Saline County, Arkansas


Saline County 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 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.
WWW salinecounty.org

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 123,416. The median age was 40.0 years. 24.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.6 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 79.7% White, 8.4% Black or African American, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.5% from some other race, and 6.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 6.9% of the population.
63.2% of residents lived in urban areas, while 36.8% lived in rural areas.
There were 48,232 households in the county, of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 54.4% were married-couple households, 15.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 51,879 housing units, of which 7.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.2% were owner-occupied and 23.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.0%.

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. There were 33,825 housing units at an average density of. 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 and politics

Government

The county government is a constitutional body granted specific powers by the Constitution of Arkansas and the Arkansas Code. The quorum court is the legislative branch of the county government and controls all spending and revenue collection. Representatives are called justices of the peace and are elected from county districts every even-numbered year. The number of districts in a county vary from nine to fifteen, and district boundaries are drawn by the county election commission. The Saline County Quorum Court has thirteen members. Presiding over quorum court meetings is the county judge, who serves as the chief executive officer of the county. The county judge is elected at-large and does not vote in quorum court business, although capable of vetoing quorum court decisions.
PositionOfficeholderParty
County JudgeMatthew BrumleyRepublican
County ClerkDoug CurtisRepublican
Circuit ClerkMyka Bono SampleRepublican
SheriffRodney WrightRepublican
TreasurerHolly PayneRepublican
CollectorJennifer CarterRepublican
AssessorPam WrightRepublican
CoronerKevin CleghornRepublican
SurveyorAaron RasburryRepublican

The composition of the Quorum Court following the 2024 elections is 13 Republicans. Justices of the Peace of the Quorum Court following the elections are:
  • District 1: Pat Bisbee
  • District 2: Wilson Hatcher
  • District 3: Carlton Billingsley
  • District 4: Keith Kellum
  • District 5: Justin Rue
  • District 6: Rick Bellinger
  • District 7: Josh Curtis
  • District 8: Edward A. Albares
  • District 9: CJ Engel
  • District 10: Jim Whitley
  • District 11: Clint Chism
  • District 12: Stephanie Johnson
  • District 13: Karen Crowson
Additionally, the townships of Saline County are entitled to elect their own respective constables, as set forth by the Constitution of Arkansas. Constables are largely of historical significance as they were used to keep the peace in rural areas when travel was more difficult. The township constables as of the 2024 elections are:
  • District 1: Clint Newcomb
  • District 2: Bobby Hahn

Politics

Over the past few election cycles Saline County has trended heavily towards the GOP. The last Democrat to carry this county was Bill Clinton in 1996.

Communities

Cities

Town

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Source:

Education

School districts include:
Former school districts: