Salinas is named for the broad saltwater slough that once seeped in from Monterey Bay, saturating the plain between the Sierra de Salinas and the Gavilan Mountains. Originally used for cattle, a town developed from a stage stop after the Gold Rush, and the land was drained and used for grains, potatoes, sugar beets, and other crops. After World War I, irrigation permitted the growing of lettuce, broccoli, and other row crops. Salinas became known as the "Salad Bowl of the World" and one of the wealthiest cities in the United States.
The Monterey County Historical Society author team is Gary S. Breschini and Trudy Haversat, both archaeologists and lecturers, and Mona Gudgel, executive director of the society. All are historians and recognized authorities on Salinas's past and the society's extensive photographic collection. They have written two previous works for Arcadia Publishing: Early Salinas and Spreckels. Here, they have added commentary to more than 200 postcards showing many aspects of the growth and development of Salinas.