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Saline, Michigan
City of Saline
Downtown Saline along Michigan Avenue
Downtown Saline along Michigan Avenue
Official seal of Saline, Michigan
Seal
Location within Washtenaw County
Location within Washtenaw County
Saline, Michigan is located in Michigan
Saline, Michigan
Saline, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Saline, Michigan is located in the United States
Saline, Michigan
Saline, Michigan
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Michigan
County Washtenaw
Incorporated 1966
Government
 • Type Council–manager
Area
 • Total 4.41 sq mi (11.41 km2)
 • Land 4.33 sq mi (11.23 km2)
 • Water 0.07 sq mi (0.18 km2)
Elevation
820 ft (250 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 8,948
 • Density 2,064.13/sq mi (796.91/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)
48176
Area code(s) 734
FIPS code 26-71140
GNIS feature ID 0637119

Saline (/səˈln/ -leen) is a city in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 8,948 at the 2020 census. The city borders Saline Township to the southwest, and the two are administered autonomously.

History

Saline, Michigan historic markers
Dual-sized state historic marker

Before the 18th century, Native Americans traveled to what is now Saline to hunt wildlife and gather salt from the salt springs they found nearby. In the 18th century, French explorers canoed up to the area and also harvested the salt. They named the local river Saline ("salty"). Europeans settled the area in the 19th century, most of them from England and Germany. Together with Orange Risdon, a government surveyor generally considered the city's founder, the residents named the town Saline, which was officially established in 1832. In 1870 railroad service, provided by the Detroit-Hillsdale-&-Indiana Railroad, first reached Saline. In 1875 Salinians built one of the city's most famous landmarks, the Second-Empire frame, 2+12-story residential building, the Davenport House, a.k.a. Curtis Mansion. The town continued to grow, and in 1931 the Village of Saline became the City of Saline. The Saline Fisheries Research Station was built on the site of a pioneer grist mill. Saline has had its own newspaper since ca. 1874 but the Saline Reporter was shuttered by its owner, Digital First Media, in 2014. The Saline Post, an independent outlet, now serves the community.

The city is popular for its annual Celtic Festival, which attracts people from all over the U.S. and its sister cities Brecon, Wales, United Kingdom (established 1966) and Lindenberg, Germany (established 2003).

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 4.41 square miles (11.42 km2), of which 4.33 square miles (11.21 km2) is land and 0.08 square miles (0.21 km2) (1.81%) is water.

The Saline River runs through the city.

Major highways

  • US 12 (East Michigan Avenue) runs briefly through the center of the city.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 858
1890 706 −17.7%
1900 584 −17.3%
1910 816 39.7%
1920 830 1.7%
1930 1,009 21.6%
1940 1,227 21.6%
1950 1,533 24.9%
1960 2,334 52.3%
1970 4,811 106.1%
1980 6,483 34.8%
1990 6,660 2.7%
2000 8,034 20.6%
2010 8,810 9.7%
2020 8,948 1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 8,810 people, 3,699 households, and 2,336 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,068.1 inhabitants per square mile (798.5/km2). There were 3,923 housing units at an average density of 920.9 per square mile (355.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.6% White, 1.4% African American, 0.2% Native American, 2.5% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 2.6% of the population.

There were 3,699 households, of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.8% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 3.00.

The median age in the city was 41.1. 24.5% of residents were under age 18; 7.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.2% were from 25 to 44; 29.6% were from 45 to 64; and 14.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.0% male and 53.0% female.

Education

Saline Michigan Farmers Market
Saline Farmers Market

Saline Area Schools operates the public schools.

K–3 elementary schools operated by the district include Harvest, Woodland Meadows, and Pleasant Ridge. Heritage School (4–5), Saline Middle School, and Saline High School (in Pittsfield Charter Township) serve the city.

Notable people

  • George Matthew Adams, newspaperman
  • Jennifer Allison, writer
  • Chris Baker, football player
  • Lisa Bonder, professional tennis player and ex-wife of Kirk Kerkorian.
  • Frank Jay Haynes, photographer
  • Jeremy Kittel, musician
  • Bobby Korecky, baseball player
  • Ann Pellegreno, aviator
  • Taybor Pepper, football player
  • Charles Van Riper, pioneer in speech pathology
  • Bryan Thao Worra, writer

Sister cities

Saline Michigan Sister Cities sign
Sister Cities sign, Michigan Ave.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Saline (Míchigan) para niños

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