Saline

Formed February 15, 1860 (34^th county)

Saline County (54,301), Salina (46,881)

The Modern tan brick and marble building was constructed in 1969 at Ash and 8^th streets.  United States Highway 40 Business is 14 blocks to the northwest of the site.  There were 1870 and 1910 versions of the courthouse also in Salina, the only county seat.  Shaver and Company are the current courthouse architects.  The county was established on February 15, 1860 from Native American Territory as the 34^th county.  It is named for the Saline River.  The county seat is derived from the Spanish for “salt” as is the river’s name.  Saline County was the birthplace of 2 Kansas Governors, John W. Carlin and William P. Graves. 

Saline County government consists of a sheriff, a clerk, an attorney, a treasurer, a coroner, and an appraiser (executive).  It has 5 Commissioners (legislative.)  Five District Court Judges serve Saline and Ottawa counties (judicial.) Saline County is in central Kansas.  Wichita, Kansas is south and Topeka, Kansas is east of the county.  The Smoky Hill River flows through the county.  The county center is in Salina 2.1 miles South of the city center.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Ottawa, Dickinson, Marion, McPherson, Ellsworth, and Lincoln counties. 

The area of the county is 720 square miles.  It is 58 out of 105 in the state.  It ranks 10 out of 105 in population in the state.  It has a density of 75.4 persons per square mile making it 9 out of 105 in the state.  Saline County has 88.8% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 70 crosses the county east to west from Dickinson County to Ellsworth County.  Interstate Highway 135 originates in the county and travels south into McPherson County.  United States Highway 40 is joined with Interstate Highway 70 from Dickinson to Ellsworth counties.  United States Highway 81 enters from the north, Ottawa County, and joins Interstate Highway 135 to go south, McPherson County.  The county is an overall rectangle.  Salina is north and east of center in the county.  Salina is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 86.3% of the county population.  The county is pronounced SA-LEEN.  The county seat is pronounced SA-LIE-NA.  This county is in the Salina Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Solomon