Salado

Salado was officially established in 1859 when Col. E.S.C Robertson donated land for a townsite and for a college, and Col. Hermon Aiken drew a plat for the town, which developed along its main street. Long before that, Native Americans, Spanish explorers, and others came through this spring-fed land. The explorers used the term Salado, meaning salty, for the area, likely confusing Salado Creek and the Lampasas River. By 1852, a post office served a growing community on the Burney and Blair stage line from Austin to Waco. Several hotels opened in the settlement, including Salado Hotel. By the 1860s, Salado had developed a thriving economy based on farming, ranching, milling, mineral baths, and education. Salado College opened in 1860 and attracted many individuals to the growing community. Additional schools were built, including Thomas Arnold High School, established by Dr. Samuel Jones, and a school on land donated by W.K. Hamblen that closed in 1969 and became a community center. In 1873, the First Texas Branch of the Grange, a national fraternal agrarian order, opened in Salado, and that same year Salado hosted Bell County's first agricultural fair, which moved to Belton in 1876. By the 1890s, several churches had also organized in Salado. Salado became a virtual ghost town in the early decades of the 20th century; the population was around 250 in 1950, but since that time Salado has experienced continued growth. Revitalization came with retirees moving there and with promotion of the arts. In 2000, Salado again incorporated and today remains a viable community into the 21st century.

Salado, Texas · United States