The 1854 Gazetteer of the United States by Thomas Baldwin shows:

SALINE, a county in the S. E. part of Illinois, bordering on Indiana and Kentucky, has an area of about 370 square miles. It is bounded on the E. by the Ohio and Wabash rivers, and intersected by Saline creek, from which its name is derived. The county is well timbered; the soil is fertile. Indian corn, oats, cattle, horses, swine, and lumber are the chief articles of export. In 1850 the county produced 341,900 bushels of Indian corn; 23,858 of oats, and 4799 of wheat. It contained 12 churches, and 410 pupils attending public schools. Salt is procured from springs on Saline creek, near the W. border. Formed a few years ago out of part of Gallatin. Capital, Shawneetown. Population, 5588.