Saline ( ') 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

thumb|left|250px|Dual-sided 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 settlement Saline, which was officially established in 1832. The settlement was incorporated as a village in 1866. In 1875 Salinians built one of the city's most famous landmarks, the Second-Empire frame, -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 had its own newspaper since 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 , of which is land and (1.81%) is water.

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2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Saline had a population of 8,948. The median age was 44.6 years. 20.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 84.6 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 3,882 households in Saline, of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 47.7% were married-couple households, 16.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. of 2010, there were 8,810 people, 3,699 households, and 2,336 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 3,923 housing units at an average density of . 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.

2000 census

As of the census

See also

  • Rentschler Farm Museum

References

  • City of Saline official website
  • Saline Area Historical Society