# Salinas

> city of Santa Elena Province, Ecuador

**Wikidata**: [Q1026284](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1026284)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salinas,_Ecuador)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/salinas

## Summary

Salinas is a coastal city located in Santa Elena Province, Ecuador, serving as the administrative capital of Salinas Canton. Established on June 30, 1929, and becoming the canton capital on December 22, 1937, Salinas sits at coordinates -2.208333° latitude and -80.968056° longitude along the Pacific coast, with an elevation of just 8 metres above sea level and a land area of 25.5 square kilometres.

## Key Facts

- **Official Name:** Salinas
- **Entity Type:** City (large human settlement)
- **Location:** Santa Elena Province, Salinas Canton, Ecuador
- **Coordinates:** -2.208333° latitude, -80.968056° longitude
- **Area:** 25.5 square kilometres
- **Elevation:** 8 metres above sea level
- **Timezone:** UTC−05:00
- **Population:** 34,719 (2010); 35,066 (2022 census)
- **Inception Date:** June 30, 1929
- **Capital Status:** Became capital of Salinas Canton on December 22, 1937
- **UN/Locode:** ECSNC
- **Postal Code:** EC240350
- **Local Dialing Code:** 593 4
- **Demonym:** Salinense
- **Patron Saint:** Virgin of Mercy
- **Head of Government:** Mayor
- **Twin City:** Bat Yam (Israel)
- **Website:** https://www.salinas.gob.ec/
- **VIAF ID:** 155982846
- **GeoNames ID:** 3652100
- **OpenStreetMap Node ID:** 249598984
- **Freebase ID:** /m/060_pl
- **Library of Congress Authority ID:** n83232742
- **Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names ID:** 1024151

## FAQs

**What type of administrative area is Salinas?**

Salinas is classified as a city and serves as the administrative capital of Salinas Canton in Santa Elena Province, Ecuador. It became the canton capital on December 22, 1937, following its establishment as a settlement.

**What is the population of Salinas?**

According to the 2010 census, Salinas had a population of 34,719 residents. The most recent census data from 2022 records a population of 35,066 inhabitants, showing modest growth over the 12-year period.

**When was Salinas founded and when did it become a canton capital?**

Salinas was officially established on June 30, 1929. It became the capital of Salinas Canton on December 22, 1937, approximately eight years after its founding.

**What are the geographical features of Salinas?**

Salinas covers an area of 25.5 square kilometres and is situated at an elevation of 8 metres above sea level along the Pacific coast at coordinates -2.208333° latitude and -80.968056° longitude. The city uses UTC−05:00 as its timezone.

**What is Salinas twinned with?**

Salinas is twinned with Bat Yam, a city in Israel. This represents an international sister city relationship connecting the Ecuadorian coastal city with its Israeli counterpart.

**What is the local dialing code and postal code for Salinas?**

The local dialing code for Salinas is 593 4, and the postal code is EC240350.

**Who is the patron saint of Salinas?**

The patron saint of Salinas is the Virgin of Mercy (Virgen de la Misericordia), serving as the city's religious protector.

## Why It Matters

Salinas holds significance as one of the primary coastal cities in the Santa Elena Province of Ecuador, serving as a regional administrative centre for Salinas Canton. Its establishment in 1929 and subsequent designation as canton capital in 1937 marked its development from a coastal settlement into a municipal administrative hub. The city's position along the Pacific coast, combined with its relatively low elevation of 8 metres, makes it representative of the coastal maritime culture in southern Ecuador.

The city's population of approximately 35,000 residents reflects its role as a medium-sized urban centre in the coastal region. Its twinning with Bat Yam demonstrates international connections and cultural exchange relationships. The presence of municipal governance through a mayoral office and its status as a cantonal capital positions Salinas as a centre of local administration for the surrounding area.

Salinas also serves as a point of connection within Ecuador's administrative structure, linking the provincial level (Santa Elena Province) with the canton-level governance (Salinas Canton). Its UN/Locode identifier ECSNC facilitates its recognition in international shipping and trade contexts, while its various geographic identifiers (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap, Getty TGN) establish its presence in global geographic databases.

## Notable For

- **Administrative Role:** Serves as the capital of Salinas Canton since 1937
- **Coastal Location:** Situated directly on the Pacific coast of Ecuador
- **Historic Foundation:** Established in 1929 with documented inception date
- **International Recognition:** Listed in multiple international geographic databases (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap, Getty TGN, VIAF)
- **Sister City Relationship:** Twinned with Bat Yam, Israel
- **Multi-language Wikipedia Presence:** Has Wikipedia articles in 20+ languages including arz, be_x_old, ceb, commons, de, en, es, fr, it, ko, lt, os, pl, pt, qu, ro, sco, sv, uk, zh
- **Documented History:** Clear establishment date (June 30, 1929) and cantonal capital date (December 22, 1937)
- **Patron Saint Designation:** Officially protected by the Virgin of Mercy

## Body

### Geography and Location

Salinas is positioned on the Pacific coast of Ecuador in the Santa Elena Province, specifically within Salinas Canton. The city occupies coordinates of -2.208333° latitude and -80.968056° longitude, placing it along the nation's southwestern coastline. The total land area spans 25.5 square kilometres, with a minimal elevation of just 8 metres above sea level, characteristic of coastal lowland terrain.

The city's geographic positioning places it within the UTC−05:00 timezone, consistent with Ecuadorian coastal regions. Its location along the Pacific coast defines much of its local identity and economic activity, though specific details about port facilities or maritime industry are not included in the source material.

### Administrative History

The foundation of Salinas dates to June 30, 1929, marking its formal establishment as a settlement. Following its founding, the city developed sufficient administrative importance to become the capital of Salinas Canton on December 22, 1937. This transition occurred eight years after the initial founding, indicating a period of growth and municipal development.

As the cantonal capital, Salinas serves as the administrative centre for the surrounding canton, hosting municipal government functions. The city operates under a mayoral system, with the office of mayor serving as the head of local government.

### Demographics and Population

The population figures for Salinas demonstrate steady growth over recent decades. The 2010 census recorded 34,719 residents, while the 2022 census showed a population of 35,066 inhabitants. This represents an increase of 347 residents over the 12-year period, indicating modest but positive population growth.

The demonym for residents of Salinas is "Salinense," used to identify individuals originating from or residing in the city.

### International Connections

Salinas maintains a twinning relationship with Bat Yam, a city located in Israel. This sister city connection represents a formal relationship between the two municipalities, likely encompassing cultural, educational, or economic exchanges.

The city appears in multiple international geographic and administrative databases, including the UN/Locode system (identifier ECSNC), which facilitates international trade and shipping logistics. Additional international identifiers include the GeoNames ID (3652100), OpenStreetMap Node ID (249598984), Freebase ID (/m/060_pl), and Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names ID (1024151).

The Library of Congress Authority ID (n83232742) and VIAF identifier (155982846) connect Salinas to international bibliographic and authority databases, facilitating research and documentation.

### Cultural and Religious Identity

The patron saint of Salinas is the Virgin of Mercy (Virgen de la Misericordia), providing the city with a distinct religious identity and cultural heritage. This patron saint designation represents traditional Catholic influence in the region's cultural development.

### Communications and Infrastructure

Salinas uses the local dialing code 593 4 for telecommunications, and the city has a designated postal code of EC240350. The municipal website (https://www.salinas.gob.ec/) provides online access to local government information and services.

### Wikipedia and Digital Presence

The city maintains a significant digital presence through Wikipedia, with dedicated articles in over 20 language versions including Arabic (arz), Belarusian (be_x_old), Cebuano (ceb), German (de), English (en), Spanish (es), French (fr), Italian (it), Korean (ko), Lithuanian (lt), Ossetian (os), Polish (pl), Portuguese (pt), Quechua (qu), Romanian (ro), Scots (sco), Swedish (sv), Ukrainian (uk), and Chinese (zh).

The Wikipedia title is "Salinas, Ecuador" and the city has a Commons category and gallery dedicated to Salinas, Ecuador. The sitelink count of 23 indicates the number of Wikipedia language editions linking to the Salinas article.

### Distinction from Other Places

The source material notes that Salinas is different from Salinas (referencing the Polish Wikipedia article "Salinas (Ekwador)"), indicating awareness of potential confusion with other places named Salinas. This distinction is documented with references to the Polish Wikipedia and Wikidata item Q1551807.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. [Source](https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiNWUzMjQwOWMtZjFhOS00NjczLTk0YTItNjcwZmRmY2YxMjkyIiwidCI6ImYxNThhMmU4LWNhZWMtNDQwNi1iMGFiLWY1ZTI1OWJkYTExMiJ9)
4. GeoNames
5. BBC Things
6. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/ec.htm)
7. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File