Salem, Ohio | |
|---|---|
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 Flag  Seal | |
 Location of Salem in Columbiana County, Ohio. | |
  Salem  Salem | |
| Coordinates:40°54′34″N80°51′55″W / 40.90944°N 80.86528°W /40.90944; -80.86528 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Ohio |
| Counties | Columbiana,Mahoning[1] |
| Founded | 1806 |
| Named after | Salem, New Jersey |
| Government | |
| • Type | Statutorymayor-council |
| • Body | Salem City Council |
| • Mayor | Cyndi Baronzzi Dickey (R) |
| • Council President | Evan Newman (R) |
| Area | |
• Total | 6.43 sq mi (16.66 km2) |
| • Land | 6.43 sq mi (16.66 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0039 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,280 ft (390 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 11,915 |
| • Density | 1,852.9/sq mi (715.39/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 44460 |
| Area codes | 330,234 |
| FIPS code | 39-69834[4] |
| GNIS feature ID | 2396524[3] |
| School District | Salem City SD |
| Website | www.cityofsalemohio.org |
Salem is a city inColumbiana County, Ohio, United States. The population was 11,915 at the2020 census.[5] Salem was founded byQuakers in 1806 and played a key role in theabolitionist movement as a hub of theUnderground Railroad. Initially an industrial town, Salem is primarily residential and a regional commercial hub. It is home toAllegheny Wesleyan College andKent State University at Salem. It is the principal city of the Salemmicropolitan area, which encompasses all of Columbiana County; a small portion of the city extends into southernMahoning County.[6]
Salem was founded by a New Jersey clockmaker, Zadok Street, and a Pennsylvanian potter, John Straughan, in 1806. The city was named afterSalem, New Jersey, Street's native community. The name Salem itself is abiblical derivative ofJerusalem in theMiddle East, which means "city of peace".[7] The city's early settlers included theReligious Society of Friends, also known as Quakers, which the local school district's sports teams honor by referring to themselves collectively as the Salem Quakers.[8][9] Salem was incorporated in 1830.[10]
Salem was a center ofabolitionist andsuffragist activity in the 19th century.The Anti-Slavery Bugle, an abolitionist newspaper, was published in Salem beginning in 1845.[11] A local group of theProgressive Friends, an association of Quakers who separated from the main body partly to be freer to work for such causes as abolitionism andwomen's rights, formed in Salem in 1849.[12] The local school board at that time was composed entirely of abolitionists.[13] Salem was the site of an annual conference, the Anti-Slavery Fair, whose purpose was to raise money for anti-slavery activities.[14] TheDaniel Howell Hise House andJohn Street House were stops on theUnderground Railroad.[15][16]
In April 1850, Salem hosted the firstWomen's Rights Convention in Ohio, the third such convention in the United States (the first two being theSeneca Falls Convention andRochester Women's Rights Convention of 1848). The Salem Convention was the first of these conventions to be organized on a statewide basis.[17] All the convention officers were women. Men were not allowed to vote, sit on the platform, or speak during the convention. The male spectators were supportive, however, and when the convention was over, they created an organization of their own and endorsed the actions of the women's convention.[18]
Advantageously located betweenCleveland andPittsburgh, Salem thrived on an industrial-based economy in the 19th and 20th centuries. For several decades, Salem's largest employers includedAmerican Standard Brands, Eljer, Mullins Manufacturing,[19] Deming Pump, and Salem China. Today, American Standard retains production in the city, as well as the Fresh Mark meat production facility and several tool-and-die manufacturers.[20]
Salem is located about 18 miles (29 km) southwest ofYoungstown, 28 miles (45 km) east ofCanton, and 60 miles (97 km) southeast ofCleveland. According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 6.43 square miles (16.65 km2), all land.[21] Salem is the largest incorporated place by area in Columbiana County.
The city is mostly surrounded by unincorporatedPerry Township. Salem has annexed portions of Perry Township.[22][23][24] Several acres ofSalem Township andGreen Township were annexed into the city limits in 2000 and 2001. Other actions to spur economic development undertaken around the same time annexed specific land: in 1999, 82.24 acres (332,800 m2) of Salem Township were granted police and fire protection, snow removal service, and other city services.[25]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1840 | 233 | — | |
| 1850 | 842 | 261.4% | |
| 1860 | 1,889 | 124.3% | |
| 1870 | 3,700 | 95.9% | |
| 1880 | 4,041 | 9.2% | |
| 1890 | 5,780 | 43.0% | |
| 1900 | 7,582 | 31.2% | |
| 1910 | 8,943 | 18.0% | |
| 1920 | 10,305 | 15.2% | |
| 1930 | 10,622 | 3.1% | |
| 1940 | 12,301 | 15.8% | |
| 1950 | 12,754 | 3.7% | |
| 1960 | 13,854 | 8.6% | |
| 1970 | 14,186 | 2.4% | |
| 1980 | 12,865 | −9.3% | |
| 1990 | 12,233 | −4.9% | |
| 2000 | 12,197 | −0.3% | |
| 2010 | 12,303 | 0.9% | |
| 2020 | 11,915 | −3.2% | |
| [4][26][27][28] | |||
As of the census[29] of 2010, there were 12,303 people, 5,272 households, and 3,118 families living in the city. The population density was 1,913.4 inhabitants per square mile (738.8/km2). There were 5,763 housing units at an average density of 896.3 per square mile (346.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.9%White, 0.7%African American, 0.2%Native American, 0.4%Asian, 1.6% fromother races, and 1.2% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 2.5% of the population.
There were 5,272 households, of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.9% were non-families. 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.87.
The median age in the city was 42.8 years. 21.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.6% were from 25 to 44; 28.3% were from 45 to 64; and 19.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.9% male and 52.1% female.
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 12,197 people, 5,146 households, and 3,247 families living in the city. The population density was 2,228.2 people per square mile (860.3 people/km2). There were 5,505 housing units at an average density of 1,005.7 per square mile (388.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.35%White, 0.52%African American, 0.09%Native American, 0.34%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 0.08% fromother races, and 0.59% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.54% of the population.
There were 5,146 households, out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city the population was spread out, with 22.8% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,006, and the median income for a family was $40,191. Males had a median income of $31,630 versus $19,471 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,579. About 9.8% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.9% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.
According to the Sustainable Opportunity Development Center in Salem,[30] as of 2022, the top employers in the city are:
| Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|
| Ventra Salem | 825 |
| Fresh Mark, Inc. | 775 |
| Salem Regional Medical Center | 761 |
| Walmart | 320 |
| Butech Bliss | 278 |
| American Standard Brands | 272 |
| Salem City School District | 222 |
| Hickey Metal Fabrication | 176 |
| MAC Manufacturing | 172 |
Two neighborhoods of the city are designated asNational Register historic districts: theSouth Lincoln Avenue Historic District (designated 1993) and theSalem Downtown Historic District (designated 1995), which includes several of the town's monumental and architecturally distinctive homes and businesses.[31] Other city properties listed on theNational Register of Historic Places include theBurchfield Homestead, home to painterCharles E. Burchfield from ages 5 to 28;[32] theDaniel Howell Hise House andJohn Street House, bothUnderground Railroad stations;[15][16] and theFirst United Methodist Church.[31]
Salem operates under a charteredmayor–council government. Eight council members are elected as a legislature for two-year terms, which constitutes four separate wards, three at-large districts, and a council president.[33] An independently elected mayor serves as an executive.[33] As of 2024, the mayor is Cyndi Baronzzi Dickey (R) and the council president is Evan Newman (R).[34] The mayor, auditor, treasurer, and law director are all elected to four-year terms.
Children in Salem are served by the publicSalem City School District, which includes three elementary schools, one junior high school, andSalem Senior High School.[a][36] TheRoman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown operates the private St. Paul Elementary School for grades K-8.
Allegheny Wesleyan College is a private, four-yearliberal arts college in Salem that grants bachelor's and associate degrees inministry andtheology-related disciplines.[37][38]
Kent State University operates a satellite campus,Kent State University at Salem, with one building in the city proper and another just outside the city limits inSalem Township. The campus grantsassociate's degrees andbachelor's degrees, and also offers introductory programs that can be completed at the main campus.
U.S. Route 62 travels around downtown Salem on an east–west route.State Route 9 runs north–south through the city and terminates at its intersection with U.S. 62.State Route 14 travels east–west through Salem, sharing a short concurrency with SR 9 andState Route 173 on State Street. SR 173's eastern terminus is in downtown Salem and travels east–west toAlliance.State Route 344's western terminus is also in downtown Salem and travels east–west toColumbiana.[39]
Municipalities and communities ofColumbiana County, Ohio,United States | ||
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| Unincorporated communities |
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| Ghost town | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
Municipalities and communities ofMahoning County, Ohio,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Villages | ||
| Townships | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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