45-620: Grand Saline is a city in Van Zandt County , Texas , United States, located in East Texas . The population was 3,107 as of 2020, making Grand Saline the third-largest city in Van Zandt County. The city is located roughly 75 miles (120 km) east of Dallas and 35 miles (56 km) northwest of Tyler , the two nearest metropolitan areas, and is part of the greater Tyler/Longview area. The town derives its name from
90-401: A family was $ 41,175. Males had a median income of $ 31,887 versus $ 21,344 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 16,930. About 10.30% of families and 13.30% of the population were below the poverty line , including 15.90% of those under age 18 and 12.10% of those age 65 or over. These school districts serve Van Zandt County: The only radio station licensed to Van Zandt County
135-500: A feasibility study for this extension. While this extension has considerable support among towns in southeastern North Carolina, the South Carolina Department of Transportation has stated that they have no interest in upgrading their portion of US 76 to an Interstate. Instead, South Carolina is concentrating their efforts on plans to build I-73 that will terminate near Myrtle Beach . This proposed extension
180-470: A level 4 trauma emergency room hospital with 52 beds that opened in April 2015 in the same building as the former Cozby-Germany Hospital. The city also is home to three assisted-living centers, and provides EMS services and an ambulance station. The hospital has been permanently closed since August 2019. Van Zandt County, Texas Van Zandt County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas , in
225-501: A role in the formation and history of the town. Grand Saline is located in the northeastern area of Van Zandt County, at the intersection of Texas State Highway 110 and U.S. Route 80 in western East Texas . According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.2 km), of which 2.0 square miles (5.2 km) is land and 0.50% is water. Grand Saline
270-504: A rough prison of wooden posts. Two ex-Confederate soldiers, W.A. Allen and Hardy Allen, were in the group, and W.A. Allen used a hidden knife to wear down the anklets. A combination of the beginning of the rainy season and a decreasing of the guard to one man allowed the prisoners to easily escape. After that, not much action on the part of Van Zandt or the United States was taken in the issue. Arrest warrants were sent, but none
315-671: Is KWJB broadcasting on 1510 AM and 95.1 FM. Van Zandt County receives outlying signals on the outer signal edges of Dallas / Fort Worth DMA. Local media outlets are: KDFW-TV , KXAS-TV , WFAA-TV , KTVT-TV , KERA-TV , KTXA-TV , KDFI-TV , KDAF-TV , and KFWD-TV . Other nearby stations that provide coverage for Van Zandt County come from the Tyler / Longview / Jacksonville market and they include: KLTV , KYTX-TV , KFXK-TV , KCEB-TV , and KETK-TV . 32°34′N 95°50′W / 32.56°N 95.84°W / 32.56; -95.84 Interstate 20 Interstate 20 ( I‑20 )
360-777: Is a major east–west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States . I-20 runs 1,539 miles (2,477 km) beginning at an interchange with I-10 in Reeves County, Texas , and ending at an interchange with I-95 in Florence, South Carolina . Between Texas and South Carolina, I-20 runs through northern Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. The major cities that I-20 connects to include Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas ; Shreveport, Louisiana ; Jackson, Mississippi ; Birmingham, Alabama ; Atlanta, Georgia ; and Columbia, South Carolina . From its terminus at I-95,
405-865: Is also named the Purple Heart Highway from I-285 in DeKalb County to US 129 / US 441 / SR 24 in Madison, Georgia , and it is called the Carl Sanders Highway from US 129/US 441/SR 24 to the South Carolina state line. Upon leaving Augusta, I-20 crosses the Savannah River and enters the Palmetto State and heads northeastward, bypassing Aiken and Lexington before reaching
450-599: Is an unusually expansive stack interchange , at the junction of I-20, I-55 north, and US 49 south. The interchange replaces a former directional interchange at I-55 north and a cloverleaf interchange at US 49. From the stack, I-20 continues eastward to Meridian , where it begins the nearly 160-mile (260 km) overlap with I-59 . The route of the Mississippi section of I-20 is defined in Mississippi Code § 65-3-3. I-20 (along with I-59) crosses
495-410: Is currently unfunded. Two I-420s were planned but never completed or built. One was to be a bypass around Monroe, Louisiana , but was never built. The other I-420 was planned as a bypass to the south of Downtown Atlanta . Due to anti-freeway sentiments , this I-420 was never completed, and the already-built portion has been signed as State Route 154 (SR 154)/ SR 166 , named
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#1732802510950540-537: Is located in the East Central Texas forests ecoregion. Grand Saline's rural scenery is a mix of rolling hills and open pastures. The area around it is home to numerous creeks, streams and areas of hardwood timber. The town is located in the Sabine River valley as the river flows just north of the city and then bends south to flow under U.S. Route 80 , east of Grand Saline. Grand Saline is served by
585-429: Is now signed I-30 (Dallas–Fort Worth Turnpike and from US 80/I-30 intersection at Mesquite to Downtown Dallas ), US 80 (former stretch between I-635 and Terrell ), and Spur 557 (bypass around Terrell). In 1977, I-20 was rerouted to go through the southern sections of Fort Worth, Arlington , Grand Prairie , Dallas , and Mesquite . It split off from the old route initially at I-820 in west Fort Worth
630-537: The Atlanta metropolitan area . On clear days, eastbound motorists get their first view of Downtown Atlanta as they come over the top of Six Flags Hill. The Six Flags Over Georgia amusement park is easily visible off exit 46 eastbound. The highway then passes through the center of Atlanta , meeting with I-75 and I-85 , which share a common expressway (the Downtown Connector ). It continues through
675-556: The Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex . The La Entrada al Pacífico corridor runs along I-20 between US Route 385 (US 385) and Farm to Market Road 1788 (FM 1788). Between Monahans and I-10, I-20 has an 80-mile-per-hour (130 km/h) speed limit. From the highway's opening in the 1960s through 1977, I-20 originally went through the heart of the metroplex via the Dallas–Fort Worth Turnpike . This old route
720-498: The Florence area. It is near Florence where I-20 sees its eastern terminus at I-95 . However, for about two miles (3.2 km), the highway continues into Florence as I-20 Bus. I-20 in the Palmetto State is known as either the J. Strom Thurmond Freeway or John C. West Freeway. The first section to be completed was the bridge over the Savannah River in 1965; the last, the section between US 401 and I-95 (including
765-650: The Mississippi River . Before crossing the Mississippi, the highway passes Tallulah . At the Mississippi River, I-20 leaves Louisiana and enters Vicksburg . Upon entering Mississippi by crossing the Mississippi River , I-20 immediately enters Vicksburg . Between Edwards and Clinton , the highway mostly follows the original two-lane routing of US 80 . In Jackson, I-20 sees a short concurrency with both I-55 and US 49 . Also in Jackson
810-781: The Morton Salt Company. During the late 1920s, the discovery of the nearby Van oil field brought companies that provided needed supplies. In the 1930s Grand Saline had twelve petroleum supply companies and five lumber companies. In the Depression years, local sewing rooms made garments for the poor. During World War II , a workers' strike at Morton Salt led the town to form the Grand Saline Industrial Foundation to attract new business to town. Their efforts produced clothing manufacturers, sulfur processing and meat packing companies. Grand Saline
855-406: The 18,195 households, 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.60% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.90% were not families. Around 22.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size
900-537: The Alabama state line near York , and it stays conjoined as it passes through western Alabama and Tuscaloosa . At Birmingham , the two highways pass through downtown together before splitting at exit 130 just east of Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport . I-20 continues eastward through Oxford – Anniston and the Talladega National Forest , passing by Talladega Superspeedway in
945-535: The Atlanta metropolitan area eastward and through the eastern half of Georgia until it exits the state, crossing the Savannah River at Augusta . Throughout the state, I-20 is conjoined with unsigned State Route 402 (SR 402). Also, I-20 from the Alabama state line to I-285 in Atlanta is named the "Tom Murphy Freeway", but it is called the "Ralph David Abernathy Freeway" within I-285. The Interstate Highway
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#1732802510950990-726: The Louisiana border near Waskom. In Louisiana , I-20 roughly parallels US 80 through the northern part of the state. Entering the state from near Waskom, Texas , the highway immediately enters the Shreveport–Bossier City metropolitan area , intersecting I-49 near downtown Shreveport and passing close to Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City. I-20 traverses mainly rural, hilly terrain, bypassing Minden , Grambling , and Ruston before reaching Monroe . From Monroe, I-20 enters flatter terrain as it approaches
1035-661: The business spur), opened in August ;1975. I-20 was built in 1957 connecting Texas to the east coast running through Shreveport, Ruston, and Monroe making it their first Interstate. I-20's exit numbers in Georgia were changed in 2000. In 2003, the North Carolina Department of Transportation proposed extending I-20 eastward from Florence to Wilmington at the behest of North Carolina Governor Mike Easley and his 'Strategic Transportation Plan' for
1080-518: The center of Van Zandt County and was, for a while, the county seat. The salt produced here was used in the process of tanning leather and preserving food stuffs. Following the American Civil War the Texas and Pacific Railroad was extended from Marshall to Dallas. A parcel of land was donated to the railroad; a depot was built and the stop was named Grand Saline. The City of Grand Saline
1125-812: The city. Grand Saline has two local newspapers, the Grand Saline Sun and the Van Zandt News , which are published weekly and cover local news, and also has daily newspapers delivered to residents such as The Dallas Morning News and the Tyler Morning Telegraph . Grand Saline residents can receive television channels and radio stations from the Dallas/Ft. Worth media market and the Tyler/Longview market. Until 2019 Grand Saline operated Texas General Hospital-Van Zandt,
1170-592: The county is located in the post oak belt of Northeast Texas, and the eastern part of the county stretches into the East Texas Piney Woods . Two major rivers, the Neches and the Sabine , flow through Van Zandt County. Van Zandt County is referred to as the "Gateway to East Texas" due to its diverse topography. As of the census of 2000, 48,140 people, 18,195 households, and 13,664 families resided in
1215-503: The county's history may account for this moniker, and historians, even within the county and throughout its existence, do not agree how exactly it became known as the Free State. One story of how the Free State of Van Zandt came to be originates with the county's formation. In 1848, Henderson County was split into three counties: Kaufman , Van Zandt, and what remained as Henderson County. Henderson County had been deeply in debt, yet
1260-410: The county. The population density was 57 people per square mile (22 people/km ). The 20,896 housing units averaged 25 units per square mile (9.7 units/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 91.96% White, 2.94% African American, 0.62% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 2.74% from other races, and 1.56% from two or more races. About 6.65% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of
1305-647: The following roadways: Grand Saline is also roughly 15 minutes north of Interstate 20 . Grand Saline is served by the Grand Saline Independent School District . College students who reside in the Grand Saline ISD are served by Tyler Junior College , as Grand Saline ISD is in the TJC taxing and service district. As of the 2020 United States census , there were 3,107 people, 1,069 households, and 727 families residing in
1350-427: The highway continues about two miles (3.2 km) eastward into the city of Florence as I-20 Business (I-20 Bus.). I-20 runs from Texas to South Carolina serving major southern economic hubs such as Dallas–Fort Worth and Atlanta . I-20 begins in western Reeves County at a fork with I-10. From there, the highway travels east-northeastward through Odessa , Midland , and Abilene before turning eastward toward
1395-413: The large salt deposits located southeast of the city, the majority of which are owned by Morton Salt . Grand Saline's first settlers were the ancient Caddo and Cherokee Indian tribes, who discovered and made use of a large salt prairie south of the town. The Native Americans used evaporated salt, from the brine stream that flows over the flats, as a commodity they traded for other needed goods. In
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1440-575: The later on at its current junction near Aledo in Parker County . It rejoins the old route near Terrell. Part of I-20 in Dallas used to be signed as I-635 and shares the Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway name with the remainder of I-635. Parts on the south side of Fort Worth were originally signed as I-820. I-20 continues eastward from Terrell, bypassing Tyler , Longview , and Marshall before crossing
1485-562: The mid-nineteenth century, the tribes moved southeast, having been forced out of the area by Mirabeau B. Lamar , second president of the Republic of Texas , and by general anti-Indian sentiment. Only a few years after the Indians left the salt prairie behind, a new group of settlers arrived. A settler named John Jordan and other newcomers brought their families and set up a primitive salt works. The community named Jordan's Saline quickly became
1530-430: The new Van Zandt County was founded without any obligations. Many believed that this was a mistake on the state's part, and bitter citizens and politicians from Henderson County referred to the new county as the Free State. Van Zandt County tried on two distinct occasions to separate itself from Texas. The first was in 1861 when Texas seceded from the United States . About 350 citizens of Van Zandt County met to protest
1575-537: The northeastern part of the state. As of the 2020 census , its population was 59,541. Its county seat is Canton . The county is named for Isaac Van Zandt (1813–1847), a member of the Congress of the Republic of Texas . Van Zandt County is commonly known as the Free State of Van Zandt. The title was particularly prevalent through the Reconstruction Era , but is still in use today. Many versions of
1620-556: The process, which is visible from the highway. Also in Birmingham, the intersection of I-20/I-59 and I-65 was known as a Malfunction Junction because of the interchange's somewhat-confusing design, and the number of traffic accidents that occurred there. This section of the Interstate and its interchanges have since been reconfigured. I-20 enters Georgia near Tallapoosa and after passing through western Georgia, it enters
1665-712: The secession was unsuccessful, the title of "Free State" stuck. After Texas re-entered the Union after the Civil War, Van Zandt County again tried to secede from Texas, the Confederate States of America , and the United States. A convention was held in 1867 in which the citizens elected delegates, and the delegates voted for secession, and penned a Declaration of Independence modeled after the United States Declaration of Independence . The event
1710-473: The secession. The practice of slavery was infrequent in the county. Slave owners, worried about losing their slaves in the Civil War , refused to bring their slaves to Van Zandt, because slavery was so uncommon there. The majority of Van Zandt wanted to stay with the Union, and reasoned that if Texas could secede from the United States, they could secede from Texas, and began organizing a government until they were threatened with military intervention. Although
1755-491: The southeast portion of the state. The proposed route would follow US 76 east from Florence to Whiteville, North Carolina , then parallel US 74 /US 76 into Wilmington. Part of this route is already designated the future eastern extension of I-74 . As part of the 2005 Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users transportation legislation, North Carolina received $ 5 million (equivalent to $ 7.5 million in 2023 ) for
1800-466: The state capital of Columbia , which can be reached most directly by taking I-26 east at exit 64 ("Malfunction Junction"), then, almost immediately, I-126 / US 76 . At Columbia, I-20 bypasses the city to the north and again turns northeastward, bypassing Fort Jackson and Camden . After crossing the Wateree River , it turns due east and passes by tiny Bishopville , before reaching
1845-409: Was 3.01. In the county, the population was distributed as 25.50% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 25.20% from 25 to 44, 24.90% from 45 to 64, and 17.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.70 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 35,029, and for
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1890-558: Was also known for its Lone Star Hotel, which was, for a brief time, the home of Hollywood starlet Louise Fazenda , the wife of Warner Brothers executive Hal Wallis . Agriculture, farming and ranching have long been a major part of the economic life in Grand Saline. Crops have included sweet potatoes and other truck crops. A cotton gin built south of town in 1890 marked the beginning of many years of cotton production. Poultry, livestock, dairy products, lumber and an ice house all played
1935-484: Was carried out, and none of the prisoners went to trial. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 860 sq mi (2,200 km ), of which 17 square miles (44 km ) (2.0%) are covered by water. Van Zandt County is unique in topography. The western and northwestern parts of the county are in the eastern edge of the Texas Blackland Prairies , the central part of
1980-637: Was incorporated in 1895 and the community of Jordan's Saline faded into history as its residents moved north to the bustling new city. There were formerly numerous salt companies in Grand Saline, including the Richardson Salt works, which had drilled the first salt well; the Lone Star Salt Company; Kleer Salt Works, the first steam-powered salt plant; and the Grand Saline Salt Company, which later became part of
2025-600: Was seen as a rebellion by the nation, and when word reached General Sheridan , he dispatched a cavalry unit to quell it. The citizens of Van Zandt called an emergency meeting that ended with the delegates declaring war on the United States. The wooded landscape at the time made moving difficult for horses, so the citizens of Van Zandt, familiar with the area, were able to ambush the unit, until they retreated. The citizens, elated with their victory, celebrated with an excess of alcohol. During their celebration, they were surrounded by Sheridan's troops, and were put in anklets and in
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