Founded in 1871 as The Salinas City Index, it went through several name changes and assumed its current name during World War II.

[1] The paper is part of the USA Today Network, owned by Gannett, which acquired its parent company Speidel Newspapers Inc., in 1977.

[9] The paper serves Monterey County, California with a specific emphasis on the Salinas Valley.

Its delivery area includes the towns of Salinas, Spreckels, Prunedale, Castroville, Chualar, Gonzales, Soledad, Greenfield, and King City.

Daily delivery is also available in Monterey, Marina, Seaside, Del Rey Oaks, and Pacific Grove.