In a Village effort led by Jose Rivera, Salado is seeking a Scottish Sister City. Mr. Rivera proposed the idea in July 2026 and met with encouragement from other citizens. The Board of Aldermen voted in early August to approve joining Sister Cities International (SCI), an organization founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956, allowing Salado to register formally with a Scottish city.

The Village of Salado’s connection to Scotland goes back to its founder, Colonel ESC Robertson, whose Scottish lineage traces directly to Highland Perthshire and Clan Donnachaidh. His father, Empresario Robertson, brought hundreds of families from Tennessee to settle central Texas, many of whom shared his family’s Scottish ancestry. Since 1961 Salado has celebrated its Scottish ties by hosting the Scottish Clan Gathering and Highland Games on the second weekend of November. The Gathering and Games draw regional and national attendance each November and are key to Scottish descendants sharing their culture and history.

Mr. Rivera has researched potential Scottish cities to ally with Salado and narrowed the choice down to the top five. Criteria for consideration included population, geography, industry, history, artisan economies, tourism, and civic vitality. The finalists are: Aberfeldy, Aberfoyle, Culross, Dunkeld, and Peebles. The Salado Museum will host a public vote of the top five cities starting August 22nd during the Salado Founder’s Day Celebration, honoring Colonel ESC Robertson’s birthday. The public will be able to learn about each of these five cities and cast their votes through August 29th when Museum staff will tally the votes.

Mr. Rivera and the Village of Salado will then reach out to the potential sister city to see if they are receptive to the initiative. Salado hopes to create ties to a Scottish city in order to strengthen cultural and historical bonds, develop better international understanding, and collaborate shared issues.