Salem, Ohio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Salem, Ohio
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Salem Downtown Historic District
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Location of Salem in Columbiana County, Ohio.
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 Salem, Ohio
Location in Ohio
Salem, Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Ohio | ||
| Counties | Columbiana, Mahoning | ||
| Founded | 1806 | ||
| Named for | Salem, New Jersey | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Statutory | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 6.43 sq mi (16.66 km2) | ||
| • Land | 6.43 sq mi (16.66 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 1,280 ft (390 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 11,915 | ||
| • Density | 1,852.74/sq mi (715.39/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
44460
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| Area code(s) | 330, 234 | ||
| FIPS code | 39-69834 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 2396524 | ||
| School District | Salem City SD | ||
| Website | www.cityofsalemohio.org | ||
Salem is a city in northern Columbiana County, Ohio, United States. In 2020, about 11,915 people lived there. The city also reaches into southern Mahoning County. Salem is the main city of the Salem micropolitan area, which is a region with a central city and nearby communities that are closely linked.
Salem was started by a group called Quakers in 1806. It played a very important part in the movement to end slavery, known as abolitionism. It was a key stop on the Underground Railroad, a secret network that helped enslaved people find freedom. Salem used to be a big industrial town. Today, it's a place where many people live and travel to work in other cities. It's also a regional center for business and is home to Allegheny Wesleyan College and Kent State University at Salem.
Contents
Exploring Salem's Past
Salem was founded in 1806 by Zadok Street, a clockmaker from New Jersey, and John Straughan, a potter from Pennsylvania. The city got its name from Salem, New Jersey, which was Zadok Street's hometown. The name "Salem" comes from the word "Jerusalem," which means "city of peace."
Many of Salem's first settlers were members of the Religious Society of Friends, also known as Quakers. Even today, the local school district's sports teams are called the Salem Quakers to honor this history. Salem officially became a city in 1830.
A famous radio DJ named Alan Freed grew up in Salem. He was born in Pennsylvania. While working at a radio station in Cleveland, he came up with the famous phrase "Rock & Roll."
Salem was a busy industrial city because it was located between big cities like Cleveland and Pittsburgh. For many years, large companies like American Standard Brands, Eljer, Mullins Manufacturing, Deming Pump, and Salem China had factories here. Today, some of these companies, like American Standard, are still in Salem. There are also meat production facilities and tool-and-die factories.
Salem's Role in Social Change
Salem was a very important place for different reform movements. These were efforts to make society better.
One major effort was against slavery. The Anti-Slavery Bugle, a newspaper that spoke out against slavery, was published in Salem starting in 1845. A local group of Progressive Friends also formed in Salem in 1849. These Quakers wanted more freedom to work for causes like ending slavery and supporting women's rights. Even the local school board at that time was made up entirely of people who wanted to end slavery.
Salem also held an event called the Anti-Slavery Fair every year. This fair helped raise money to support activities that fought against slavery.
In April 1850, Salem hosted the first Women's Rights Convention in Ohio. This was the third such convention in the United States. The first was in Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848. The Salem convention was special because it was the first one organized for a whole state. All the leaders of the convention were women. Men were not allowed to vote, sit on the stage, or speak during the meeting. However, the men who watched were very supportive. After the convention, they even created their own group and agreed with the women's decisions.
Salem's Location and Size
Salem is located about 18 miles (29 km) southwest of Youngstown. It's also about 28 miles (45 km) east of Canton and 60 miles (97 km) southeast of Cleveland.
The city covers an area of about 6.43 square miles (16.66 square kilometers), and almost all of it is land. Salem is the largest city in Columbiana County when you look at its size.
Salem is mostly surrounded by Perry Township. Over the years, Salem has added parts of Perry Township to its city limits. Some areas from Salem Township and Green Township were also added in 2000 and 2001. This was done to help the city's economy grow. For example, in 1999, a large area of Salem Township got city services like police, fire protection, and snow removal.
Who Lives in Salem?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1840 | 233 | — | |
| 1850 | 842 | 261.4% | |
| 1860 | 1,889 | 124.3% | |
| 1870 | 3,700 | 95.9% | |
| 1880 | 4,041 | 9.2% | |
| 1890 | 5,780 | 43.0% | |
| 1900 | 7,582 | 31.2% | |
| 1910 | 8,943 | 18.0% | |
| 1920 | 10,305 | 15.2% | |
| 1930 | 10,622 | 3.1% | |
| 1940 | 12,301 | 15.8% | |
| 1950 | 12,754 | 3.7% | |
| 1960 | 13,854 | 8.6% | |
| 1970 | 14,186 | 2.4% | |
| 1980 | 12,865 | −9.3% | |
| 1990 | 12,233 | −4.9% | |
| 2000 | 12,197 | −0.3% | |
| 2010 | 12,303 | 0.9% | |
| 2020 | 11,915 | −3.2% | |
Population in 2010
In 2010, there were 12,303 people living in Salem. There were 5,272 households, which are groups of people living together. About 3,118 of these were families. The city had about 1,913 people per square mile (739 per square kilometer).
Most of the people in Salem were White (95.9%). There were also smaller numbers of African American (0.7%), Native American (0.2%), and Asian (0.4%) residents. About 2.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 26.3% of households had children under 18 living with them. Many households (41.5%) were married couples. About 12.3% had a female head of household without a husband. About 5.3% had a male head of household without a wife.
The average age of people in Salem was 42.8 years old. About 21.2% of residents were under 18. About 19.1% were 65 years or older. The city had slightly more females (52.1%) than males (47.9%).
Salem's Economy and Jobs
As of 2022, here are some of the biggest employers in Salem:
| Employer | Number of Employees |
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| Ventra Salem | 825 |
| Fresh Mark, Inc. | 775 |
| Salem Regional Medical Center | 761 |
| Walmart | 320 |
| Butech Bliss | 278 |
| American Standard Brands | 272 |
| Salem City School District | 222 |
| Hickey Metal Fabrication | 176 |
| MAC Manufacturing | 172 |
Arts, Culture, and Historic Places
Salem has two areas that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These are special places recognized for their history and architecture. They are the South Lincoln Avenue Historic District (added in 1993) and the Salem Downtown Historic District (added in 1995). These districts include many beautiful and important homes and businesses in the town.
Other important places in Salem listed on the National Register of Historic Places include:
- The Burchfield Homestead: This was the home of painter Charles E. Burchfield from when he was 5 until he was 28.
- The John Street House and Daniel Howell Hise House: Both of these homes were secret stops on the Underground Railroad, helping people escape slavery.
- The First United Methodist Church.
Learning and Education in Salem
Schools for Younger Students
The Salem City School District serves students in Salem. The schools in this district are:
- Buckeye Elementary School (for grades K-2)
- Reilly Elementary School (for grades 3–4)
- Southeast Elementary School (for grades 5–6)
- Salem Junior High School (for grades 7–8)
- Salem Senior High School (for grades 9–12)
There is also a private school called St. Paul Elementary School for grades K-6. It is run by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown.
Colleges and Universities
Allegheny Wesleyan College is a private college in Salem. Students can earn two-year (associate) and four-year (bachelor's) degrees. The college focuses on Christian ministry and theology.
Kent State University has a campus in Salem called Kent State University at Salem. One building is in the city, and another is just outside in Salem Township. This campus offers associate's and bachelor's degrees. It also has programs that help students get ready to finish their degrees at the main Kent State campus.
Getting Around Salem: Highways
Several highways pass through Salem, making it easy to travel to and from the city:
U.S. Route 62
State Route 9
State Route 14
State Route 173
State Route 344
Famous People from Salem
Many notable people have connections to Salem, Ohio:
- Dustin Bates: Lead singer and songwriter for the band STARSET.
- Charles Burchfield: A well-known painter from the 20th century.
- John Allen Campbell: The very first governor of the Wyoming Territory.
- Jason Candle: A college football coach for the Toledo Rockets.
- Alan Freed: The disc jockey who created the term "rock and roll."
- Max Fisher: A businessman and generous giver who advised U.S. presidents on matters related to Israel.
- Daniel Howell Hise: An abolitionist whose home was part of the Underground Railroad.
- Rich Karlis: A professional football placekicker in the National Football League.
- Kirk Lowdermilk: A professional football center in the National Football League.
- Jerry Meals: A professional baseball umpire in Major League Baseball.
- Jerri Nielsen: A doctor famous for treating herself in Antarctica.
- Marius Robinson: A minister, abolitionist, and editor of The Anti-Slavery Bugle.
- Michael Rulli: A member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio.
- Webster Street: A lawyer who became the chief justice of the Arizona Territorial Supreme Court.
- Lloyd Yoder: A college football player who is in the College Football Hall of Fame.
See also
In Spanish: Salem (Ohio) para niños
