Saline County | |
|---|---|
 The Saline County Courthouse in Marshall | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofMissouri | |
 Missouri's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:39°08′N93°12′W / 39.14°N 93.2°W /39.14; -93.2 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Missouri |
| Founded | November 25, 1820 |
| Named after | The salt springs in the region |
| Seat | Marshall |
| Largest city | Marshall |
| Area | |
• Total | 767 sq mi (1,990 km2) |
| • Land | 756 sq mi (1,960 km2) |
| • Water | 11 sq mi (30 km2) 1.5% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 23,333 |
| • Density | 30/sq mi (12/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 4th |
| Website | www |
Saline County is acounty located along theMissouri River in theU.S. state ofMissouri. As of the2020 census, the population was 23,333.[1] Itscounty seat isMarshall.[2] The county was established November 25, 1820, and named for the region's salt springs.
Settled primarily by migrants from the Upper South during the nineteenth century, this county was in the region bordering the Missouri River known as "Little Dixie". In the antebellum years, it had many plantations operated with theforced labor ofenslaved workers. One-third of the county population was African American at the start of theAmerican Civil War, but their proportion of the residents has declined dramatically to little more than five percent.
Saline County comprises theMarshall, MissouriMicropolitan Statistical Area.
Saline County was occupied for thousands of years by succeeding cultures ofMissouri Native Americans. Saline County was organized by European-American settlers on November 25, 1820, and was named from thesalinity of the springs found in the region.[3] After periods of conflict as settlers competed for resources and encroached on their territory, the local Native Americans, including theOsage nation, were forced by the U.S. government to move to reservations in Indian Territory, first in Kansas and then in Oklahoma.
Saline County was among several along the Missouri River that were settled primarily by migrants from theUpper South states ofKentucky,Tennessee andVirginia. The settlers quickly started cultivating crops similar to those inMiddle Tennessee and Kentucky:hemp andtobacco; they had brought enslaved people with them to central Missouri, or purchased them from slave traders. These counties settled by southerners became known as "Little Dixie." By the time of the Civil War, one-third of the county population wasAfrican American; most of them wereenslaved laborers on majorplantations, particularly for labor-intensive tobacco cultivation. In 1847 the state legislature had prohibited any African Americans from being educated.
After the war,freedmen and other residents had a hunger for education. The state's new constitution established public education for all citizens for the first time.[4] It was segregated, in keeping with local custom. Each township with 20 or more African-American students were supposed to establish a school for them, but rural areas lagged in the number of schools and jurisdictions underfunded those for blacks. By the early 20th century, Saline County had eighteen schools for black students.[5] The remaining black schools from theJim Crow era have been studied by the State Historic Preservation Office and many are being nominated to theNational Register of Historic Places.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 767 square miles (1,990 km2), of which 756 square miles (1,960 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (1.5%) is water.[6] Its northern border is theMissouri River where it is increased by the confluence of theGrand River.
The largely rural county reached its peak of population in 1930, and has slowly declined since then since mechanization of farming has meant that fewer workers are needed; from about 1910 to the 1970s,African Americans often moved to larger urban areas for work and better social conditions.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1830 | 2,873 | — | |
| 1840 | 5,258 | 83.0% | |
| 1850 | 8,843 | 68.2% | |
| 1860 | 14,699 | 66.2% | |
| 1870 | 21,672 | 47.4% | |
| 1880 | 29,911 | 38.0% | |
| 1890 | 33,762 | 12.9% | |
| 1900 | 33,703 | −0.2% | |
| 1910 | 29,448 | −12.6% | |
| 1920 | 28,817 | −2.1% | |
| 1930 | 30,598 | 6.2% | |
| 1940 | 29,416 | −3.9% | |
| 1950 | 26,694 | −9.3% | |
| 1960 | 25,148 | −5.8% | |
| 1970 | 24,633 | −2.0% | |
| 1980 | 24,919 | 1.2% | |
| 1990 | 23,523 | −5.6% | |
| 2000 | 23,756 | 1.0% | |
| 2010 | 23,370 | −1.6% | |
| 2020 | 23,333 | −0.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9] 1990-2000[10] 2010[11] | |||
At the 2000census,[12] there were 23,756 people, 9,015 households and 6,013 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 31 people per square mile (12 people/km2). There were 10,019 housing units at an average density of 13 units per square mile (5.0/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.03%White, 5.39%Black orAfrican American, 0.31%Native American, 0.35%Asian, 0.21%Pacific Islander, 2.09% fromother races, and 1.62% from two or more races. Approximately 4.42% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 28.7% were ofGerman, 18.2%American, 9.8%English and 9.3%Irish ancestry.
There were 9,015 households, of which 30.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.90% weremarried couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.30% were non-families. 28.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.97.
In Age distribution was 24.30% under the age of 18, 12.00% from 18 to 24, 25.20% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 16.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.70 males.
The median household income was $32,743, and the median family income was $39,234. Males had a median income of $27,180 versus $19,431 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $16,132. About 10.50% of families and 13.20% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 18.90% of those under age 18 and 8.60% of those age 65 or over.
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 17,473 | 74.9% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 1,149 | 5% |
| Native American (NH) | 68 | 0.3% |
| Asian (NH) | 175 | 0.75% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 397 | 1.7% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 1,241 | 5.32% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 2,830 | 12.13% |
K-12 school districts include:[14]
Elementary-only school districts include:[14]
TheDemocratic Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in Saline County. Democrats hold all but four of the elected positions in the county.
| Saline County, Missouri | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Elected countywide officials | |||
| Assessor | Jessica Adcock Goodman | Republican | |
| Circuit Clerk | Rebecca Uhlich | Democratic | |
| County Clerk | Debbie Russell | Democratic | |
| Collector | Cindi A. Sims | Republican | |
| Commissioner (Presiding) | Becky Plattner | Democratic | |
| Commissioner (District 1) | Stephanie Gooden | Republican | |
| Commissioner (District 2) | Monte Fenner | Democratic | |
| Coroner | William “Willie” Harlow | Democratic | |
| Prosecuting Attorney | Tim Thompson | Republican | |
| Public Administrator | Paula J. Barr | Democratic | |
| Recorder | Jamie Nichols | Democratic | |
| Sheriff | Cindy Mullins | Democratic | |
| Surveyor | Open | Open | |
| Treasurer | Jared Brewer | Republican | |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 67.86%6,443 | 29.83%2,832 | 2.31%219 |
| 2016 | 53.01%4,901 | 43.30%4,004 | 3.69%341 |
| 2012 | 38.46%3,489 | 58.15%5,275 | 3.38%307 |
| 2008 | 32.80%3,195 | 56.87%5,540 | 10.34%1,007 |
| 2004 | 47.46%4,691 | 51.30%5,071 | 1.24%123 |
| 2000 | 42.23%3,945 | 56.14%5,245 | 1.63%152 |
| 1996 | 26.11%2,315 | 71.45%6,334 | 2.44%216 |
Saline County is divided into two legislative districts in theMissouri House of Representatives, both represented by Republicans.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dave Muntzel | 1,588 | 76.02% | −23.98 | |
| Independent | Debra Dilks | 501 | 23.98% | +23.98 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dave Muntzel | 1,021 | 100.00% | +52.21 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dave Muntzel | 1,036 | 47.79% | ||
| Democratic | Ron Monnig | 1,132 | 52.21% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dean Dohrman | 4,590 | 67.64% | +12.69 | |
| Democratic | John Cozort | 2,196 | 32.36% | −7.87 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dean Dohrman | 2,154 | 54.95% | +10.44 | |
| Democratic | Gary L. Grigsby | 1,577 | 40.23% | −12.07 | |
| Libertarian | Bill Wayne | 189 | 4.82% | +1.63 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dean Dohrman | 2,913 | 44.51% | ||
| Democratic | Gary L. Grigsby | 3,423 | 52.30% | ||
| Libertarian | Bill Wayne | 209 | 3.19% | ||
All of Saline County is a part of Missouri's 21st District in theMissouri Senate and is currently represented byDenny Hoskins (R-Warrensburg).
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Denny Hoskins | 5,564 | 62.57% | +6.35 | |
| Democratic | ElGene Ver Dught | 2,758 | 31.02% | −7.91 | |
| Libertarian | Bill Wayne | 570 | 6.41% | +1.56 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | David Pearce | 4,911 | 56.22% | ||
| Democratic | ElGene Ver Dught | 3,401 | 38.93% | ||
| Libertarian | Steven Hedrick | 424 | 4.85% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Roy Blunt | 4,613 | 49.92% | +15.29 | |
| Democratic | Jason Kander | 4,061 | 43.94% | −13.13 | |
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine | 295 | 3.19% | −5.11 | |
| Green | Johnathan McFarland | 142 | 1.54% | +1.54 | |
| Constitution | Fred Ryman | 130 | 1.41% | +1.41 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Todd Akin | 3,121 | 34.63% | ||
| Democratic | Claire McCaskill | 5,143 | 57.07% | ||
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine | 748 | 8.30% | ||
All of Saline County is included inMissouri's 5th Congressional District, which is represented byEmanuel Cleaver (D-Kansas City) in theU.S. House of Representatives.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Emanuel Cleaver II | 3,824 | 41.83% | +4.69 | |
| Republican | Jacob Turk | 4,967 | 54.34% | −4.85 | |
| Libertarian | Roy Welborn | 350 | 3.83% | +0.16 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Emanuel Cleaver II | 1,942 | 37.14% | −12.50 | |
| Republican | Jacob Turk | 3,095 | 59.19% | +12.42 | |
| Libertarian | Roy Welborn | 192 | 3.67% | +0.08 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Emanuel Cleaver II | 4,439 | 49.64% | ||
| Republican | Jacob Turk | 4,183 | 46.77% | ||
| Libertarian | Randy Langkraehr | 321 | 3.59% | ||
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 6,498 | 69.65% | 2,726 | 29.22% | 106 | 1.14% |
| 2020 | 6,451 | 67.67% | 2,904 | 30.46% | 178 | 1.87% |
| 2016 | 5,977 | 64.45% | 2,789 | 30.07% | 508 | 5.48% |
| 2012 | 5,104 | 56.04% | 3,790 | 41.61% | 214 | 2.35% |
| 2008 | 4,962 | 50.39% | 4,712 | 47.85% | 174 | 1.77% |
| 2004 | 5,389 | 54.22% | 4,479 | 45.06% | 71 | 0.71% |
| 2000 | 4,572 | 48.87% | 4,585 | 49.01% | 198 | 2.12% |
| 1996 | 2,931 | 33.10% | 4,765 | 53.82% | 1,158 | 13.08% |
| 1992 | 2,688 | 26.44% | 4,643 | 45.67% | 2,835 | 27.89% |
| 1988 | 4,625 | 47.70% | 5,039 | 51.97% | 32 | 0.33% |
| 1984 | 6,042 | 58.53% | 4,281 | 41.47% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 5,218 | 49.34% | 4,943 | 46.74% | 415 | 3.92% |
| 1976 | 4,883 | 45.03% | 5,890 | 54.31% | 72 | 0.66% |
| 1972 | 6,641 | 65.75% | 3,460 | 34.25% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 4,698 | 46.76% | 4,646 | 46.24% | 704 | 7.01% |
| 1964 | 3,635 | 33.22% | 7,308 | 66.78% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 6,085 | 50.48% | 5,969 | 49.52% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 5,970 | 50.55% | 5,841 | 49.45% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 6,926 | 52.19% | 6,318 | 47.61% | 27 | 0.20% |
| 1948 | 4,822 | 40.09% | 7,185 | 59.73% | 22 | 0.18% |
| 1944 | 6,022 | 47.22% | 6,715 | 52.65% | 16 | 0.13% |
| 1940 | 7,336 | 47.79% | 7,988 | 52.03% | 28 | 0.18% |
| 1936 | 6,108 | 41.34% | 8,622 | 58.35% | 46 | 0.31% |
| 1932 | 3,783 | 30.89% | 8,389 | 68.51% | 73 | 0.60% |
| 1928 | 6,780 | 51.98% | 6,251 | 47.92% | 13 | 0.10% |
| 1924 | 4,990 | 41.15% | 6,564 | 54.14% | 571 | 4.71% |
| 1920 | 5,613 | 43.81% | 7,114 | 55.53% | 85 | 0.66% |
| 1916 | 2,966 | 39.21% | 4,503 | 59.53% | 95 | 1.26% |
| 1912 | 1,443 | 20.94% | 3,929 | 57.01% | 1,520 | 22.05% |
| 1908 | 2,926 | 40.73% | 4,189 | 58.31% | 69 | 0.96% |
| 1904 | 2,805 | 42.08% | 3,710 | 55.66% | 151 | 2.27% |
| 1900 | 2,814 | 35.91% | 4,901 | 62.54% | 121 | 1.54% |
| 1896 | 3,050 | 34.85% | 5,615 | 64.16% | 87 | 0.99% |
| 1892 | 2,622 | 33.31% | 4,565 | 57.99% | 685 | 8.70% |
| 1888 | 2,684 | 36.65% | 4,386 | 59.89% | 253 | 3.45% |
Places adjacent to Saline County, Missouri | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofSaline County, Missouri,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Villages | ||
| Townships | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
39°08′N93°12′W / 39.14°N 93.20°W /39.14; -93.20
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
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