Monterey town known as the salad bowl of the world
The History and Heritage of Monterey County
Monterey County is home to numerous sites for the dedicated history buff to discover, including many California Firsts. Not all history is good history, but below are local resources providing history of the area, with plenty of tangible ways to experience Monterey County history today. Discover some surprising historical facts of Monterey County on Atlas Obscura.
A Brief History
The Indigenous People of the Monterey County Region
The Esselen, Rumsen Ohlone (Costanoan) and Salinan Tribes were some of the major indigenous tribes who inhabited and cared for the land that is now Monterey County from ancient times to present.
- Rumsen (Monterey Peninsula, Lower Carmel Valley, Salinas, Toro Creek, coast south of Carmel River to at least Palo Colorado Canyon, possibly as far as Andrew Molera)
- Chalon (Mission Soledad area extending to Pinnacles)
- Esselen, from a different language family (Hokan), was spoken by tribes in five territories south of Monterey. Refer to the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County for more information.
Pico Blanco, a sacred mountain in the Santa Lucia Rang
I am writing this column from Monterey County, California. While my trip is for personal reasons, the horticulturist in me can’t help but be fascinated by the all the horticulture crops growing so abundantly here. The agriculture industry began in the Salinas Valley in the mid-1800s, and by World War 1, the town of Salinas was one of the wealthiest cities per capita in the country due to the agriculture industry. Agriculture here has been through several iterations over the past two hundred years, beginning with dry land farming of grains in the early 1800s, then a dairy hub (Monterey Jack cheese is named for a land baron, David Jack, who promoted the shelf stable cheese developed by immigrant Swedes), sugar beets, and now the current industry that supplies more than half of the country’s lettuce, broccoli, celery, artichokes, and numerous other fruits and vegetables from the single county of Monterey. Overall, California produces over 80% of all fruits and vegetables we eat in the United States.
The manager of the Salinas Visitor Center gave us a tour of the history of Monterey County and the Salinas valley. Through photos and relics from the 1800s, he told the sto
California Welcome Center - Salinas
Discover beautiful Salinas California, the gateway to the Monterey Bay of Steinbeck Country, where you'll find historic sites, unspoiled farmland, world-class wines, a quaint, historic downtown, and some of the friendliest people around. Author John Steinbeck was born here, so visit his boyhood home as well as the National Steinbeck Center while you're here. Salinas is famous as the Salad Bowl of the World for agriculture and our fresh, home-grown produce is available internationally. We have the best year-round climate in the entire North American continent, and some of the cleanest air in the United States of America!
Salinas' hospitality blends yesterday's charm with today's modern conveniences. Visitors can explore the beauty of nearby Monterey Bay beaches, historic missions of San Juan Bautista, Soledad, Carmel, and San Antonio de Padus and wineries of South Monterey County, Carmel Valley, and Pinnacles National Park. The Juan Batista de Anza National Historic Trail, one of only 20 such National Historic Trails in the country, leads visitors through the San Juan Valley, Salinas Valley, and San Antonio Valley, fo
Location
Monterey Bay as seen from space.
Monterey Bay is on the core coast of California, just two hours south of San Francisco. The bay itself is one of the largest marine protected areas in the world and home to whales, deep sea anglerfish, and of course our mascot, sea otters. The CSUMB campus is close to pristine beaches, redwood forests, tidepools, and the Fort Ord National Monument.
The campus sits halfway between the Monterey Peninsula, which features the coastal communities of Pacific Grove, Monterey, Seaside and Carmel, and the Salinas Valley, known as the "Salad Bowl of the World"for its abundant agricultural performance. The city of Salinas is the county seat and served as the setting for many of John Steinbeck's novels.
The campus straddles the cities of Seaside and Marina, which are little, diverse communities where many of our students live and perform. We also offer online programs for those who don't inhabit in the area.
The Ord
One thing that makes Cal State Monterey Bay different from any other campus in the country is our location. Not only are we just one mile from the beach, we are on the site of a former Army base.
Going to school on an old Army base c
Which Place Is Known As The Salad Bowl of the World?
The largest city in California’s Monterey County is the city of Salinas. Situated in Salinas Valley, the city is home to a population of over 150,000 residents. Among the names of the city is the “salad bowl of the world,” a name that is attributed to the vibrant agricultural industry in Salinas and the neighboring Salinas Valley. The city’s agricultural industry is enabled by the favorable climatic conditions experienced in the region. While agriculture is the main economic activity in the valley, Salinas is also home to numerous manufacturing companies which are among the area’s largest employers. Examples of these manufacturing companies which are domiciled in the valley include Dole Fresh Vegetable.
Salinas Valley
Surrounding the City of Salinas is the Salinas Valley, a large fluvial valley that stretches 90 miles long. The valley is one of California’s most productive agricultural regions. The valley is renowned for its extensive vineyards which produce some of the best grapes in the country. The marine climate makes the Salinas Valley perfect for horticulture and makes the valley one of the key producers of the coun