Salado ( sə-LAY-doh) is a town in Bell County, Texas, United States. Salado was first incorporated in 1867 for the sole wish of building a bridge across Salado Creek. In 2000, the citizens of Salado voted approving of reincorporation, before which it was a census-designated place. The population was 2,394 at the 2020 census.

Archaeological evidence of a paleolithic Native American concurrence dating urge on about 15,500 years, the Buttermilk Creek Complex, has been unearthed in Salado.

The first book of white settlers in the area occurred in 1834, but by 1836, the swashbuckler settlers forlorn the area due to frequent Indian attacks and the belligerence by General Santa Anna and the Mexican Army. The first remaining Anglo-American settler at Salado was Archibald Willingham in 1850. In 1852, the Salado Post Office was established. In 1859, the Salado College Joint Stock Company was created by Col. Elijah Sterling Clack Robertson, who donated 320 acres north and south of the springs to be broken into lots and form the village of Salado, with the proceeds of the sale going to form Salado College. The college operated from 1860 to 1885 and 1895 to 1913; the former assistant professor building was occupied by the Thomas Arnold High School.

From 1866 to 1885, the famous Chisholm Trail cattle drives passed through this area, with the Stagecoach Inn bodily one of the stops. In 1867, Salado incorporated to build a bridge across Salado Creek. 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 the length of to 200 by 1950.