Salinas
City in Monterey County, California
Salinas is a city in Monterey County, California, with 163,542 residents (2020 Census). It sits at 52 ft (16 m) above sea level. The nearest town is Boronda, 2.3 miles W.
- 163,542residents (2020 Census)
- 52 ftelevation · 16 m
- 23.5 sq miland area · 60.9 km²
- 6,955 / sq mipopulation density
- 93905main ZIP code (3 in total)
About Salinas
Salinas (; Spanish for "Salt Flats") is a city in and the county seat of Monterey County, California, United States. With a population of 163,542 in the 2020 Census, Salinas is the most populous city in Monterey County. Salinas is an urban area located along the eastern limits of the Monterey Bay Area, lying just south of the San Francisco Bay Area and 10 miles (16 km) southeast of the mouth of the Salinas River. The city is located at the mouth of the Salinas Valley, about eight miles (13 km) from the Pacific Ocean, and it has a climate more influenced by the ocean than the interior.
Salinas serves as the main business, governmental, and industrial center of the region. The marine climate is ideal for the floral industry, grape vineyards, and vegetable growers. Salinas is known as the "Salad Bowl of the World" for its large, vibrant agriculture industry.
It was the hometown of writer and Nobel laureate John Steinbeck (1902–1968), who set many of his stories in the Salinas Valley and Monterey. Salinas has a high Hispanic proportion, which at 79.6%, is the highest proportion of Hispanic Americans out of any city in California, and 8th largest overall in the nation. The city also has a sizable Asian-American population, with a large and historic Filipino population. The city once also had the second-largest Chinatown in the nation behind only San Francisco.
Text: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
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- Median household income
- $91,908
- Median home value
- $654,100
- Median rent
- $1,991/mo
- Median age
- 32.4
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Map of Salinas
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Open in Google Maps ›Salinas, CA population
Salinas had 163,542 residents in the 2020 Census.
| 2020 Census | 163,542 |
|---|---|
| Density | 6,955 per sq mi (2,685 per km²) |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census.
Salinas at a glance
| State | California (CA) |
|---|---|
| County | Monterey County |
| Type | City |
| Population | 163,542 (2020) |
| Land area | 23.51 sq mi (60.9 km²) |
| Water area | 0.03 sq mi (0.08 km²) |
| Elevation | 52 ft (16 m) |
| Coordinates | 36.6902° N, 121.6338° W |
| ZIP codes | 93905, 93901, 93906 |
| Census code (GEOID) | 0664224 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Gazetteer, ZCTA), USGS GNIS, Wikidata.
Towns near Salinas
- Boronda2.3 mi W
- Spreckels4.6 mi S
- Castroville8.4 mi NW
- Prunedale8.6 mi N
- Marina8.6 mi W
- Elkhorn9.6 mi NW
- Chualar10.7 mi SE
- Seaside11.2 mi SW
- Moss Landing11.6 mi NW
- San Juan Bautista12.0 mi NE
- Sand City12.8 mi W
- Aromas12.8 mi N
Straight-line distance between town centers.
Frequently asked questions about Salinas
What county is Salinas in?
Salinas is in Monterey County, California.
What is the population of Salinas, CA?
163,542 people lived in Salinas at the 2020 Census.
What is the ZIP code of Salinas, CA?
The main ZIP code is 93905. Other ZIP codes: 93901, 93906.
What is the elevation of Salinas?
52 feet (16 m) above sea level.
What towns are near Salinas?
Boronda (2.3 mi), Spreckels (4.6 mi), Castroville (8.4 mi), Prunedale (8.6 mi), Marina (8.6 mi).
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