Salem | |
|---|---|
 Main Street in Salem | |
 Seal | |
 Salem's location in theCommonwealth ofVirginia | |
  Salem  Salem  Salem | |
| Coordinates:37°17′12″N80°3′21″W / 37.28667°N 80.05583°W /37.28667; -80.05583 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | None (Independent city) |
| Established | 1802 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| • Mayor | Renée Turk |
| • Vice Mayor | Jim Wallace |
| Area | |
• Total | 14.63 sq mi (37.88 km2) |
| • Land | 14.52 sq mi (37.60 km2) |
| • Water | 0.11 sq mi (0.28 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,175.0 ft (358.14 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 25,346 |
| • Density | 1,746/sq mi (674.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Zip Code | 24153 |
| Area code | 540 |
| FIPS code | 51-70000[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1498533[3] |
| Website | http://www.salemva.gov/ |
Salem is anindependent city in the U.S. commonwealth ofVirginia. As of the2020 census, the population was 25,346.[4] It is thecounty seat ofRoanoke County,[5] although the two are separate jurisdictions. TheBureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Salem with Roanoke County, which surrounds both Salem and the neighboring City ofRoanoke, for statistical purposes. Salem has its own courthouse and sheriff's office, but shares a jail with Roanoke County, which is located in the Roanoke County Courthouse complex in Salem. The Roanoke County Sheriff's Office and Roanoke County Department of Social Services are also located within Salem, though the county administrative offices are located in unincorporatedCave Spring.
Roanoke College is located in the city. Salem is also the home to aMinor League Baseball team, theSalem RidgeYaks.
The earliest history of Salem exists as archaeological evidence of Native American tribes from as far back as 8,000BCE until the middle of the 18th century. Europeans first explored the area of Salem in 1671, when theSiouan-speakingTotero people had a village nearby.[6] Explorers Thomas Batts and Robert Fallam gave the area its first recorded name: Totero Town, after this tribe, who supplied them with a guide to help with further exploration. Fort Lewis, named for GeneralAndrew Lewis, of what is nowRoanoke County, was built west of the town in 1752. Salem's Andrew Lewis Middle School (formerly Andrew Lewis High School) was named after General Lewis. Salem became a small settlement serving travelers on the Great Road (roughly the same path followed byUS-11 and laterInterstate 81 today) and was officially founded in 1802, receiving its charter in 1806. It is not known why the town was named Salem; the most widely accepted explanation is that it was named to honor William Bryan, a prominent citizen, who had moved fromSalem, New Jersey.
Salem was attacked twice by theUnion Army during theAmerican Civil War, but its Salem Flying Artillery is said to have fired the last Confederate shot atAppomattox Court House prior toRobert E. Lee's surrender.
One of the city's four elementary schools is named after African American scientistG. W. Carver. Before integration, this was the high school for African Americans in Salem.
Salem annexed South Salem in 1953 and also an eastern tract in 1960, giving it a population of 16,058 – making it Virginia's largesttown at the time. Salem officially became a city on December 31, 1967, to avoid the possibility of annexation into the city of Roanoke. Per the Virginia constitution, it was separated from Roanoke County. However, it remains the official county seat, although the Roanoke County Administrative Building is located in theCave Spring area of the county.
Salem has been the home of two colleges. In 1847, the Virginia Institute, a boy's preparatory school, moved to Salem fromStaunton. It received a college charter in 1853 and was renamedRoanoke College for theRoanoke Valley. The college is located in central Salem, one block north of Main Street. Roanoke Women's College, later namedElizabeth College, operated between 1912 and 1922. The college burned in late 1921 and did not reopen. Like Roanoke College, it was affiliated with theEvangelical Lutheran Church in America. The Elizabeth College campus is now the site of residence halls and athletic fields that belong toRoanoke College.
Salem is home to theSalem RidgeYaks, theSingle-A affiliate of theBoston Red Sox.
TheAmos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, the NCAA Division III Football Championship game was held atSalem Football Stadium between 1993 and 2016. Salem's success in holding that event led theNCAA to also move theNCAA Men's Division III Basketball Championship andNCAA Division III women's volleyball tournament to theSalem Civic Center and theNCAA Division II softball tournament and theNCAA Division III softball tournament to theJames I. Moyer Sports Complex.
In August 2007, the Salem Football Stadium also hosted the Southwestern Virginia Educational Classic. This game is played annually in the Roanoke Valley and consists of two football teams from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The city hosts several other statewide, regional, and national sporting events at its facilities. These events are attracted by the city's hospitality, modern facilities and overall support.Salem High School, is also known for its athletic programs, particularly the football team which has won ten state championships since 1996, and also theforensics team, which has won eighteen consecutive state championships.
Salem is located at37°17′12″N80°3′21″W / 37.28667°N 80.05583°W /37.28667; -80.05583 (37.286895, -80.055836).
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.5 square miles (37.6 km2), of which 14.4 square miles (37.3 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km2) (0.7%) is water.[7]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 612 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,355 | 121.4% | |
| 1880 | 1,759 | 29.8% | |
| 1890 | 3,279 | 86.4% | |
| 1900 | 3,412 | 4.1% | |
| 1910 | 3,849 | 12.8% | |
| 1920 | 4,159 | 8.1% | |
| 1930 | 4,833 | 16.2% | |
| 1940 | 5,737 | 18.7% | |
| 1950 | 6,823 | 18.9% | |
| 1960 | 16,058 | 135.4% | |
| 1970 | 21,982 | 36.9% | |
| 1980 | 23,958 | 9.0% | |
| 1990 | 23,756 | −0.8% | |
| 2000 | 24,747 | 4.2% | |
| 2010 | 24,802 | 0.2% | |
| 2020 | 25,346 | 2.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10] 1990–2000[11] 2010[12] 2020[13] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010[12] | Pop 2020[13] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 21,653 | 20,673 | 87.30% | 81.56% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,732 | 1,913 | 6.98% | 7.55% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 55 | 42 | 0.22% | 0.17% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 398 | 534 | 1.60% | 2.11% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 6 | 5 | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 31 | 66 | 0.12% | 0.26% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 326 | 1,025 | 1.31% | 4.04% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 601 | 1,088 | 2.42% | 4.29% |
| Total | 24,802 | 25,346 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
As of thecensus[14] of 2000, there were 24,747 people, 9,954 households, and 6,539 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 1,696.4 people per square mile (655.0 people/km2). There were 10,403 housing units at an average density of 713.1 units per square mile (275.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.88%White, 5.88%African American, 0.13%Native American, 0.97%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 0.25% fromother races, and 0.86% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.83% of the population.
There were 9,954 households, out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% weremarried couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.9% under the age of 18, 11.7% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.3 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,997, and the median income for a family was $47,174. Males had a median income of $32,472 versus $23,193 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $20,091. About 4.3% of families and 6.7% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.
Salem is a Republican-leaning city. Since its founding, it has only supported a Democratic candidate once, whenJimmy Carter carried it by 208 votes in 1976.[15]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1968 | 3,955 | 57.77% | 1,369 | 20.00% | 1,522 | 22.23% |
| 1972 | 5,649 | 74.79% | 1,744 | 23.09% | 160 | 2.12% |
| 1976 | 4,196 | 48.29% | 4,404 | 50.68% | 90 | 1.04% |
| 1980 | 4,862 | 51.78% | 4,091 | 43.57% | 436 | 4.64% |
| 1984 | 6,419 | 65.43% | 3,347 | 34.12% | 44 | 0.45% |
| 1988 | 5,694 | 59.77% | 3,760 | 39.47% | 73 | 0.77% |
| 1992 | 5,143 | 48.21% | 4,028 | 37.75% | 1,498 | 14.04% |
| 1996 | 4,936 | 48.97% | 4,282 | 42.48% | 861 | 8.54% |
| 2000 | 6,188 | 57.46% | 4,348 | 40.37% | 234 | 2.17% |
| 2004 | 7,115 | 61.96% | 4,254 | 37.04% | 115 | 1.00% |
| 2008 | 7,088 | 57.13% | 5,164 | 41.63% | 154 | 1.24% |
| 2012 | 7,299 | 59.25% | 4,760 | 38.64% | 259 | 2.10% |
| 2016 | 7,226 | 59.11% | 4,202 | 34.37% | 797 | 6.52% |
| 2020 | 7,683 | 58.87% | 5,148 | 39.45% | 220 | 1.69% |
| 2024 | 7,769 | 58.82% | 5,237 | 39.65% | 201 | 1.52% |
Salem is governed by a five-member council. The council elects a mayor and vice mayor from among its members. The members of council are Mayor Renée Ferris Turk, Vice Mayor James "Jim" Wallace III, Byron "Randy" Foley, William "Bill" Jones, and Hunter H. Holliday.
Day-to-day operations are run by the City Manager, Chris Dorsey.
There are several historical markers in Salem, ranging from the Civil War to World War I and the Korean Independence Movement. One such marker, the Roanoke County Confederate Monument, lies in close proximity to theOld Roanoke County Courthouse. The monument was erected in 1909 by the Southern Cross Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy to honor Roanoke's Confederate soldiers. The 28 ft granite and marble statue depicts a standing soldier atop a pedestal. Its erection date coincides with the dedication of the courthouse and with the anniversary of Jefferson Davis's birthday.[22] The inscription reads: "In Memory of the Confederate Soldiers of Roanoke County, 1861-1865. Love Makes Memory Eternal."[22]
Another marker honors the sacrifice of patrolman William Howard Thompson of the Salem Police Department, after whom Thompson Memorial Drive is named. Patrolman Thompson was slain while assisting his fellow officers when apprehending a suspect.[23]
In 2022,Roanoke College dedicated a highway marker on High Street to honorKim Kyusik (1881-1950), an influential leader in the Korean independence movement and Roanoke College graduate.[24]
Other Salem historical markers include the East Hill Cemetery North Marker (erected in 2006 by The Citizens League of Salem) and the World War 1917-1919 Memorial, a bronze plaque honoring soldiers and sailors from Roanoke County who died duringWorld War I (erected by Salem Post No. 19 Department of Virginia of the American Legion).[25]
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37°17′13″N80°03′21″W / 37.286895°N 80.055836°W /37.286895; -80.055836
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