The population of Salida City, Colorado is diverse. The city is home to both white and black residents, and there are a variety of racial groups. Hispanics make up nearly one-fourth of the city's total population. Other races, such as American Indian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders, make up the remainder. Of the rest of the population, about 17.8% is Hispanic, while 2.6% are other races. The Census also asks residents to report their ancestry. The most common ethnicities are German, English, and Czechoslovakian. Cajun and Serbian are the most concentrated.
The Salida City, CO population is around 5,400, and serves as the shopping center for the surrounding region. Its municipal government serves the city's population of nearly two times its residential base. The city is a statutory city under the Colorado constitution and operates under a council-mayor form of government. Its government is comprised of six council members, a mayor, a treasurer, and a clerk.
In the nineteenth century, Salida was home to a thriving mining community. The city's smelters provided a valuable service for the mining industry in central Colorado and still are. Mining removes precious metals from the earth's surface. During this time, many residents of Salida worked in local ranching operations or commuted to Leadville to work at the Climax Molybdenum Company. In addition to smelting precious metals, Salida has a vibrant downtown district. Listed as one of Colorado's largest historic districts, the downtown is home to some of the state's most beautiful historic structures.