areas that are several miles away from the center. These neighborhoods include East Los Angeles, El Sereno, South Los Angeles, and Westwood. The pueblo was the main political and cultural center of the Chumash people until 1820, when Spanish officials ordered all native villages in the region destroyed. The last Chumash village was not demolished until 1846, after the end of the Mexican-American War. Los Angeles has always been a major destination for immigrants from all over the world, which has made it a very diverse city. In the early days, this was also true for its center; however, today's urban core is almost completely made up of single family homes.