Salina, Kansas

Salina is the county seat of Saline County, Kansas located at the intersection of Interstate Highways I-70 and I-135 in the central part of the state. It was first settled by Preston B. Plum in 1856 along the Saline and Smoky Hill Rivers, and founded by William A. Phillips in 1858. In the 1800's, Salina was the westernmost post on the Smoky Hill Trail. It served as a staging post for prospectors traveling to Pikes Peak as well as a trading post between local native tribes, and Fort Leavenworth. The city population is currently over 54,000 residents. The median household income for Salina is presently estimated at $36,066, and the median family income at $45,433.

Agriculture is the predominant industry in Salina, and its grain elevators can be seen from miles away. A famous Catholic Church, Sacred Heart Cathedral, is even built with white cylindrical shapes that mimic the grain silos of the area. Salina also has a strong manufacturing base with other major employers including Tony's Pizza (Salina's largest single employer with over 2000 workers), Philips Lighting, Exide Battery, Great Plains Manufacturing (farm equipment), and Raytheon Aircraft. The high ratio of factory experience in the labor pool and Kansas' right-to-work status make Salina a very attractive location for factory operation.

Salina is home to several universities: Kansas State University - Salina banch, which offers undergraduate degrees in both technology and aviation related fields; Kansas State University - Salina (previously known as Kansas Technical Institute), Kansas Wesleyan University, a private liberal arts college that affiliates itself with the United Methodist Church, and Brown Mackie College.