Saline County, Kansas

Early history

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.^{[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.^[3]

Major highways

• I-70 / US-40
• I-135
• US-81
• K-4
• K-104
• K-143

Adjacent counties

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

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 54,303. The median age was 39.7 years. 23.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.7 males age 18 and over.^[20][21]

The racial makeup of the county was 79.9% White, 3.4% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 4.2% from some other race, and 9.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 12.2% of the population.^[21]

85.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 14.3% lived in rural areas.^[22]

There were 22,250 households in the county, of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[20]

There were 24,076 housing units, of which 7.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 64.7% were owner-occupied and 35.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.3%.^[20]

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 74 inhabitants per square mile (29/km²). There were 22,695 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile (12/km²). 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.

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.^[23]

The Board of Commissioners has three members, one elected from each of the three commission districts. Commissioners are elected on a partisan basis.^[23] The districts are reapportioned every three years, with the three districts being equally populated. Term lengths are four years.^[23]

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).^[23] 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.^[24]

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.^[25]

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."^[26] As needed, the county administrator will represent the county on boards and commissions.^[26]

The current county administrator is Andrew Manley.^[26]

Presidential elections

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.^[29]

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.^[30]

Colleges and universities

• Kansas State University Aerospace and Technology Campus in Salina
• Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina
• Salina Area Technical College in Salina

Unified school districts

• Salina USD 305
• Southeast of Saline USD 306
• Ell-Saline USD 307

School district office in neighboring county

• Twin Valley USD 240
• Solomon USD 393
• Smoky Valley USD 400

Private schools

• St. John's Military School
• Sacred Heart High School

Cities

‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county.

Unincorporated communities

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

Townships

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.