Salem, West Virginia Facts for Kids

Salem is a small city located in Harrison County, West Virginia, in the United States. In 2020, about 1,490 people lived there. Salem is an important spot because it's where two main roads, U.S. Route 50 and West Virginia Route 23, meet. The North Bend Rail Trail, a popular path for walking and biking, also goes through the city. Salem is also home to Salem University.

Where is Salem Located?
A Look Back at Salem's History
Salem's Population Over Time
- How Many People Live Here? (2010 Census)
Education in Salem
Famous People from Salem
See also

Where is Salem Located?

Salem is found in the western part of Harrison County, West Virginia. It sits along Salem Fork, which is a small stream that flows into Tenmile Creek. The city covers an area of about 1.34 square miles (3.47 square kilometers), and all of it is land.

A Look Back at Salem's History

The old Railroad Station in Salem, around 1914.

Salem was first settled in the summer of 1790. It was called "New Salem" back then. About forty families, who were part of the Seventh Day Baptist church, moved here from Shrewsbury, New Jersey. Some of the well-known families included Lippincott, Maxson, Babcock, and Davis.

New Salem officially became a town on December 19, 1794. This happened thanks to a law passed by the Virginia Assembly. The land for the town was owned by Samuel Fitz Randolph. A group of important people, including John Patterson and James Davis, were chosen to be the first leaders of the town.

Changing the Name to Salem

By the 1870s, people started calling the town "Salem" more often than "New Salem." This was because West Virginia had become its own state in 1863, so there was less need to tell it apart from Salem, Virginia, which is near Roanoke, Virginia. The United States Postal Service officially changed the name in March 1884. Salem was then officially made a city by the state of West Virginia on February 25, 1905.

Fires in Salem's Past

Salem has experienced some big fires over the years. One city block downtown has actually burned down twice! It happened once in 1901 and again on March 2, 2006. The more recent fire damaged several buildings, including an old bank, some stores, and homes. Firefighters had a tough time putting out the blaze because the city's water supply was limited. They had to get water from a nearby creek.

Historic Places in Salem

Two important places in Salem are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These are the Salem College Administration Building and the Salem Historic District. These places are recognized for their historical importance.

Salem's Population Over Time

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1880	248	—
1890	310	25.0%
1900	746	140.6%
1910	2,169	190.8%
1920	2,920	34.6%
1930	2,943	0.8%
1940	2,571	−12.6%
1950	2,578	0.3%
1960	2,366	−8.2%
1970	2,597	9.8%
1980	2,706	4.2%
1990	2,063	−23.8%
2000	2,006	−2.8%
2010	1,586	−20.9%
2020	1,490	−6.1%
2021 (est.)	1,470	−7.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

How Many People Live Here? (2010 Census)

According to the census from 2010, there were 1,586 people living in Salem. These people lived in 662 households, and 384 of those were families. The city had about 1,184 people per square mile.

Most of the people living in Salem were White (93.5%). There were also African American (4.1%), Native American (0.2%), and Asian (0.1%) residents. About 1.1% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

In terms of age, the average age in Salem was 36.1 years old. About 20.5% of the residents were under 18, and 14.4% were 65 or older. The population was almost evenly split between males (49.1%) and females (50.9%).

Education in Salem

The Salem College Administration Building in 2007.

Salem University is a private university located right in the city. It was started in 1888 by the Seventh Day Baptists and was first called Salem College. Over the years, its name has changed a few times, but it is now known as Salem University.

The original Salem College Administration Building was finished in 1910. It was recognized for its history and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. However, this building was later taken down in early 2024 because it had been unsafe for many years.

Famous People from Salem

Jennings Randolph: He was a U.S. Senator for West Virginia from 1958 to 1985.
Melvin Mayfield: He was a soldier in the U.S. Army and received the Medal of Honor. This is the highest award a soldier can get for bravery in the U.S. military. He earned it for his actions during World War II.

Salem, West Virginia facts for kids

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