Saline, Louisiana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Saline, Louisiana
Village
Saline welcome sign
Location of Saline in Bienville Parish, Louisiana.
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Parish	Bienville
Area
• Total	1.19 sq mi (3.08 km2)
• Land	1.19 sq mi (3.08 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	184 ft (56 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	265
• Density	222.69/sq mi (85.98/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s)	318
FIPS code	22-67880

Saline is a small village in southeastern Bienville Parish, Louisiana, United States. In 2020, about 265 people lived there. The name "Saline" is pronounced "Suh-LEEN".

A former judge, David T. Caldwell, was born in Saline. He graduated from Saline High School in 1942. A branch of Sabine State Bank also operates in Saline.

Exploring Saline's Location

Saline is located at coordinates 32.164170 degrees North and 92.977127 degrees West.

Size of the Village

The village covers a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 square kilometers). All of this area is land, meaning there are no large bodies of water within the village limits.

Mill Creek Reservoir: A Local Gem

The most popular spot near Saline is the Mill Creek Reservoir. People often mistakenly call it Saline Lake. This reservoir is the largest, easiest to reach, and safest body of water in Bienville Parish. Its waters are quite deep, and the area was cleared of trees and stumps a long time ago. This makes it perfect for boating, skiing, knee-boarding, and other water sports.

There is a tall spillway tower that rises about 50 feet (15 meters) above the water. It has a ladder that some people climb to jump off. However, this is very dangerous and should be avoided.

Churches and Cemeteries in Saline

Saline is home to several Baptist churches. One of these is Old Saline Baptist Church. Its first pastor was George Washington Baines. He was the great-grandfather of former U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Within Saline, you can also find the Magnolia Baptist Church. A few miles east of Saline, off Louisiana Highway 155, is Carolina Baptist Church. All three of these churches have cemeteries next to them.

Population and People of Saline

In the year 2000, Saline had 296 residents living in 111 households. About 85 of these households were families. The population density was about 250 people per square mile (96 people per square kilometer).

Most of the people in Saline were White (74.66%). About 25% were African American. A small number (0.34%) were from two or more races. About 1.69% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Many households (36.9%) had children under 18 living with them. The average household had 2.67 people, and the average family had 3.13 people. The median age in the village was 35 years old.

Arts and Culture in Saline

Saline is famous for its Watermelon Festival. This is Louisiana's oldest watermelon festival.

The Start of the Watermelon Festival

In the 1920s, cotton prices were falling. Farmers in Saline needed new crops to make money. They formed the Saline Dairy & Truck Growers Association. They started growing different fruits and vegetables, especially watermelons.

This led to the first Louisiana watermelon festival in 1931. It was a way to celebrate the harvest. Even famous people like President Franklin Roosevelt and King George V of the United Kingdom bought watermelons from Saline.

Festival History and Return

The early festivals were held on Fridays and attracted huge crowds. People traveled by train or car to attend. They came to play games, eat watermelon, and meet friends. In 1933, about 10,000 people came to the festival. However, the Great Depression caused the festival to stop for 50 years.

In 1983, a group of dedicated women worked hard to bring the festival back. These women were Carolyn Dison, Gertie Baker, Gertrude Enloe, Elizabeth Dushane, and Betty Wiggins. Since then, the festival has been an annual event.

Today, the festival takes place on the second Saturday in July. It's a week full of fun activities. You can enjoy beauty pageants, live music, an antique car show, and an old-fashioned parade. There are also many arts and crafts vendors and food stalls. The festival ends on Saturday night with a street dance.

Saline in the Media

Saline has been part of some interesting events and even a movie.

Motorcycle Races in Saline

For several years, the Mill Creek Reservoir was a camping spot for international cross-country motorcycle racers. Once a year, these racers would compete in a timed race through the nearby forests. The race started in Saline and lasted about 6-8 hours. The finish line was at a place called The Watergate. Winners were decided by who had the fastest time. This event brought people from many different countries to Saline.

Saline on the Big Screen

In 1988, Saline became a movie set for the film "Blaze." The movie starred famous actor Paul Newman. While filming in Saline, Paul Newman met the local sheriff, Reed Williams. Newman admired two new puppies that the sheriff's dog had. The sheriff gave him the male and female puppies. For many years, these two dogs could be seen on the labels of Paul Newman's Own Salad Dressing.

Education in Saline

Saline has one school building. This modern building houses elementary, middle, and high school students.

Gallery

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  Saline houses a branch of the Sabine State Bank.

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  The Old Saline Baptist Church

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  Historic Old Saline Cemetery

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  Carolina Baptist Church, with a companion cemetery, is located off Louisiana Highway 155 east of Saline.

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  Saline High School is located in a modern building across from Magnolia Baptist Church and Cemetery in Saline.

See also

In Spanish: Saline (Luisiana) para niños