In 1857, William A. Phillips, a Scottish-born journalist, Free-State abolitionist and Civil War colonel, started out in Fort Riley and headed west. On the banks of the Smoky Hill River, Colonel Phillips laid the groundwork for the first settlement in what would become Saline County, Kansas.
Colonel Phillips chartered Salina Town Company with the Kansas legislature, then organized the area surrounding his settlement.
In 1860, the legislature approved the formation of five new territories. Saline County was one of those five.
Saline County was incorporated in 1860. Salina, Kansas was incorporated ten years later.
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