Saline County, Nebraska

History

Saline County was formed in 1855 and organized in 1867. The first permanent settler arrived in 1858.

Geography

The terrain of Saline County is composed of low rolling hills, sloping to the east-southeast. Most of the county's area is devoted to agriculture. The 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. The county has an area of 576 sqmi, of which 574 sqmi is land and 2.3 sqmi (0.4%) is water.

Major highways

• [[File:US 6.svg|20px]] 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

Adjacent counties

• Lancaster County – northeast
• Gage County – southeast
• Jefferson County – south
• Thayer County – southwest
• Fillmore County – west
• York County – northwest
• Seward County – north

Protected areas

• Willard Meyer Natural Resource District - Swan Lake

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 14,292. The median age was 36.9 years. 26.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 103.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 101.4 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 69.2% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 1.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.9% Asian, 0.3% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 16.1% from some other race, and 10.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 28.5% of the population.

48.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 51.3% lived in rural areas.

There were 5,222 households in the county, of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 22.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 5,714 housing units, of which 8.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 70.6% were owner-occupied and 29.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.4%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census, there were 13,843 people, 5,188 households, and 3,507 families in the county. The population density was 24 /mi2. There were 5,611 housing units at an average density of 10 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 92.99% White, 0.36% Black or African American, 0.38% Native American, 1.70% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.40% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. 6.58% of the population were Hispanic or 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 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
• Friend
• Wilber (county seat)

Villages

• De Witt
• Dorchester
• Swanton
• Tobias
• Western

Unincorporated communities

• Berks
• Pleasant Hill
• 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.

Education

School districts include:

• Crete Public Schools
• Exeter-Milligan Public Schools
• Dorchester Public Schools
• Friend Public Schools
• Meridian Public Schools
• Milford Public Schools
• Tri County Public Schools
• Wilber-Clatonia Public Schools

References

References

1. "Saline County, Nebraska". [[United States Census Bureau]].
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder. (1925). "Nebraska Place-Names". University of Nebraska Studies in Language, Literature, and Criticism.
4. "Saline County". Nebraska Association of County Officials.
5. Burr, George L.. (1921). "History of Hamilton and Clay Counties, Nebraska, Vol. 1". S.J. Clarke Publishing Co..
6. [https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm "Find an Altitude" Google Maps (accessed 28 January 2019)]
7. [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)]
8. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau.
9. [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)]
10. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau.
11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
12. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau.
13. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". US Census Bureau.
14. "State & County QuickFacts". [[United States Census Bureau]].
15. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
16. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
17. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
18. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau.
19. [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS Election Results]
20. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Saline County, NE". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].