# Saline County, Arkansas

Saline County (/səˈliːn/ sə-LEEN) is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 123,416. Its county seat and largest city is Benton. Saline County was formed on November 2, 1835, and named for the salt water (brine) springs in the area, despite a differing pronunciation from saline. Until November 2014, it was an alcohol prohibition or dry county.
Saline County is included in the Central Arkansas region.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 730 square miles (1,900 km$^2$), of which 724 square miles (1,880 km$^2$) is land and 6.9 square miles (18 km$^2$) (0.9%) is water.

### Major highways

* Interstate 30
* Interstate 30 Business Loop
* Interstate 530
* U.S. Highway 65
* U.S. Highway 67
* U.S. Highway 70
* U.S. Highway 167
* Highway 5
* Highway 9
* Highway 35

### Adjacent counties

* Perry County (northwest)
* Pulaski County (northeast)
* Grant County (southeast)
* Hot Spring County (southwest)
* Garland County (west)

### National protected area

* Ouachita National Forest (part)

## Demographics
### 2020 census

Saline County racial composition :
| Race | Number | Percentage |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 96,745 | 78.39% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 10,351 | 8.39% |
| Native American | 522 | 0.42% |
| Asian | 1,453 | 1.18% |
| Pacific Islander | 70 | 0.06% |
| Other/Mixed | 5,768 | 4.67% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 8,507 | 6.89% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 123,416 people, 45,455 households, and 31,395 families residing in the county.

### 2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census, there were 83,529 people, 31,778 households, and 24,500 families residing in the county. The population density was 116 inhabitants per square mile (45/km$^2$). There were 33,825 housing units at an average density of 47 per square mile (18/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 95.27% White, 2.20% Black or African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.45% from other races, and 1.00% from two or more races. 1.30% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 31,778 households, out of which 35.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.80% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.90% were non-families. 19.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.50% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 30.20% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,569, and the median income for a family was $48,717. Males had a median income of $32,052 versus $23,294 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,214. About 5.00% of families and 7.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.80% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.

## Media

The area is served online and in print by The Saline Courier.

## Government

Over the past few election cycles Saline County has trended heavily towards the GOP. The last Democrat (as of the 2024 election) to carry this county was Bill Clinton in 1996.
United States presidential election results for Saline County, Arkansas :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 39,736 | 68.98% | 16,609 | 28.83% | 1,264 | 2.19% |
| 2020 | 39,556 | 69.45% | 16,060 | 28.20% | 1,343 | 2.36% |
| 2016 | 35,863 | 68.83% | 13,256 | 25.44% | 2,981 | 5.72% |
| 2012 | 32,963 | 70.04% | 12,869 | 27.34% | 1,230 | 2.61% |
| 2008 | 30,981 | 69.38% | 12,695 | 28.43% | 977 | 2.19% |
| 2004 | 24,864 | 63.15% | 14,153 | 35.94% | 359 | 0.91% |
| 2000 | 18,617 | 57.48% | 12,700 | 39.21% | 1,074 | 3.32% |
| 1996 | 11,695 | 40.77% | 14,027 | 48.90% | 2,963 | 10.33% |
| 1992 | 10,105 | 39.38% | 12,671 | 49.38% | 2,885 | 11.24% |
| 1988 | 12,353 | 58.89% | 8,436 | 40.22% | 188 | 0.90% |
| 1984 | 11,709 | 60.68% | 6,977 | 36.16% | 611 | 3.17% |
| 1980 | 8,330 | 42.60% | 10,368 | 53.02% | 857 | 4.38% |
| 1976 | 4,123 | 25.55% | 12,008 | 74.41% | 7 | 0.04% |
| 1972 | 7,972 | 63.64% | 4,503 | 35.95% | 52 | 0.42% |
| 1968 | 2,614 | 23.15% | 3,111 | 27.55% | 5,569 | 49.31% |
| 1964 | 3,628 | 38.96% | 5,605 | 60.18% | 80 | 0.86% |
| 1960 | 2,195 | 32.32% | 3,898 | 57.40% | 698 | 10.28% |
| 1956 | 2,603 | 40.81% | 3,705 | 58.09% | 70 | 1.10% |
| 1952 | 1,766 | 30.12% | 4,045 | 68.99% | 52 | 0.89% |
| 1948 | 390 | 13.60% | 2,070 | 72.18% | 408 | 14.23% |
| 1944 | 643 | 19.99% | 2,556 | 79.45% | 18 | 0.56% |
| 1940 | 274 | 12.17% | 1,963 | 87.21% | 14 | 0.62% |
| 1936 | 359 | 18.86% | 1,520 | 79.87% | 24 | 1.26% |
| 1932 | 107 | 5.03% | 1,990 | 93.47% | 32 | 1.50% |
| 1928 | 520 | 29.12% | 1,261 | 70.60% | 5 | 0.28% |
| 1924 | 144 | 13.65% | 770 | 72.99% | 141 | 13.36% |
| 1920 | 403 | 24.13% | 1,206 | 72.22% | 61 | 3.65% |
| 1916 | 231 | 12.85% | 1,567 | 87.15% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1912 | 164 | 13.86% | 814 | 68.81% | 205 | 17.33% |
| 1908 | 369 | 27.48% | 899 | 66.94% | 75 | 5.58% |
| 1904 | 391 | 38.04% | 588 | 57.20% | 49 | 4.77% |
| 1900 | 342 | 29.01% | 811 | 68.79% | 26 | 2.21% |
| 1896 | 268 | 15.89% | 1,417 | 84.00% | 2 | 0.12% |
| 1892 | 326 | 20.84% | 1,161 | 74.23% | 77 | 4.92% |

## Communities
### Cities

* Alexander
* Benton (county seat)
* Bryant
* Haskell
* Shannon Hills
* Traskwood

### Town

* Bauxite

### Census-designated places

* Avilla
* East End
* Hot Springs Village
* Salem
* Sardis

### Unincorporated communities

* Brooks
* Lakeside
* Owensville
* Paron

### Townships

Townships in Arkansas are the divisions of a county. Each township includes unincorporated areas; some may have incorporated cities or towns within part of their boundaries. Arkansas townships have limited purposes in modern times. However, the United States census does list Arkansas population based on townships (sometimes referred to as "county subdivisions" or "minor civil divisions"). Townships are also of value for historical purposes in terms of genealogical research. Each town or city is within one or more townships in an Arkansas county based on census maps and publications. The townships of Saline County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township.
* Banner (contains most of East End)
* Bauxite (contains Bauxite, most of Benton)
* Beaver (contains Avilla, part of Bryant)
* Bryant (contains most of Alexander and Bryant, small parts of Benton and Shannon Hills)
* Dyer (contains part of Hot Springs Village)
* Fairplay
* Haskell (contains Haskell)
* Holland
* Hurricane (contains small part of East End)
* Jefferson
* Kentucky
* Liberty
* Marble (contains part of Hot Springs Village)
* Newcomb
* Otter (contains most of Shannon Hills, small parts of Alexander and East End)
* Owen (contains some of Bryant, small part of Alexander)
* Salem (contains Salem, small part of Bryant)
* Shaw
* Smith
* Traskwood (contains Traskwood)
* Union
Source:

## Education

School districts include:
* Bauxite School District
* Benton School District
* Bryant Public Schools
* Fountain Lake School District
* Glen Rose School District
* Harmony Grove School District
* Jessieville School District
* Pulaski County Special School District
* Sheridan School District
Former school districts:
* Paron School District - On July 1, 2004, the Paron School District merged into the Bryant School District.