Saline County is a county in Nebraska, United States, in the southeastern part of the state along the Big Blue River. It had a population of 14,292 at the 2020 census and covers 576 square miles (1,490 km2) centred near 40°32′N 97°08′W.
Wilber is the county seat, and its postal code is 68465. The county has three cities, five villages and three unincorporated communities, lies in the Central time zone and carries FIPS code 31151.
Towns & Villages in Saline County
Saline County has eleven named places: three incorporated cities, five incorporated villages, and three unincorporated communities. Wilber is the seat; Crete, on the county’s northern edge, is by far the largest place.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilber | City · seat | 1,937 | 68465 |
| Crete | City | 7,099 | 68333 |
| Friend | City | — | — |
| De Witt | Village | — | — |
| Dorchester | Village | — | — |
| Swanton | Village | — | — |
| Tobias | Village | — | — |
| Western | Village | — | — |
| Berks | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pleasant Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shestak | Unincorp. | — | — |
Crete straddles the Saline–Seward county line, but the bulk of the city and its population sit in Saline County.
ZIP Codes
- 68465 — Wilber (county seat)
- 68333 — Crete
The county’s smaller villages and unincorporated communities use post offices in Wilber, Crete, or a neighboring county’s town rather than a ZIP code of their own; the county’s confirmed ZIPs are limited to the two above.
Geography
Saline County sits on the gently rolling plains of southeastern Nebraska, drained by the Big Blue River and its West Fork, which cross the county roughly north to south. Most of the land is in row-crop agriculture. The county borders Seward County to the north, Lancaster County to the northeast, Gage County to the southeast, Jefferson County to the south, Thayer County to the southwest, Fillmore County to the west, and York County to the northwest.
Demographics
Saline County’s population was 14,292 at the 2020 census. Crete, with 7,099 residents, and Wilber, with 1,937, are its two largest communities and together account for roughly two-thirds of the county’s people. Median household income in the county runs below the Nebraska median of $74,590, reflecting the county’s largely agricultural economic base. Population density works out to about 25 people per square mile of land.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture — corn, soybeans, and livestock feeding — remains the county’s economic backbone, supported by grain elevators and ag-services businesses in Crete, Wilber, and Friend. Crete is home to Doane University, a private liberal-arts college that anchors the city’s economy and adds a college-town character distinct from the rest of the county. Wilber carries a strong Czech-American identity; it was declared the official “Czech Capital of the United States” by presidential proclamation in 1987, and the town’s Czech Days festival each August draws visitors from across the region for polka music, kolache, and a parade.
History
Saline County was formed on March 16, 1855, and organized as a functioning county government on February 18, 1867. The first permanent settler arrived in 1858, ahead of the county’s formal organization. Early settlement drew heavily on Czech and German immigrant farm families, whose descendants still shape the county’s towns — most visibly in Wilber’s Czech heritage tourism and festivals.
Getting There
U.S. Route 6 runs east-west across the county through Crete and Friend, and Nebraska Highways 15, 33, 41, 74, and 103 connect the smaller towns to it and to each other.
- Lincoln, Nebraska — about 25 miles north of Crete
- Beatrice — about 30 miles southeast of Wilber
- Seward — about 20 miles north of Wilber
- Fairbury — about 35 miles southwest of Wilber
The nearest commercial airport is Lincoln Airport, roughly 40 miles north of Wilber.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Saline County, Nebraska?
It is in the southeastern part of Nebraska, along the Big Blue River, between Lincoln and the Kansas border.
What is the population of Saline County?
14,292 people, according to the 2020 census.
How big is Saline County?
576 square miles (1,490 km2), of which about 2.3 square miles is water.
What is the county seat of Saline County?
Wilber is the county seat.
How many towns are in Saline County?
Eleven named places: three cities, five villages, and three unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Saline County?
68465 (Wilber) and 68333 (Crete) are the county’s confirmed ZIP codes.
Why is Wilber called the “Czech Capital”?
President Ronald Reagan declared Wilber the official Czech Capital of the United States in a 1987 proclamation, and the town has celebrated its Czech-American heritage with the annual Czech Days festival ever since.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Nebraska.