Salado ( ) is a village in Bell County, Texas. Salado was first incorporated in 1867 for the sole purpose of building a bridge across Salado Creek. In 2000, the citizens of Salado voted in favor of reincorporation, before which it was a census-designated place. Its population was 2,394 at the 2020 census.

History

Archaeological evidence of a Paleolithic Native American settlement dating back about 15,500 years, the Buttermilk Creek Complex, has been unearthed in Salado.

The first record of white settlers in the area occurred in 1834, but by 1836, the pioneer settlers abandoned the area due to frequent Indian attacks and the invasion by General Santa Anna and the Mexican Army. The first permanent Anglo-American settler at Salado was Archibald Willingham in 1850. In 1852, the Salado Post Office was established. In 1859, the Salado College Joint Stock Company was created by Col. Elijah Sterling Clack Robertson, who donated 320 acres north and south of the springs to be broken into lots and form the village of Salado, with the proceeds of the sale going to form Salado College. The college operated from 1860 to 1885 and 1895 to 1913; the former college building was occupied by the Thomas Arnold High School.

From 1866 to 1885, the famous Chisholm Trail cattle drives passed through this area, with the Stagecoach Inn being one of the stops. In 1867, Salado incorporated to build a bridge across Salado Creek. By 1884, Salado had a population around 900, seven churches, 14 stores, two hotels, two blacksmiths, and three cotton gins. However, after the railroads bypassed Salado to the north and south, trade moved away from the town and the population began to dwindle, hitting 400 by 1914 and down to 200 by 1950.

The Stagecoach Inn is the oldest continuously running hotel in Texas.

Nineteen Salado locations are listed in the National Register of Historic Places, including the George Washington Baines House.

<gallery class="center">

File:NortonOrgain1.jpg|Norton-Orgain house

File:Anderson house 2008.jpg|Anderson house

File:Fowler house salado 2008.jpg|Fowler house

File:Tyler house salado 2008.jpg|Tyler house

File:DavisHouse1.JPG|Davis house

File:Robert halley house 2008.jpg|Halley house

</gallery>

Geography

Salado is located in south-central Bell County. Interstate 35 runs through the village, leading north to Belton, the county seat, and south to Jarrell and then even further south to Georgetown.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , of which , or 2.10%, is covered by water.

Demographics

Salado first appeared as a census designated place in the 1980 United States census.<br /> (NH = Non-Hispanic)

!Race

!Number

!Percentage

|-

|White (NH)

|2,005

|83.75%

|-

|Black or African American (NH)

|21

|0.88%

|-

|Native American or Alaska Native (NH)

|7

|0.29%

|-

|Asian (NH)

|13

|0.54%

|-

|Some other race (NH)

|13

|0.54%

|-

|Multiracial (NH)

|93

|3.88%

|-

|Hispanic or Latino

|242

|10.11%

|-

|Total

|2,394

|

|}

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,394 people, 990 households, and 761 families residing in the village.

As of the census

Notable people

  • George Washington Baines was the maternal great-grandfather of U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson.
  • Liz Carpenter, journalist
  • Scott Cawthon, former video game developer, creator of the Five Nights at Freddy's series
  • Miriam Amanda Ferguson, 29th and 32nd governor of Texas
  • James Edward Ferguson, 26th governor of Texas
  • Lela and Raymond Howard, an older married couple who disappeared and became the basis for a 1998 hit song "The Way"

See also

  • Texas Brazos Trail

References

Further reading

  • Felda Davis Shanklin. 1960. Salado, Texas Bell, Belton, Texas
  • Salado Chamber of Commerce
  • Salado Village Voice, local newspaper