Salem, Mississippi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Salem, Mississippi
Extinct town
Salem, Mississippi Location in Mississippi Show map of Mississippi Salem, Mississippi Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
County	Benton
Elevation	541 ft (165 m)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s)	662
GNIS feature ID	705897

Salem was once a small town in Benton County, Mississippi, United States. Today, it is known as an extinct town, which means it no longer exists as a populated place.

History of Salem

Salem was first settled in 1836. It officially became a town in May 1837. At its busiest, Salem had many shops, two hotels, and even a school just for girls.

However, during the American Civil War, Salem was destroyed by the Union Army. Because of this, many people who lived there moved to a nearby town called Ashland.

Salem also had its own post office. It was open for many years, from 1837 until 1909.

Famous People from Salem

Some notable people who had connections to Salem include:

• Nathan Bedford Forrest: He was an officer in the Confederate States Army during the Civil War. He moved to Salem when he was 12 years old and spent his childhood there.
• Joseph W. Matthews: He served as the 15th Governor of Mississippi from 1848 to 1850. A governor is the leader of a state.
• Norris C. Williamson: He was a member of the Louisiana State Senate from 1924 to 1932. A state senate is part of a state's government that makes laws.
• Daniel B. Wright: He was a U.S. Representative for Mississippi's 1st congressional district from 1853 to 1857. A U.S. Representative is someone elected to speak for their area in the national government.