How Did Saline Get its Name?

Saline, meaning “salt” or “salty”, is named for its natural salt springs that were created over 600 million years ago when salt deep in the earth from an ancient sea was carried to the surface by ground water, forming salt springs and flats across the land. For thousands of years, salt has been an integral part of the draw to Saline. The earliest examples of Ice Age animals and the Paleo Indians visited the area some 12,000 years ago to harvest salt for their diets. Later, the Pottawatomie Indians, French Explorers and European Settlers were attracted by the salt in this region and became an integral part of Saline’s history.

In more modern times, Orange Risdon, chief surveyor of the Detroit-Chicago Road, (now US-12) officially established the town and named it Saline for its natural salt springs in 1832. The town was chartered in 1866, and will be celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2016. These intriguing characters of our past paved the way for the Saline of today – a thriving, vibrant community where visitors and residents alike can enjoy “A Taste of the Good Life – Lightly Salted.”

Saline Fast Facts

– Founded – 1832, named for its natural salt springs
– Land Area – 4.26 square miles; Saline Area* – 90.25 square miles
– Population – 9,000; Saline Area* – 28,500
– Sister Cities – Brecon, Wales (1966) and Lindenberg, Germany (2001)
– Great Schools Score – 10 (rating scale of 1 – 10)
– Recreation – 13 Parks and a Full-Service Recreation Center
– Special Events – More than 40 major community events annually
– Proximity to Major Cities – 10 minutes to Ann Arbor; 45 minutes to Detroit
– Proximity to Expressways – U.S. 12, M-14, U.S. 23, I-94 all within 10 minutes
– Proximity to Detroit Metro Airport – 30 minutes

* The Saline Area School District includes the City of Saline and parts of Lodi, Pittsfield, York and Saline Townships