Salina's History: It was not until the late 1840's that Salina was reduced to its present size. The original Village of Salina stretched around Onondaga Lake, incorporating part of what is now the Town of Geddes and much of what today is the City of Syracuse. The early history of Salina is actually the history of the area around Onondaga Lake and the salt industry.

Salina received its name in 1797, when the Surveyor General received authority to set aside a portion of the Salt Reservation for use in salt manufacture. The Salt Reservation had been created by a treaty with the Native Americans. It extended one mile around Onondaga Lake. In 1798, the Village of Salina was chartered. It was located in what is now the first ward of the City of Syracuse, and continued sixteen blocks. Each block was divided into four house lots, selling according to law, for no less than forty dollars. The area now known as the Town of Salina was still part of the Townships of Manlius and Marcellus. In March 1809, the Town of Salina was organized. It included the areas known as Geddes, part of Manlius and the City of Syracuse.

By 1846, it was apparent that Syracuse would soon become a city. The townspeople of Salina and Syracuse began discussing a proposed charter, which would unity the two villages. In December 1847, the act of incorporation was passed, which defined the area as "constituting a part of the Town of Salina and incorporation the Village of Salina and Syracuse." This act reduced the Town of Salina to its present boundaries.

Today, Salina consists of five small suburban communities which are known as Mattydale, Liverpool, Lyncourt, Galeville and a portion of North Syracuse.