Editing Saline County, Nebraska

{{Short description|County in Nebraska, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                            = Saline County
| official_name                   = County of Saline
| settlement_type                 = [[County (United States)|County]]
| image_skyline                   = Saline County, Nebraska courthouse from NE.JPG
| image_caption                   = [[Saline County Courthouse (Nebraska)|Saline County Courthouse]] in Wilber
| image_map                       = {{Maplink|zoom=8|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-width=250|frame-align=center|type=shape|fill=#ffffff|fill-opacity=0|stroke-width=3}}
| map_caption                     = Interactive map of Saline County
| image_map1                      = Map of Nebraska highlighting Saline County.svg
| map_caption1                    = Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
| subdivision_type                = Country
| subdivision_name                = {{nowrap|{{US}}}}
| subdivision_type1               = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1               = {{flag|Nebraska}}
| established_title               = Established
| established_date                = March 16, 1855
| established_title1              = Organized
| established_date1               = February 18, 1867
| named_for                       = 
| seat_type                       = [[County seat]]
| seat                            = [[Wilber, Nebraska|Wilber]]
| parts_type                      = Largest city
| parts                           = [[Crete, Nebraska|Crete]]
| unit_pref                       = US
| area_total_sq_mi                = 576
| area_land_sq_mi                 = 574
| area_water_sq_mi                = 2.3
| population_as_of                = 2020
| population_total                = 14292
| population_density_sq_mi        = auto
| area_code                       = [[Area codes 402 and 531|402/531]]
| area_code_type                  = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
| blank_name_sec1                 = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS]] code
| blank_info_sec1                 = 31151
| blank1_name_sec1                = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info_sec1                = {{GNIS 4|835897}}
| website                         = [http://www.co.saline.ne.us/ www.co.saline.ne.us]
| timezone                        = [[Central Time Zone|Central]]
| utc_offset                      = &minus;6
| timezone_DST                    = [[Central Time Zone|CDT]]
| utc_offset_DST                  = &minus;5
}}
'''Saline County''' ({{IPAc-en|s|ə|. |ˈ|l|iː|n}} {{respell|suh-LEAN}}) is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Nebraska]]. As of the [[2020 United States census]], the population was 14,292.<ref>{{cite web|title=Saline County, Nebraska|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Saline_County,_Nebraska?g=050XX00US31151|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=June 24, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Wilber, Nebraska|Wilber]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=7 June 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref>

In the [[Vehicle registration plates of Nebraska|Nebraska license plate system]], Saline County is represented by the prefix 22 (it had the twenty-second-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).

==History==
Saline County was formed in 1855 and organized in 1867.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=englishunsllc|title=Nebraska Place-Names|last=Fitzpatrick|first=Lilian Linder|publisher=University of Nebraska Studies in Language, Literature, and Criticism|location=Lincoln|date=1925|page=122|access-date=December 17, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nacone.org/webpages/counties/countywebs/saline.html|title=Saline County|publisher=Nebraska Association of County Officials|access-date=December 17, 2014}}</ref> The first permanent settler arrived in 1858.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=InM_AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA135|title=History of Hamilton and Clay Counties, Nebraska, Vol. 1|publisher=S.J. Clarke Publishing Co.|author=Burr, George L.|year=1921|page=135}}</ref>

==Geography==
The terrain of Saline County is composed of low rolling hills, sloping to the east-southeast.<ref>[https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm "Find an Altitude" Google Maps (accessed 28 January 2019)]</ref> Most of the county's area is devoted to agriculture. The [[Big Blue River (Kansas)|Big Blue River]] flows southward in the eastern part of the county. The middle and southern parts of the county are drained by Swan Creek and Turkey Creek, which combine and discharge into Big Blue River at the county's east boundary line close to its SE corner.<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Saline+County,+NE/@40.6144132,-97.3161228,73175m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x879740df49a3260f:0x35deeec18f059cb9!8m2!3d40.4930367!4d-97.179026 ''Saline County NE''  Google Maps (accessed 28 January 2019)]</ref> The county has an area of {{convert|576|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|574|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|2.3|sqmi}} (0.4%) is water.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_31.txt|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=December 11, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113024152/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_31.txt|archive-date=November 13, 2013}}</ref>

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=33em}}
* [[File:US 6.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 6 in Nebraska|U.S. Highway 6]]
* [[File:N-15.svg|20px]] [[Nebraska Highway 15]]
* [[File:N-33.svg|20px]] [[Nebraska Highway 33]]
* [[File:N-41.svg|20px]] [[Nebraska Highway 41]]
* [[File:N-74.svg|20px]] [[Nebraska Highway 74]]
* [[File:N-103.svg|20px]] [[Nebraska Highway 103]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col|colwidth=33em}}
* [[Lancaster County, Nebraska|Lancaster County]] – northeast
* [[Gage County, Nebraska|Gage County]] – southeast
* [[Jefferson County, Nebraska|Jefferson County]] – south
* [[Thayer County, Nebraska|Thayer County]] – southwest
* [[Fillmore County, Nebraska|Fillmore County]] – west
* [[York County, Nebraska|York County]] – northwest
* [[Seward County, Nebraska|Seward County]] – north
{{div col end}}

===Protected areas===
* Willard Meyer Natural Resource District - Swan Lake<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Willard+Meyer+Natural+Resource+District-+Swan+Lake/@40.4596168,-97.2687988,16z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x879740df49a3260f:0x35deeec18f059cb9!2sSaline+County,+NE!3b1!8m2!3d40.4930367!4d-97.179026!3m4!1s0x879706279c5c1da5:0xc7098f916f46af5a!8m2!3d40.4592774!4d-97.2632628 ''Willard Meyer Natural Resource District-Swan Lake'' Google Maps (accessed 28 January 2019)]</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 39
|1870= 3106
|1880= 14491
|1890= 20097
|1900= 18252
|1910= 17866
|1920= 16514
|1930= 16536
|1940= 15010
|1950= 14046
|1960= 12542
|1970= 12809
|1980= 13131
|1990= 12715
|2000= 13843
|2010= 14200
|2020= 14292
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=US Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=US Decennial Census|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=December 11, 2014}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=December 11, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ne190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=December 11, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=2010-03-27 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=December 11, 2014}}</ref> 2010<ref name=QF>{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/31/31151.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=September 22, 2013}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[2000 United States Census]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=31 January 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> there were 13,843 people, 5,188 households, and 3,507 families in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|24|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 5,611 housing units at an average density of {{convert|10|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 92.99% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.36% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.38% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 1.70% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.40% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.15% from two or more races. 6.58% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 5,188 households, out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.50% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.40% were non-families. 27.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.04.

The county population contained 25.10% under the age of 18, 12.30% from 18 to 24, 25.00% from 25 to 44, 20.30% from 45 to 64, and 17.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,914, and the median income for a family was $44,199. Males had a median income of $30,467 versus $22,690 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $16,287. About 6.40% of families and 9.40% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 8.90% of those under age 18 and 9.00% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities==
===Cities===
* [[Crete, Nebraska|Crete]]
* [[Friend, Nebraska|Friend]]
* [[Wilber, Nebraska|Wilber]] (county seat)

===Villages===
{{div col}}
* [[De Witt, Nebraska|De Witt]]
* [[Dorchester, Nebraska|Dorchester]]
* [[Swanton, Nebraska|Swanton]]
* [[Tobias, Nebraska|Tobias]]
* [[Western, Nebraska|Western]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Berks, Nebraska|Berks]]
* [[Pleasant Hill, Nebraska|Pleasant Hill]]
* [[Shestak, Nebraska|Shestak]]

==Politics==
Saline County was formerly strongly Democratic, voting Republican only four times between 1900 and 1968. From 1972 to 2008, it was considered a swing county in presidential elections, supporting the national winner in every election except 1988 and consistently voting similarly to the national popular vote. However, in 2016, the county swung to the right, and since that election has weighed in as more than 20 percentage points more Republican than the nation.{{PresHead|place=Saline County, Nebraska|whig=no|source1=<ref>[http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS Election Results]</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|3,734|1,855|82|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|3,631|1,986|163|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|3,004|1,733|399|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,557|2,289|112|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|2,434|2,674|143|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|3,071|2,420|75|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|2,581|2,321|243|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|1,945|2,523|707|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|1,740|2,425|1,600|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|2,355|3,125|29|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,942|2,385|67|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|2,934|1,908|574|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|2,330|3,205|127|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,828|2,654|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|2,341|2,543|350|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,780|4,125|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|2,881|3,523|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|3,248|3,395|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|4,221|2,792|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|2,641|3,598|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|3,255|3,899|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|3,673|4,229|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2,637|5,480|89|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,993|5,831|72|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|3,347|3,955|26|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|2,834|3,123|619|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|3,197|2,172|80|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,469|2,646|70|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,185|1,942|858|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|2,048|2,249|109|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|2,390|1,108|396|Nebraska}}
{{PresFoot|1900|Republican|2,238|2,018|106|Nebraska}}

==Education==
School districts include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st31_ne/schooldistrict_maps/c31151_saline/DC20SD_C31151.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Saline County, NE|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-07-01}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st31_ne/schooldistrict_maps/c31151_saline/DC20SD_C31151_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
* [[Crete Public Schools]]
* [[Exeter-Milligan Public Schools]]
* [[Dorchester Public Schools]]
* [[Friend Public Schools]]
* [[Meridian Public Schools (Nebraska)|Meridian Public Schools]]
* [[Milford Public Schools (Nebraska)|Milford Public Schools]]
* [[Tri County Public Schools]]
* [[Wilber-Clatonia Public Schools]]

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Saline County, Nebraska]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.co.saline.ne.us County website]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Saline County, Nebraska
|North     = [[Seward County, Nebraska|Seward County]]
|Northeast = [[Lancaster County, Nebraska|Lancaster County]]
|Southeast = [[Gage County, Nebraska|Gage County]]
|South     = [[Jefferson County, Nebraska|Jefferson County]]
|Southwest = [[Thayer County, Nebraska|Thayer County]]
|West      = [[Fillmore County, Nebraska|Fillmore County]]
|Northwest = [[York County, Nebraska|York County]]
}}

{{Saline County, Nebraska}}
{{Nebraska}}

{{coord|40.53|-97.14|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-NE_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Saline County, Nebraska| ]]
[[Category:1867 establishments in Nebraska]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1867]]
[[Category:Nebraska counties]]