Salem, Illinois

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title: "Salem, Illinois" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["cities-in-marion-county,-illinois", "cities-in-illinois", "county-seats-in-illinois", "sundown-towns-in-illinois"] topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salem,_Illinois" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
settlement_typeCity
image_skylineSalem, Illinois (48318771512).jpg
image_captionDowntown Salem, July 2019
seal_typeSeal
image_mapMarion County Illinois Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Salem Highlighted.svg
mapsize260px
map_captionLocation in Marion County, Illinois
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_nameUnited States
subdivision_type1State
subdivision_name1Illinois
subdivision_type2County
subdivision_name2Marion
subdivision_type3Townships
subdivision_name3Salem, Tonti
established_titleFounded
leader_titleMayor
leader_nameNicolas Farley
unit_prefImperial
area_footnotes
area_total_km218.51
area_total_sq_mi7.15
area_land_km218.11
area_land_sq_mi6.99
area_water_km20.40
area_water_sq_mi0.15
population_as_of2020
population_footnotes
population_total7282
population_density_km2402.18
population_density_sq_mi1041.62
timezoneCST
utc_offset-6
timezone_DSTCDT
utc_offset_DST-5
elevation_footnotes
elevation_ft545
coordinates
coordinates_footnotes
postal_code_typeZIP code
postal_code62881
area_code618
blank_nameFIPS code
blank_info17-67236
blank1_nameGNIS ID
blank1_info2396526
website
::

| settlement_type = City | image_skyline = Salem, Illinois (48318771512).jpg | image_caption = Downtown Salem, July 2019 | image_seal = | seal_type = Seal | image_map = Marion County Illinois Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Salem Highlighted.svg | mapsize = 260px | map_caption = Location in Marion County, Illinois | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = United States | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = Illinois | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name2 = Marion | subdivision_type3 = Townships | subdivision_name3 = Salem, Tonti | established_title = Founded | government_footnotes = | government_type = | governing_body = | leader_party = | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Nicolas Farley | unit_pref = Imperial | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 18.51 | area_total_sq_mi = 7.15 | area_land_km2 = 18.11 | area_land_sq_mi = 6.99 | area_water_km2 = 0.40 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.15 | population_as_of = 2020 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 7282 | population_density_km2 = 402.18 | population_density_sq_mi = 1041.62 | timezone = CST | utc_offset = -6 | timezone_DST = CDT | utc_offset_DST = -5 | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_ft = 545 | coordinates = | coordinates_footnotes = | postal_code_type = ZIP code | postal_code = 62881 | area_code = 618 | blank_name = FIPS code | blank_info = 17-67236 | blank1_name = GNIS ID | blank1_info = 2396526 | website = Salem is a city in and the county seat of Marion County, Illinois, United States. The population was 7,282 at the 2020 census.

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.

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.

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

Geography

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

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Salem has a total area of 7.15 sqmi, of which 6.99 sqmi are land and 0.16 sqmi, or 2.17%, are water. 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

| single line = yes | width = auto | collapsed = Y | location = Salem, Illinois (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1932–present) | Jan record high F = 71 | Feb record high F = 78 | Mar record high F = 85 | Apr record high F = 91 | May record high F = 100 | Jun record high F = 104 | Jul record high F = 105 | Aug record high F = 105 | Sep record high F = 100 | Oct record high F = 94 | Nov record high F = 82 | Dec record high F = 74 | year record high F = 105

|Jan avg record high F = 61.0 |Feb avg record high F = 66.6 |Mar avg record high F = 75.3 |Apr avg record high F = 82.2 |May avg record high F = 88.0 |Jun avg record high F = 93.9 |Jul avg record high F = 95.4 |Aug avg record high F = 95.1 |Sep avg record high F = 91.4 |Oct avg record high F = 85.2 |Nov avg record high F = 72.9 |Dec avg record high F = 62.8 |year avg record high F = 97.1

| Jan high F = 38.4 | Feb high F = 43.4 | Mar high F = 54.0 | Apr high F = 66.2 | May high F = 75.7 | Jun high F = 84.5 | Jul high F = 87.8 | Aug high F = 86.6 | Sep high F = 80.4 | Oct high F = 68.7 | Nov high F = 54.3 | Dec high F = 42.8 | year high F = 65.2 | Jan mean F = 29.6 | Feb mean F = 33.7 | Mar mean F = 43.5 | Apr mean F = 55.0 | May mean F = 65.2 | Jun mean F = 74.2 | Jul mean F = 77.6 | Aug mean F = 75.9 | Sep mean F = 68.6 | Oct mean F = 56.9 | Nov mean F = 44.1 | Dec mean F = 34.2 | year mean F = 54.9 | Jan low F = 20.8 | Feb low F = 24.0 | Mar low F = 33.0 | Apr low F = 43.7 | May low F = 54.6 | Jun low F = 63.8 | Jul low F = 67.4 | Aug low F = 65.2 | Sep low F = 56.9 | Oct low F = 45.0 | Nov low F = 34.0 | Dec low F = 25.6 | year low F = 44.5

|Jan avg record low F = 1.0 |Feb avg record low F = 7.1 |Mar avg record low F = 16.5 |Apr avg record low F = 29.9 |May avg record low F = 40.6 |Jun avg record low F = 51.9 |Jul avg record low F = 58.8 |Aug avg record low F = 56.8 |Sep avg record low F = 43.8 |Oct avg record low F = 30.8 |Nov avg record low F = 20.1 |Dec avg record low F = 8.2 |year avg record low F = -2.0

| Jan record low F = −23 | Feb record low F = −23 | Mar record low F = −8 | Apr record low F = 20 | May record low F = 31 | Jun record low F = 38 | Jul record low F = 48 | Aug record low F = 44 | Sep record low F = 33 | Oct record low F = 21 | Nov record low F = 2 | Dec record low F = −20 | year record low F = -23 | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation inch = 3.07 | Feb precipitation inch = 2.56 | Mar precipitation inch = 3.73 | Apr precipitation inch = 4.69 | May precipitation inch = 4.99 | Jun precipitation inch = 5.08 | Jul precipitation inch = 4.07 | Aug precipitation inch = 3.80 | Sep precipitation inch = 3.54 | Oct precipitation inch = 3.44 | Nov precipitation inch = 3.99 | Dec precipitation inch = 2.93 | year precipitation inch = 45.89 | Jan snow inch = 3.9 | Feb snow inch = 2.5 | Mar snow inch = 0.2 | Apr snow inch = 0.0 | May snow inch = 0.0 | Jun snow inch = 0.0 | Jul snow inch = 0.0 | Aug snow inch = 0.0 | Sep snow inch = 0.0 | Oct snow inch = 0.1 | Nov snow inch = 0.6 | Dec snow inch = 2.9 | year snow inch = 10.2 | unit precipitation days = 0.01 in | Jan precipitation days = 9.5 | Feb precipitation days = 8.3 | Mar precipitation days = 9.8 | Apr precipitation days = 10.6 | May precipitation days = 11.8 | Jun precipitation days = 10.0 | Jul precipitation days = 8.5 | Aug precipitation days = 8.1 | Sep precipitation days = 7.1 | Oct precipitation days = 8.7 | Nov precipitation days = 9.3 | Dec precipitation days = 9.3 | year precipitation days = 111.0 | unit snow days = 0.1 in | Jan snow days = 2.4 | Feb snow days = 2.0 | Mar snow days = 0.6 | Apr snow days = 0.0 | May snow days = 0.0 | Jun snow days = 0.0 | Jul snow days = 0.0 | Aug snow days = 0.0 | Sep snow days = 0.0 | Oct snow days = 0.0 | Nov snow days = 0.4 | Dec snow days = 1.6 | year snow days = 7.0 | source = NOAA{{cite web | url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=lsx | title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data | publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | access-date = July 24, 2021 | archive-date = June 5, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210605094500/https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=lsx | url-status = dead | url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00117636&format=pdf | title = Station: Salem, IL | work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020) | publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | access-date = July 24, 2021 | archive-date = July 25, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210725040209/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00117636&format=pdf | url-status = dead

Demographics

|align= left |1870= 1182 |1880= 1327 |1890= 1493 |1900= 1642 |1910= 2669 |1920= 3457 |1930= 4420 |1940= 7319 |1950= 6159 |1960= 6165 |1970= 6187 |1980= 7813 |1990= 7470 |2000= 7909 |2010= 7485 |2020= 7282 |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census 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 PD/sqmi. There were 3,473 housing units at an average density of 569.3 /sqmi. 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%.

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

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/William_Jennings_Bryan_Boyhood_Home.jpg" caption="Birthplace]] of [[William Jennings Bryan]]" alt="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."] ::

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.

References

References

  1. "Mayor & City Council | Salem, IL".
  2. "2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Illinois". United States Census Bureau.
  3. "P1. Race – Salem city, Illinois: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau.
  4. {{GNIS. 2396526
  5. (2012-07-12). "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
  6. "Early History {{!}} Salem, IL".
  7. Loewen, James W.. (2005). "Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism". [[The New Press]].
  8. "Illinois History".
  9. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov.
  10. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
  11. (30 September 2017). "Charles W. Bryan". National Governors Association.
  12. (25 September 2017). "Nebraska State Historical Society".
  13. (1934-05-03). "Address of the President at the Dedication of the Bryan Memorial".

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cities-in-marion-county,-illinoiscities-in-illinoiscounty-seats-in-illinoissundown-towns-in-illinois