Since the Stone Age, Santa Coloma and its territory have experienced a rich tapestry of diverse civilisations and cultures, extending to the present day.

At the end of the 16th century, industrialisation began, mainly through the production of fabrics and leather. From 1910 to 1920, three events took place in Santa Coloma that marked its future in terms of urban planning: the construction of the new parish church, the construction of the first bridge over the Besòs River and the creation of the Empresa Nacional de Tierras, with which the urbanisation of the mountain area began. During the following decades, the population grew very quickly, giving rise to the configuration of the first suburban neighbourhoods and the beginning of the phenomenon of self-construction. The urbanisation process stopped after the Spanish Civil War and was not reactivated until the 1950s and 1970s.

Currently, Santa Coloma is investing in its green infrastructure with the improvement of parks such as Europa Park, Bastida Park and Can Zam Park.