Saline County is a county in Missouri, United States, on the south bank of the Missouri River in the central part of the state. It had a population of 23,333 at the 2020 census and covers 767 square miles (1,990 km2), of which 756 square miles (1,960 km2) is land, centred near 39°08′N 93°12′W.
Marshall is the county seat, and its postal code is 65340. The county has eight incorporated cities, four villages, and more than a dozen unincorporated communities. Saline County observes Central time and is part of the Marshall Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Towns & Villages in Saline County
Saline County has 8 incorporated cities, 4 incorporated villages, and roughly 17 unincorporated communities and rural crossroads. In the table below, “Village” is a distinct incorporated class under Missouri law, smaller than a city; “Unincorp.” places have no city government of their own.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall | City · seat | — | 65340 |
| Slater | City | — | 65349 |
| Sweet Springs | City | — | 65351 |
| Malta Bend | City | — | 65339 |
| Miami | City | — | 65344 |
| Nelson | City | — | 65347 |
| Blackburn | City | — | 65321 |
| Emma | City | — | — |
| Gilliam | Village | — | 65330 |
| Arrow Rock | Village | — | 65320 |
| Grand Pass | Village | — | — |
| Mount Leonard | Village | — | — |
| Blue Lick | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Elmwood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fairville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hardeman | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Herndon | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Marshall Junction | Unincorp. | — | — |
| McAllister Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Napton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| New Frankfort | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Norton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Orearville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ridge Prairie | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Saline City | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Salt Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shackleford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sharon | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 65340 — Marshall (the largest ZIP by population in the county)
- 65349 — Slater
- 65351 — Sweet Springs
- 65339 — Malta Bend
- 65347 — Nelson
- 65330 — Gilliam
- 65321 — Blackburn
- 65344 — Miami
- 65320 — Arrow Rock (a PO Box-only ZIP, not a standard delivery route)
Smaller places such as Emma, Grand Pass, and the county’s unincorporated communities are served by the ZIP code of the nearest post office town above rather than one of their own.
Geography
Saline County sits on the south side of a broad bend in the Missouri River, which forms its northern boundary. The land rises from river bottomland in the north to rolling prairie farther south, drained by the Blackwater River and the Salt Fork. The county’s name comes from the salt springs early settlers found and worked here in the early 1800s.
Saline County borders Carroll County to the northwest, Chariton County to the northeast, Howard County to the east, Cooper County to the southeast, Pettis County to the south, and Lafayette County to the west.
Demographics
Saline County had a population of 23,333 at the 2020 census, a density of about 31 people per square mile. Marshall and Slater are the county’s two largest communities. Median household income in the county runs below the Missouri median of $68,545, reflecting the county’s heavily agricultural economy.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture anchors the county’s economy — corn, soybeans, and livestock on the bottomland and prairie soils south of the river. Marshall is home to Missouri Valley College and to a large Cargill grain-processing operation, both significant local employers. The county fairgrounds in Marshall host the Saline County Fair each summer, and the Missouri River town of Arrow Rock, a National Historic Landmark, draws visitors to its 19th-century townscape and the Lyceum Theatre.
History
Saline County was organized on November 25, 1820, and named for the salt springs found within its borders, worked by both Native Americans and early settlers. Through the 19th century it was heavily settled by migrants from Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia and became part of the “Little Dixie” region along the Missouri River, where hemp and tobacco plantations depended on enslaved labor. At the start of the Civil War, roughly one-third of the county’s population was Black; that share fell sharply after emancipation and the decades that followed. Arrow Rock, the county’s oldest town, was a major departure point on the Santa Fe Trail in the early 19th century.
Getting There
Interstate 70 crosses the southern part of Saline County, with U.S. Routes 40 and 65 and Missouri Routes 20, 41, 127, and 240 serving the rest of the county.
- Columbia, Missouri — about 35 miles southeast
- Sedalia, Missouri — about 30 miles south
- Kansas City, Missouri — about 75 miles west
- Jefferson City, Missouri — about 55 miles southeast
The nearest commercial airport is Columbia Regional Airport in Columbia, Missouri.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Saline County, Missouri?
It is in the central part of Missouri, on the south bank of the Missouri River, between Kansas City and Columbia.
What is the population of Saline County?
23,333 at the 2020 census.
How big is Saline County?
767 square miles (1,990 km2) in total, of which 756 square miles (1,960 km2) is land.
What is the county seat of Saline County?
Marshall is the county seat.
How many towns are in Saline County?
Eight incorporated cities and four incorporated villages, plus more than a dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Saline County?
65340 (Marshall), 65349 (Slater), 65351 (Sweet Springs), 65339 (Malta Bend), 65347 (Nelson), 65330 (Gilliam), 65321 (Blackburn), 65344 (Miami), and 65320 (Arrow Rock, PO Box only).
Why is it called Saline County?
It is named for the salt springs early settlers found and worked in the area in the early 19th century.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Missouri.