North Salem, New York Facts for Kids

North Salem is a town located in the northeastern part of Westchester County, New York. It became an official town in 1788 and is about 50 miles north of New York City. In 2020, about 5,243 people lived here, covering a land area of about 21 square miles.

Before the American Revolutionary War, North Salem was already a community. It has a mix of nature, like parks, forests, lakes, and horse trails, along with modern features like train services and a highway. Some people call it "Billionaires' Dirt Road" because a few very wealthy people live here.

A Look Back: North Salem's History
North Salem's Geography
Who Lives in North Salem?
Hamlets in North Salem
How North Salem is Governed
Education in North Salem
Famous People from North Salem
See also

A Look Back: North Salem's History

North Salem has a long and interesting past, dating back to before the United States was formed.

Revolutionary War Times

Before the Colonial Era ended, North Salem and its neighbor, South Salem, were one town called Salem. When the American Revolutionary War began in 1776, the people of Salem supported the fight for independence.

On September 22, 1780, during the war, three local soldiers named John Paulding, Isaac Van Wart, and David Williams captured a British spy, Major John André. This important event happened after they left a place known as Yerkes Tavern. Today, only the foundation of Yerkes Tavern remains, with a historical marker explaining its past.

After the American Revolution ended in 1784, Salem split into two towns. For about four years, what is now North Salem was called Upper Salem. In 1788, the New York State Legislature officially gave the town its current name, North Salem.

The Nineteenth Century

In the early 1800s, some people in North Salem were still held as enslaved individuals. New York State started to end slavery gradually in 1799, and it was completely abolished by 1827. This means slavery in North Salem ended sometime between 1800 and 1827.

The Great Blizzard of 1888 was a huge snowstorm that hit the northeastern United States. It caused big problems for farming in North Salem and stopped trains from moving. It took over a week for roads and trains to get back to normal after the storm.

In 1893, the Titicus Reservoir began supplying water to New York City. Today, this reservoir is a popular spot for fishing, especially for brown trout.

Modern History of North Salem

In 1932, North Salem got its first library, the North Salem Free Library. It was later renamed the Ruth Keeler Memorial Library. The current library building was built in 1980 and updated in 2003.

In the late 1960s, Interstate 684 was built through North Salem. When it was finished in 1974, the new highway made travel easier with an exit on Hardscrabble Road.

North Salem's Union Hall was recognized as an important historical site in 1986. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

North Salem's Geography

North Salem shares its northern border with Putnam County, New York, and its eastern border with the State of Connecticut. The town covers about 22.9 square miles in total. Most of this is land (about 21.37 square miles), with some water (about 1.57 square miles).

A cool natural feature in North Salem is the Standing Rock. It's a large granite boulder resting on smaller stones. Scientists think it might have been left there by glaciers during the Last Ice Age. However, some people wonder if it was moved by Vikings or Native Americans long ago.

Who Lives in North Salem?

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1790	1,058	—
1820	1,480	—
1830	1,276	−13.8%
1840	1,161	−9.0%
1850	1,335	15.0%
1860	1,497	12.1%
1870	1,754	17.2%
1880	1,693	−3.5%
1890	1,730	2.2%
1900	1,133	−34.5%
1910	1,258	11.0%
1920	934	−25.8%
1930	1,128	20.8%
1940	1,194	5.9%
1950	1,622	35.8%
1960	2,345	44.6%
1970	3,828	63.2%
1980	4,569	19.4%
1990	4,725	3.4%
2000	5,173	9.5%
2010	5,104	−1.3%
2020	5,243	2.7%
2021 (est.)	5,195	1.8%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2000, there were 5,173 people living in North Salem. About 39.2% of households had children under 18. Most households (68.1%) were married couples. The average household had 2.80 people.

The population was spread out by age:

26.2% were under 18
4.4% were 18 to 24
28.5% were 25 to 44
27.0% were 45 to 64
13.9% were 65 or older

The average age in North Salem was 40 years.

Hamlets in North Salem

North Salem is made up of several smaller communities called hamlets:

Croton Falls – This hamlet is in the northwest part of town. It has a Metro-North train station.
Grants Corner – A hamlet located southeast of North Salem.
North Salem – This hamlet is in the western part of the town. The North Salem Town Hall is an important historic building here.
Salem Center – Found at the eastern end of Titicus Reservoir. In Marvel Comics, the fictional headquarters of the X-Men superhero team is located here.
Purdys – A hamlet south of Croton Falls, also with a Metro-North train station. The Joseph Purdy Homestead is a historic site here.
Peach Lake – A hamlet mostly located in the town of Southeast, Putnam County, but partly in North Salem.

The Croton River, flowing near the hamlet of Purdys.

How North Salem is Governed

North Salem's local government includes a town supervisor and four town board members. The supervisor serves for two years, and the board members serve for four years. Elections are set up so that the supervisor and two board members are up for election every two years.

Education in North Salem

North Salem has its own schools for students of all ages.

Pequenakonck Elementary School serves students from kindergarten to 5th grade.
North Salem Middle School/High School shares a building and serves grades 6-12. The middle school has about 90 students per grade, which means a small class size. In 2004, the high school was named a Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education for its high achievements.

Famous People from North Salem

Many notable people have lived in North Salem, including:

Fanny Crosby (1820-1915), a famous writer.
Paul Newman (1925-2008), a well-known actor, director, and race car driver.
Dick Button (born 1929), an Olympic figure skater.
David Letterman (born 1947), a popular talk show host.
Alan Menken (born 1949), a famous film composer and songwriter.
Richard Gere (born 1949), a well-known actor.
Rodrigo Pessoa (born 1972), a Brazilian Olympic show jumper.

North Salem, New York facts for kids

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