Salisbury was located in the former country of Southern Rhodesia. The city was founded in 1890 by the Pioneer Column, a small military force of the British South Africa Company, and named Fort Salisbury after the UK Prime Minister Lord Salisbury. Company administrators demarcated the city and ran it until Southern Rhodesia achieved responsible government in 1923.
During 1953 to 1963. Salisbury was the capital of the Federation of Rhodesia & Nyasaland.