Illinois

Saline

23,768
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Saline

Saline, Illinois, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 5,588. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 23,768.

Its recorded population peaked at 38,353 in 1920, and has since declined by roughly 38 percent.

On the ground today, 2 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Archaic Period Mass Burial – Carrier Mills, Illinois Home Guard — Southern Illinois Border Defense, and 4 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202023,768
201024,913
200026,733
199026,551
198028,448
197025,721
196026,227
195033,420
194038,066
193037,100
192038,353
191030,204
190021,685
189019,342
188015,940
187012,714
18609,331
18505,588
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Saline

Military engagements that took place in Saline, Illinois.

Archaic Period Mass Burial – Carrier Mills
1200
Illinois Home Guard — Southern Illinois Border Defense
1862

Historic places in Saline

National Register of Historic Places listings in Saline, Illinois.

Harrisburg City Hall
Harrisburg
Carrier Mills Archeological District
Carrier Mills
Saline County Poor Farm
Harrisburg
Eldorado City Hall
Eldorado

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Everything a full report reveals about Saline County, Illinois

This page charts the census history of Saline County, Illinois. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Illinoishistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Illinois›

Frequently asked about Saline

When does Saline first appear in the US census?
Saline, Illinois first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 5,588.
What is the population of Saline?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Saline had a recorded population of 23,768.
When did Saline's population peak?
Saline's recorded population peaked at 38,353 in 1920.
Were any battles fought in Saline?
2 documented military engagements took place in Saline, including Archaic Period Mass Burial – Carrier Mills, Illinois Home Guard — Southern Illinois Border Defense.
How many historic places are in Saline?
4 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Saline, Illinois.
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