Salina, Kansas
Salina, Kansas | |
|---|---|
City and County seat | |
Salina water tower (2013) | |
Location within Saline County and Kansas | |
KDOT map of Saline County (legend) | |
| Coordinates: 38°50′25″N 97°36′41″W / 38.84028°N 97.61139°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Kansas |
| County | Saline |
| Founded | 1858 |
| Incorporated | 1870 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| • Mayor | Greg Lenkiewicz |
| • City manager | Mike Schrage |
| Area | |
• Total | 25.74 sq mi (66.65 km2) |
| • Land | 25.70 sq mi (66.57 km2) |
| • Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.09 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,227 ft (374 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 46,889 |
| • Density | 1,800/sq mi (700/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 67401-67402 |
| Area code | 785 |
| FIPS code | 20-62700 |
| GNIS ID | 476808 |
| Website | salina-ks.gov |
Salina /səˈlaɪnə/ is a city in and the county seat of Saline County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 46,889.
In the early 1800s, the Kanza tribal land reached eastward from the middle of the Kansas Territory. In 1858, settlers from Lawrence founded the Salina Town Company with a wagon circle, under constant threat of High Plains tribal attacks from the west. It was named for the salty Saline River. Saline County was soon organized around this township, and in 1870, Salina incorporated as a city.
As the westernmost town on the Smoky Hill Trail, Salina boomed until the Civil War by establishing itself as a trading post for westbound immigrants, gold prospectors bound for Pikes Peak, and area American Indian tribes. It boomed again from the 1940s-1950s when the Smoky Hill Army Airfield was built for World War II strategic bombers.
It is now a micropolis and regional trade center for North Central Kansas. It's larger employers are Tony's Pizza, Exide Battery, Great Plains Manufacturing, and Asurion. Saline is home to Kansas Wesleyan University and KSU College of Technology and Aviation higher education institutions.