Salado (/səˈleɪdoʊ/ sə-LAY-doh) is a village in Bell County, Texas, United States.

[4] Archaeological evidence of a paleolithic Native American settlement dating back about 15,500 years, the Buttermilk Creek Complex, has been unearthed in Salado.

From 1866 to 1885, the famous Chisholm Trail cattle drives passed through this area, with the Stagecoach Inn being one of the stops.

By 1884, Salado had a population of 900, seven churches, 14 stores, two hotels, two blacksmiths, and three cotton gins.

However, after the railroads bypassed Salado to the north and south, trade moved away from the town and the population began to dwindle, hitting 400 by 1914 and down to 200 by 1950.

[6][7] The town is home to the Stagecoach Inn, the oldest continuously running hotel in Texas.

Nineteen Salado locations are listed in the National Register of Historic Places, including the George Washington Baines House.

For example, the California fan palm, Washingtonia filifera, occurs strictly west of Salado or the Balcones Fault.

[citation needed] The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,394 people, 990 households, and 761 families residing in the village.