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Saline County, Nebraska

Coordinates: 40°32′N 97°08′W / 40.53°N 97.14°W / 40.53; -97.14
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Saline County
County of Saline
Saline County Courthouse in Wilber
Map
Interactive map of Saline County
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Country United States
State Nebraska
EstablishedMarch 16, 1855
OrganizedFebruary 18, 1867
County seatWilber
Largest cityCrete
Area
 • Total
576 sq mi (1,490 km2)
 • Land574 sq mi (1,490 km2)
 • Water2.3 sq mi (6 km2)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
14,292
 • Density25/sq mi (9.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code402/531
FIPS code31151
GNIS feature ID835897
Websitewww.co.saline.ne.us

Saline County (/sə.ˈln/ suh-LEAN) is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 14,292.[1] Its county seat is Wilber.[2]

In the 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

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Saline County was formed in 1855 and organized in 1867.[3][4] The first permanent settler arrived in 1858.[5]

Geography

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The terrain of Saline County is composed of low rolling hills, sloping to the east-southeast.[6] 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.[7] The county has an area of 576 square miles (1,490 km2), of which 574 square miles (1,490 km2) is land and 2.3 square miles (6.0 km2) (0.4%) is water.[8]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Protected areas

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  • Willard Meyer Natural Resource District - Swan Lake[9]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
186039
18703,1067,864.1%
188014,491366.5%
189020,09738.7%
190018,252−9.2%
191017,866−2.1%
192016,514−7.6%
193016,5360.1%
194015,010−9.2%
195014,046−6.4%
196012,542−10.7%
197012,8092.1%
198013,1312.5%
199012,715−3.2%
200013,8438.9%
201014,2002.6%
202014,2920.6%
US Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010[14]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[15] there were 13,843 people, 5,188 households, and 3,507 families in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile (9.3 people/km2). There were 5,611 housing units at an average density of 10 units per square mile (3.9 units/km2). 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

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Cities

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Villages

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Unincorporated communities

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Politics

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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.

United States presidential election results for Saline County, Nebraska[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 3,734 65.84% 1,855 32.71% 82 1.45%
2020 3,631 62.82% 1,986 34.36% 163 2.82%
2016 3,004 58.49% 1,733 33.74% 399 7.77%
2012 2,557 51.57% 2,289 46.17% 112 2.26%
2008 2,434 46.35% 2,674 50.92% 143 2.72%
2004 3,071 55.17% 2,420 43.48% 75 1.35%
2000 2,581 50.17% 2,321 45.11% 243 4.72%
1996 1,945 37.58% 2,523 48.75% 707 13.66%
1992 1,740 30.18% 2,425 42.06% 1,600 27.75%
1988 2,355 42.75% 3,125 56.73% 29 0.53%
1984 2,942 54.54% 2,385 44.22% 67 1.24%
1980 2,934 54.17% 1,908 35.23% 574 10.60%
1976 2,330 41.15% 3,205 56.61% 127 2.24%
1972 2,828 51.59% 2,654 48.41% 0 0.00%
1968 2,341 44.73% 2,543 48.59% 350 6.69%
1964 1,780 30.14% 4,125 69.86% 0 0.00%
1960 2,881 44.99% 3,523 55.01% 0 0.00%
1956 3,248 48.89% 3,395 51.11% 0 0.00%
1952 4,221 60.19% 2,792 39.81% 0 0.00%
1948 2,641 42.33% 3,598 57.67% 0 0.00%
1944 3,255 45.50% 3,899 54.50% 0 0.00%
1940 3,673 46.48% 4,229 53.52% 0 0.00%
1936 2,637 32.14% 5,480 66.78% 89 1.08%
1932 1,993 25.24% 5,831 73.85% 72 0.91%
1928 3,347 45.67% 3,955 53.97% 26 0.35%
1924 2,834 43.10% 3,123 47.49% 619 9.41%
1920 3,197 58.67% 2,172 39.86% 80 1.47%
1916 1,469 35.10% 2,646 63.23% 70 1.67%
1912 1,185 29.74% 1,942 48.73% 858 21.53%
1908 2,048 46.48% 2,249 51.04% 109 2.47%
1904 2,390 61.38% 1,108 28.45% 396 10.17%
1900 2,238 51.31% 2,018 46.26% 106 2.43%

Education

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School districts include:[17]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Saline County, Nebraska". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder (1925). Nebraska Place-Names. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Studies in Language, Literature, and Criticism. p. 122. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  4. ^ "Saline County". Nebraska Association of County Officials. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  5. ^ Burr, George L. (1921). History of Hamilton and Clay Counties, Nebraska, Vol. 1. S.J. Clarke Publishing Co. p. 135.
  6. ^ "Find an Altitude" Google Maps (accessed 28 January 2019)
  7. ^ Saline County NE Google Maps (accessed 28 January 2019)
  8. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  9. ^ Willard Meyer Natural Resource District-Swan Lake Google Maps (accessed 28 January 2019)
  10. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  12. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  13. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  14. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  15. ^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  16. ^ Election Results
  17. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Saline County, NE" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2024. - Text list
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40°32′N 97°08′W / 40.53°N 97.14°W / 40.53; -97.14