Salem, Illinois

Salem is a city in and the county seat of Marion County, Illinois, United States.[5] The population was 7,282 at the 2020 census.[4]

This article is about the city in Illinois. For other places containing the same term, see Salem (disambiguation) and New Salem (disambiguation).

Salem, Illinois
City
Downtown Salem, July 2019
Downtown Salem, July 2019
Location in Marion County, Illinois
Location in Marion County, Illinois
Salem is located in the United States
Salem
Salem
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 38°37′40″N 88°57′33″W[1]
CountryUnited States
StateIllinois
CountyMarion
TownshipsSalem, Tonti
Government
 • MayorNicolas Farley [2]
Area
[3]
 • Total7.15 sq mi (18.51 km2)
 • Land6.99 sq mi (18.11 km2)
 • Water0.15 sq mi (0.40 km2)
Elevation
[1]
545 ft (166 m)
Population
 (2020)[4]
 • Total7,282
 • Density1,041.62/sq mi (402.18/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
62881
Area code618
FIPS code17-67236
GNIS ID2396526[1]
Public TransitSouth Central Transit
Wikimedia CommonsSalem, Illinois
Websitewww.salemil.us

History

Salem was founded in 1823 as the county seat of the newly formed Marion County. It is situated halfway between the Indiana and Missouri borders on what was originally the Vincennes-St. Louis Road, now U.S. Highway 50.[6]

Salem was formerly a sundown town. For decades, Salem had signs on each main road going into town telling African Americans that they were not allowed in town after sundown.[7]

In the late 1930s, production increased in local oil fields, leading to a significant population increase in the city.[8]

Several benefits that made it into the G.I. Bill were drafted in Salem, on November 4, 1943. The plan was taken to Washington D.C. by Governor Stelle to then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who signed it into law on June 22, 1944. The law was officially titled the Servicemen's Readjustment Act and was created to assist veterans of active service in the armed forces during World War II.[9]

Geography

Salem is located in central Marion County. U.S. Route 50 passes through the city center as Main Street, leading east 26 miles (42 km) to Flora and west 23 miles (37 km) to Carlyle. Illinois Route 37 (Broadway) crosses US 50 in the center of town, leading north 7 miles (11 km) to Alma and south 15 miles (24 km) to Dix. Interstate 57 passes through the west side of Salem, with access from Exit 116 (US 50); the Interstate leads northeast 45 miles (72 km) to Effingham and south 21 miles (34 km) to Mount Vernon.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Salem has a total area of 7.15 square miles (18.52 km2), of which 6.99 square miles (18.10 km2) are land and 0.16 square miles (0.41 km2), or 2.17%, are water.[3] Town Creek flows through the east side of the city, running to Crooked Creek just south of the city limits. Via Crooked Creek, Salem is part of the Kaskaskia River watershed.

Climate
Climate data for Salem, Illinois (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1932–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F 71 78 85 91 100 104 105 105 100 94 82 74 105
Average high °F 38.4 43.4 54.0 66.2 75.7 84.5 87.8 86.6 80.4 68.7 54.3 42.8 65.2
Daily mean °F 29.6 33.7 43.5 55.0 65.2 74.2 77.6 75.9 68.6 56.9 44.1 34.2 54.9
Average low °F 20.8 24.0 33.0 43.7 54.6 63.8 67.4 65.2 56.9 45.0 34.0 25.6 44.5
Record low °F −23 −23 −8 20 31 38 48 44 33 21 2 −20 −23
Average precipitation inches 3.07 2.56 3.73 4.69 4.99 5.08 4.07 3.80 3.54 3.44 3.99 2.93 45.89
Average snowfall inches 3.9 2.5 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.6 2.9 10.2
Record high °C 22 26 29 33 38 40 41 41 38 34 28 23 41
Average high °C 3.6 6.3 12.2 19.0 24.3 29.2 31.0 30.3 26.9 20.4 12.4 6.0 18.4
Daily mean °C −1.3 0.9 6.4 12.8 18.4 23.4 25.3 24.4 20.3 13.8 6.7 1.2 12.7
Average low °C −6.2 −4.4 0.6 6.5 12.6 17.7 19.7 18.4 13.8 7.2 1.1 −3.6 6.9
Record low °C −31 −31 −22 −7 −1 3 9 7 1 −6 −17 −29 −31
Average precipitation mm 78 65 95 119 127 129 103 97 90 87 101 74 1,166
Average snowfall cm 9.9 6.4 0.51 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.25 1.5 7.4 26
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 9.5 8.3 9.8 10.6 11.8 10.0 8.5 8.1 7.1 8.7 9.3 9.3 111.0
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 2.4 2.0 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 1.6 7.0
Source: NOAA[10][11]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18701,182—
18801,32712.3%
18901,49312.5%
19001,64210.0%
19102,66962.5%
19203,45729.5%
19304,42027.9%
19407,31965.6%
19506,159−15.8%
19606,1650.1%
19706,1870.4%
19807,81326.3%
19907,470−4.4%
20007,9095.9%
20107,485−5.4%
20207,282−2.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]

At the 2000 census there were 7,909 people in 3,249 households, including 2,082 families, in the city. The population density was 1,296.5 inhabitants per square mile (500.6/km2). There were 3,473 housing units at an average density of 569.3 per square mile (219.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.13% White, 0.72% African American, 0.30% Native American, 1.15% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 0.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.72%.[13]

Of the 3,249 households, 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 32.3% of households were one person and 17.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.91.

The age distribution was 23.5% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.

The median household income was $34,339 and the median family income was $42,070. Males had a median income of $31,811 versus $21,931 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,954. About 6.1% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public schools:

  • Salem Community High School
  • Salem Elementary School District 111, which is split into two separate schools:
    • Hawthorn, a Kindergarten through 3rd grade school.
    • Franklin Park, a 4th through 8th grade school.
  • Selmaville Elementary School

Notable people
Photo of a white, multi-story house. Partially obscured by bushes and a tree. Four stairs with a handrail on each side lead to the front door.
Birthplace of William Jennings Bryan

Arts and culture

Salem is home to four buildings on the National Register of Historic Places: the Charles and Naomi Bachmann House, the Badollet House, the William Jennings Bryan Boyhood Home, and Grace Methodist Church.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered an address on May 3, 1934, dedicating a statue of William Jennings Bryan created by Gutzon Borglum. The statue originally stood in Washington, D.C., but was displaced by highway construction in 1961 and moved to Salem, Bryan's birthplace, with formal Congressional approval in 1974.[16]

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Salem, Illinois
  2. "Mayor & City Council | Salem, IL". Archived 2021-08-02 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Illinois". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2023. Archived September 22, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  4. "P1. Race – Salem city, Illinois: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2023. Archived February 24, 2023, at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011. Archived 2012-07-12 at the Wayback Machine
  6. "Early History | Salem, IL". www.salemil.us. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  7. Loewen, James W. (2005). Sundown Towns: a hidden dimension of American racism. The New Press. pp. 12–13. ISBN 156584887X.
  8. "Illinois History". Illinois Petroleum Resources Board. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  9. "G. I. Bill of Rights | Salem, IL". www.salemil.us. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  10. "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved July 24, 2021. Archived June 5, 2021, at the Wayback Machine
  11. "Station: Salem, IL". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved July 24, 2021. Archived 2021-07-25 at the Wayback Machine
  12. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015. Archived April 26, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008. Archived 2021-07-01 at the Wayback Machine
  14. "Charles W. Bryan". National Governors Association. Archived from the original on December 2, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2012. Archived 30 September 2017 at the Wayback Machine
  15. "Nebraska State Historical Society". Nebraska State Historical Society. Archived from the original on September 25, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) Archived 25 September 2017 at the Wayback Machine
  16. "Address of the President at the Dedication of the Bryan Memorial" (PDF). May 3, 1934. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 11, 2021.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Salem, Illinois.
Wikisource has the text of a 1905 New International Encyclopedia article about "Salem, Illinois".

38.6282°N 88.9482°W / 38.6282; -88.9482

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