Salinas is the center of administration and biggest municipality of Monterey County in the U.S. state of California. By 2006, population is around 148,350. Etymology for its name is the Spanish term "Salinas" or Salty Marsh.

Basically a suburban city is located at the Salinas Valley whose climate is just right making it favorable for cultivating flowers utilized by popular vintners as vineyards for grapes. Due to this climate, Salinas is dominant in the agricultural sector. Produce also includes a variety of fruits and vegetables as well as row crops and specifically the lettuce, making it as the Salad Bowl of America or Salad Bowl of the World mainly grown in Salinas Valley.

The popular Nobel Prize laureate John Steinbeck was born in Salinas. One of his novels is the East of Eden, set in old Chinatown, which is actually located in Salinas. This inspired for its renovation in March 2007 with a dream of including neighborhoods, housing, social services, and green areas.