Salem, New Hampshire | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 Seal | |
| Motto: Industry, Commerce, Recreation | |
 Location inRockingham County and the state ofNew Hampshire. | |
| Coordinates:42°47′18″N71°12′03″W / 42.78833°N 71.20083°W /42.78833; -71.20083 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Rockingham |
| Incorporated | 1750 |
| Villages |
|
| Government | |
| • Town council | Members
|
| • Town Manager | Joseph R. Devine |
| Area | |
• Total | 25.90 sq mi (67.07 km2) |
| • Land | 24.84 sq mi (64.33 km2) |
| • Water | 1.05 sq mi (2.73 km2) 4.07% |
| Elevation | 131 ft (40 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 30,089 |
| • Density | 1,209/sq mi (466.7/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP Code | 03079 |
| Area code | 603 |
| FIPS code | 33-66660 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0873713 |
| Website | www |
Salem is atown inRockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 30,089 at the2020 census[2] and an estimated 30,647 in 2022.[citation needed] Salem is a suburb ofBoston andManchester[3] located onInterstate 93. As the first town along I-93 northbound inNew Hampshire, Salem has grown into a regional commercial hub for the northern section ofGreater Boston, anchored by theMall at Rockingham Park and Tuscan Village. Other major sites includeCanobie Lake Park, a large amusement park; andAmerica's Stonehenge, a stone structure of disputed origins. It is the former home ofRockingham Park, a horse racetrack. The Sununu political family hails from Salem, including former New Hampshire governor and White House Chief of StaffJohn H. Sununu, and his sonsJohn E. Sununu, a former U.S. senator, andChris Sununu, former New Hampshire governor.
The area was first settled in 1652. As early as 1736, Salem was the "North Parish" ofMethuen, Massachusetts, or "Methuen District". In 1741, when the boundary line betweenMassachusetts and New Hampshire wasfixed, the "North Parish" became part of New Hampshire, and was given the name "Salem", taken from nearbySalem, Massachusetts. The town was incorporated in 1750 bycolonial governorBenning Wentworth.[4] The meetinghouse of the old north parish, erected in 1738, still stands, eventually becoming the town hall of Salem before it was turned into the Salem Historical Society museum.[5]
In 1902,Canobie Lake Park was established in Salem by the Massachusetts Northeast Street Railway Company to encourage leisure excursions on itstrolleys. The plan was successful, and the enterprise quickly became one of the leading resorts of its type inNew England. Crowds arrived from all over, including the nearbymill towns ofHaverhill,Lawrence,Lowell andMethuen in Massachusetts, andManchester andNashua in New Hampshire. Factory workers and others found respite strolling along tree-lined promenades, between flower beds or beside the lake. Rides,arcades, and adance hall provided lively entertainments. The rise of theautomobile, however, brought the decline of the trolley. But Canobie Lake Park, one of the few formerstreet railway amusement resorts still in existence, continues to be popular.[6]
Other features of Salem'stourism history includeAmerica's Stonehenge, a curiosity (formerly "Mystery Hill"). Other attractions include the Icenter, a skating arena, as well as Field of Dreams and Hedgehog Pond Park.
Starting in the 1950s, Salem developed rapidly as part ofGreater Boston, with suburban-style residential neighborhoods and a long strip of commercial development alongNH Route 28. Commercial construction has continued to focus on Route 28, as well as on the commercial zone off Exit 2 onInterstate 93. Starting in 2017, the Tuscan Village complex has been under construction, a multi-million dollar mixed-use commercial property that includes retail, medical offices, condos, and apartments. The complex is being built on the site of the former Rockingham Park race track.[7]
TheManchester and Lawrence branch of theBoston and Maine Railroad ran through Salem until 2001. In 2009, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation commissioned a study exploring the reactivation of the branch and institutingcommuter rail service connecting to theMBTA Haverhill Line and onward to Boston. The study's cost/benefit analysis recommended taking no action to reactivate beyond preserving the option for consideration at a future time.[8]
Salem is in southeastern New Hampshire, in the southwest corner ofRockingham County. The southern and southeastern border of the town follows theMassachusetts state line. ViaInterstate 93, Salem is 21 miles (34 km) southeast ofManchester, New Hampshire, and 34 miles (55 km) north-northwest ofBoston, Massachusetts.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 25.9 square miles (67.1 km2), of which 24.8 square miles (64.3 km2) are land and 1.0 square mile (2.7 km2) are water, comprising 4.07% of the town.[1] Salem is drained by theSpicket River and its tributary Policy Brook, part of theMerrimack River watershed.Canobie Lake is on the western boundary,Arlington Mill Reservoir is in the north, and World End Pond is in the southeast. None of the town's residential water supply incorporates sodium fluoride, a water additive that helps ensure strong teeth enamel.[9]
The highest point in Salem is the summit of Gordons Hill, at 366 feet (112 m) abovesea level, along the town's western border.[10]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 1,218 | — | |
| 1800 | 1,077 | −11.6% | |
| 1810 | 1,179 | 9.5% | |
| 1820 | 1,311 | 11.2% | |
| 1830 | 1,310 | −0.1% | |
| 1840 | 1,408 | 7.5% | |
| 1850 | 1,555 | 10.4% | |
| 1860 | 1,670 | 7.4% | |
| 1870 | 1,603 | −4.0% | |
| 1880 | 1,809 | 12.9% | |
| 1890 | 1,805 | −0.2% | |
| 1900 | 2,041 | 13.1% | |
| 1910 | 2,117 | 3.7% | |
| 1920 | 2,318 | 9.5% | |
| 1930 | 2,751 | 18.7% | |
| 1940 | 3,267 | 18.8% | |
| 1950 | 4,805 | 47.1% | |
| 1960 | 9,210 | 91.7% | |
| 1970 | 20,142 | 118.7% | |
| 1980 | 24,124 | 19.8% | |
| 1990 | 25,746 | 6.7% | |
| 2000 | 28,112 | 9.2% | |
| 2010 | 28,776 | 2.4% | |
| 2020 | 30,089 | 4.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] | |||
At the 2000census,[12] there were 28,112 people, 10,402 households and 7,603 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,138.0 inhabitants per square mile (439.4/km2). There were 10,866 housing units at an average density of 439.9 per square mile (169.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 95.01%White, 0.55%African American, 0.21%Native American, 2.27%Asian, 0.06%Pacific Islander, 0.83% fromother races, and 1.07% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.96% of the population.
There were 10,402 households, of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% weremarried couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. Of all households 21.2% were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.16.
Age distribution was 25.3% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males.
Themedian household income was $58,090, and the median family income was $67,278. Males had a median income of $46,330 versus $31,031 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $26,170. About 3.1% of families and 4.1% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
Points of interest:
| Year | Democratic | Republican | Third Parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 42.81%7,638 | 55.88%9,969 | 1.31%234 |
| 2016 | 37.41%6,068 | 57.40%9,312 | 5.19%842 |
| 2012 | 41.66%6,026 | 57.27%8,285 | 1.07%155 |
| 2008 | 45.27%6,838 | 53.45%8,073 | 1.28%194 |
| 2004 | 45.06%6,472 | 54.28%7,797 | 0.66%95 |
| 2000 | 47.73%5,711 | 47.75%5,713 | 4.52%541 |
| 1996 | 47.82%5,164 | 39.42%4,257 | 12.76%1,378 |
| 1992 | 33.49%4,184 | 38.93%4,864 | 27.59%3,447 |
| 1988 | 31.97%3,512 | 66.57%7,314 | 1.47%161 |
| 1984 | 31.33%3,021 | 68.27%6,583 | 0.39%38 |
| 1980 | 31.51%3,047 | 55.31%5,348 | 13.19%1,275 |
| 1976 | 54.10%4,983 | 43.37%3,994 | 2.53%233 |
| 1972 | 44.46%3,923 | 54.70%4,827 | 0.84%74 |
| 1968 | 50.44%3,637 | 45.80%3,302 | 3.76%271 |
| 1964 | 63.45%3,685 | 36.55%2,123 | 0.00%0 |
| 1960 | 42.87%1,993 | 57.13%2,656 | 0.00%0 |
Salem's town government consists of a town council and a town manager. Salem is a part ofNew Hampshire House District 25 and is currently represented by nine Republican representatives: Lori Ball, Tanya Donnelly,Fred Doucette, John Janigian,Dennis Mannion,Valerie McDonnell,Joe Sweeney,John Sytek and Susan Vandecasteele. In theNew Hampshire Senate, Salem is in the 22nd District and is currently represented by RepublicanDaryl Abbas. On theNew Hampshire Executive Council, Salem is in District 3 and is currently represented by Republican Janet Stevens. In theU.S. House of Representatives, Salem is inNew Hampshire's 2nd congressional district and is currently represented by DemocratMaggie Goodlander.
Salem is a Republican stronghold in presidential elections. No Democratic presidential nominee has carried the town sinceBill Clinton received a plurality of the vote in 1996.
Salem public schools spend $5,544 per student. The average school expenditure in the U.S. is $5,678. There are about 16.1 students per teacher in Salem.[14]
Highways includeNH 28,NH 38,NH 97,NH 111, andInterstate 93.
The nearest airport isManchester–Boston Regional Airport along the border of Londonderry and Manchester.
TheManchester Transit Authority operates a shopper bus shuttle service three days a week.[15]
Rockingham Park racetrack was located in Salem. As mentioned in the filmThe Sting starringPaul Newman andRobert Redford, it was central to that film's plot.
Scenes from the originalThe Thomas Crown Affair were filmed at the Salem glider airport, which is now Campbell's Scottish Highlands Golf Course.
Places adjacent to Salem, New Hampshire | |
|---|---|
Municipalities and communities ofRockingham County, New Hampshire,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| City |  | |
| Towns | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other villages | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
