Saline County, Kansas

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Saline County is located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is Salina.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> As of the 2020 census, the county population was 54,303.<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref> The county was named after the Saline River.

History

Early history

Template:See also For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau. In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France, but keeping title to about 7,500 square miles.

In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre. In 1848, after the Mexican–American War, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo with Spain brought into the United States all or part of land for ten future states, including southwest Kansas. In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state.

19th century

In 1860, Saline County was founded.Template:Citation needed

20th century

Saline County was a prohibition, or "dry", county until the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 and voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement. The food sales requirement was removed with voter approval in 1994.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (0.2%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Adjacent counties

Ottawa County (north)
Dickinson County (east)
Marion County (southeast)
McPherson County (south)
Ellsworth County (west)
Lincoln County (northwest)

Demographics

File:USA Saline County, Kansas age pyramid.svg

Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data

Template:US Census population Saline County is part of the Salina Micropolitan Statistical Area.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 53,597 people, 21,436 households, and 14,212 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 22,695 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 89.17% White, 3.10% Black or African American, 0.52% Native American, 1.70% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.33% from other races, and 2.14% from two or more races. 6.02% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 21,436 households in the county, out of which 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.90% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.70% were non-families. 28.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.20% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 28.40% from 25 to 44, 22.10% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,308, and the median income for a family was $46,362. Males had a median income of $31,509 versus $22,047 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,073. About 6.00% of families and 8.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.60% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Board of Commissioners

Saline County is governed by a Board of Commissioners. The commission enacts the annual budget for the county, currently set at about $38,000,000, creates policy to be implemented by the county administrator, approves contracts, and oversees legislation relating to the health, safety, and well-being of the county's citizens.<ref name="Board of Commissioners">Template:Cite web</ref>

The Board of Commissioners has three members, one elected from each of the three commission districts. Commissioners are elected on a partisan basis.<ref name="Board of Commissioners"/> The districts are reapportioned every three years, with the three districts being equally populated. Term lengths are four years.<ref name="Board of Commissioners"/>

Current representatives on the Board of Commissioners are John Price (District 3; vice chairman), Monte Shadwick (District 1; secretary), and Jim Gile (District 2; chairman).<ref name="Board of Commissioners"/> In 2014, citizens voted to change the number of commissioners from three to five. The group, “Drive for Five”, successfully campaigned for better representation of the people. Monte Shadwick defeated incumbent commissioner Randy Duncan, who finished last in a three-way race.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Governor Sam Brownback was tasked with appointing the two new commission members that will serve for two years and then be up for election by the people. On January 12, 2015, Luci Larson and Dave Smith were appointed to the newly created 4th and 5th Districts.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

County administrator

The county administrator is hired by the Board of Commissioners and is the administrative officer for the county. The administrator is responsible for researching administrative and operational issues and then presenting suggestions for improvement in government efficiency to the Board of Commissioners and for reviewing all requests for action brought to the Board of Commissioners. The county administrator also implements policies enacted by the Board of Commissioners, prepares the annual budget, and "supervises accounts payable, payroll, human resource division and central purchasing for the county."<ref name="County administrator">Template:Cite web</ref> As needed, the county administrator will represent the county on boards and commissions.<ref name="County administrator"/>

The current county administrator is Andrew Manley.<ref name="County administrator"/>

Presidential elections

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Saline County is a Republican stronghold: the last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Lyndon Johnson in 1964, who was also the last Democrat to carry the state's electoral votes. Saline has voted for the statewide winner in every presidential election since 1872, including for James Weaver in 1892.<ref>The Political Graveyard: Saline County, Kansas</ref>

Laws

The county voted "No" on the 2022 Kansas abortion referendum, an anti-abortion ballot measure, by 55% to 45% despite backing Donald Trump with 64% of the vote to Joe Biden's 33% in the 2020 presidential election.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Education

Colleges and universities

Kansas State University Polytechnic Campus in Salina
Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina
Salina Area Technical College in Salina

Unified school districts

School district office in neighboring county

Private schools

Communities

File:Map of Saline Co, Ks, USA.png

2005 map of Saline County<ref name="County-Map-Current"/> (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Saline County.<ref name="County-Map-Current">Template:Cite web</ref>

Cities

‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county. Template:Div col

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Unincorporated communities

† means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau. Template:Div col

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Townships

File:Stouffer's Railroad Map of Kansas 1915-1918 Saline County.png

1915 Railroad Map of Saline County

Saline County is divided into eighteen townships. The city of Salina is considered governmentally independent and is excluded from the census figures for the townships. In the following table, the population center is the largest city (or cities) included in that township's population total, if it is of a significant size.

Sources: 2000 U.S. Gazetteer from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Township	FIPS	Population center	Population	Population density /km² (/sq mi)	Land area km² (sq mi)	Water area km² (sq mi)	Water %	Geographic coordinates
Cambria	10100	New Cambria	450	5 (13)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.16%	Template:Coord
Dayton	17125		134	1 (4)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0.08%	Template:Coord
Elm Creek	20650		828	9 (23)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0.39%	Template:Coord
Eureka	21925	Gypsum	664	7 (18)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.05%	Template:Coord
Falun	22925		260	1 (4)	186 (72)	0 (0)	0.26%	Template:Coord
Glendale	26475		104	1 (3)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.30%	Template:Coord
Greeley	28375		809	10 (26)	79 (31)	0 (0)	0.09%	Template:Coord
Gypsum	29275		193	2 (5)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.01%	Template:Coord
Liberty	40350		183	2 (5)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.44%	Template:Coord
Ohio	52425		463	5 (13)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.13%	Template:Coord
Pleasant Valley	56625		422	5 (12)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.43%	Template:Coord
Smoky Hill	66050		324	5 (14)	59 (23)	0 (0)	0.10%	Template:Coord
Smoky View	66075	Assaria	954	10 (27)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.06%	Template:Coord
Smolan	66125		749	9 (23)	85 (33)	0 (0)	0.15%	Template:Coord
Solomon	66375		311	3 (9)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.06%	Template:Coord
Spring Creek	67500	Brookville	395	2 (6)	185 (72)	1 (0)	0.38%	Template:Coord
Walnut	75125		553	6 (15)	93 (36)	1 (0)	0.79%	Template:Coord
Washington	75725		122	1 (3)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.04%	Template:Coord

References

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External links

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County

Maps

Saline County Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
Kansas Highway Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
Kansas Railroad Maps: Current, 1996, 1915, KDOT and Kansas Historical Society

Template:Geographic location

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