[5] Salesópolis was founded in the 19th century as São José do Paraitinga, and later became the parish of Santana de Mogi das Cruzes in 1838.

The parish was elevated to municipality status on March 24, 1857, but renamed Salesópolis in 1905 after a visit of the president of Brazil, Campos Sales (1841-1913).

The Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlântica) of Salesópolis were largely destroyed in the late 19th and early 20th century, but 96 ha of the municipality are now protected as part of the Boracéia Biological Station, a unit of the Museum of Zoology of the University of São Paulo established in 1954.

Salesópolis is home to the Buchenavia rabelloana, a species of plant in the Combretaceae family.

[9] The company is currently an operator of cell phones, fixed lines, internet (fiber optics/4G) and television (satellite and cable).