Salado in Bell County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Salado
Photographed By Richard Denney, December 24, 2014
1. Salado Marker
Inscription.
Salado was officially establish in 1859 when Col. E.S.C Robertson donated land for a townsite and for a college. Col. Hermon Aiken drew a plat for the town, which developed along its main street. However, there had been activity here long before this time, as Native Americans and Spanish explorers, among others, came through the spring-fed land. The explorers used the term Salado, meaning salty, in referring to this area, likely confusing Salado Creek and the Lampasas River. By 1852, a post office opened to serve 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 developed a thriving economy based on farming, ranching, milling, mineral baths and education. Salado College opened in 1860, attracting many individuals to the growing community. Additional schools were built, including Thomas Arnold High School, which was established by Dr. Samuel Jones, and a school on land donated by W.K. Hamblen, which 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. Salado hosted Bell County's first agricultural fair that same year; the fair 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 occurred when retirees moved here and with promotion of the arts. In 2000, Salado again incorporated, and today remains a viable community into the 21st century.
Marker is property of the State of Texas.
Salado was officially establish in 1859 when Col. E.S.C Robertson donated land for a townsite and for a college. Col. Hermon Aiken drew a plat for the town, which developed along its main street. However, there had been activity here long before this time, as Native Americans and Spanish explorers, among others, came through the spring-fed land. The
explorers used the term Salado, meaning salty, in referring to this area, likely confusing Salado Creek and the Lampasas River. By 1852, a post office opened to serve 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 developed a thriving economy based on farming, ranching, milling, mineral baths and education. Salado College opened in 1860, attracting many individuals to the growing community. Additional schools were built, including Thomas Arnold High School, which was established by Dr. Samuel Jones, and a school on land donated by W.K. Hamblen, which 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. Salado hosted Bell County's first agricultural fair that same year; the fair moved to Belton in 1876. By the 1890s, several churches had also organized in Salado.
Salado
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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 occurred when retirees moved here and with promotion of the arts. In 2000, Salado again incorporated, and today remains a viable community into the 21st century.
Marker is property of the State of Texas
Erected 2009 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 15828.)
Location. 30° 56.593′ N, 97° 32.244′ W. Marker is in Salado, Texas, in Bell County. Marker is at the intersection of South Main Street (County Route 2268) and Royal Street, on the right when traveling south on South Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Salado TX 76571, United States of America. Touch for directions.
View looking west to marker, along with neighboring markers. Salado Creek and Interstate 35 in the distance.
Photographed By Richard Denney, December 24, 2014
4. Salado Creek
Salado Creek looking east
Credits. This page was last revised on August 4, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 27, 2014, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. This page has been viewed 572 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on December 27, 2014, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. 2. submitted on August 4, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. 3, 4. submitted on December 27, 2014, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.