Editing Salem, Virginia

{{short description|Independent city in Virginia, United States}}
{{hatnote|For the unincorporated community in Virginia with this name, see [[Salem, Page County, Virginia]].}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Salem
| settlement_type    = [[Independent city (United States)|Independent city]]
| image_skyline      = Salem VA downtown.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Main Street in Salem
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = Salem_VA_.gif
| nickname           = 
| motto              = 
| pushpin_map        = Shenandoah Valley#USA Virginia#USA
| pushpin_label      = Salem
| coordinates        = {{coord|37|17|12|N|80|3|21|W|region:US-VA|display=inline}}
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = [[United States]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Virginia|County]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Virginia]]
| subdivision_name2  = None ([[Independent city (United States)|Independent city]])
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = 1802
| government_type    = Council-Manager
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Renée Turk
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_sq_mi   = 14.62
| area_land_sq_mi    = 14.52
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.11
| area_urban_km2     = 
| area_urban_sq_mi   = 
| area_metro_km2     = 
| area_metro_sq_mi   = 
| elevation_m        = 358.14
| elevation_ft       = 1075
| population_total   = 25346
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
| population_urban   = 
| population_metro   = 
| population_note    = 
| postal_code_type   = [[Zip Code]]
| postal_code        = 24153
| area_code          = 540
| website            = http://www.salemva.gov/
| footnotes          = 
| timezone           = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset         = −5
| timezone_DST       = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = −4
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 51-70000<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 1498533<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=October 25, 2007}}</ref>
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_51.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| leader_name1       = Jim Wallace
| leader_title1      = [[Vice Mayor]]
| area_total_km2     = 37.88
| area_land_km2      = 37.60
| area_water_km2     = 0.28
| population_density_km2 = auto
| image_map          = Salem-Location.svg
| map_caption        = Salem's location in the [[Commonwealth (U.S. state)|Commonwealth]] of [[Virginia]]
}}

'''Salem''' is an [[independent city (United States)|independent city]] in the U.S. commonwealth of [[Virginia]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 25,346.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Salem city, Salem city, Virginia|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US5177595547|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=January 30, 2022}}</ref> It is the [[county seat]] of [[Roanoke County, Virginia|Roanoke County]],<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> although the two are separate jurisdictions. The [[Bureau of Economic Analysis]] combines the city of Salem with Roanoke County, which surrounds both Salem and the neighboring City of [[Roanoke, Virginia|Roanoke]], for statistical purposes. Salem has its own courthouse and sheriff's office, but shares a jail with Roanoke County, which is located in the Roanoke County Courthouse complex in Salem. The Roanoke County Sheriff's Office and Roanoke County Department of Social Services are also located within Salem, though the county administrative offices are located in unincorporated [[Cave Spring, Virginia|Cave Spring]].

[[Roanoke College]] is located in the city. Salem is also the home to a [[minor league baseball]] team, the [[Salem Red Sox]].

== History ==
The earliest history of Salem exists as archaeological evidence of Native American tribes from as far back as 8,000 [[Common Era|BCE]] until the middle of the 18th century. Europeans first explored the area of Salem in 1671, when the [[Siouan languages|Siouan]]-speaking [[Tutelo people|Totero]] people had a village nearby.<ref name=swanton>{{citation| last=Swanton| first=John R.| title=The Indian Tribes of North America| publisher=Smithsonian Institution| year=1952| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vtHI5pkJOGMC| isbn=0-8063-1730-2| pages=73| oclc=52230544}}</ref> Explorers Thomas Batts and Robert Fallam gave the area its first recorded name: Totero Town, after this tribe, who supplied them with a guide to help with further exploration. Fort Lewis, named for General [[Andrew Lewis (soldier)|Andrew Lewis]], of what is now [[Roanoke County]], was built west of the town in 1752. Salem's Andrew Lewis Middle School (formerly Andrew Lewis High School) was named after General Lewis. Salem became a small settlement serving travelers on the Great Road (roughly the same path followed by [[US-11]] and later [[Interstate 81]] today) and was officially founded in 1802, receiving its charter in 1806. It is not known why the town was named Salem; the most widely accepted explanation is that it was named to honor William Bryan, a prominent citizen, who had moved from [[Salem, New Jersey]].

Salem was attacked twice by the [[Union Army]] during the [[American Civil War]], but its Salem Flying Artillery is said to have fired the last Confederate shot at [[Appomattox Court House National Historical Park|Appomattox Court House]] prior to [[Robert E. Lee]]'s surrender.

One of the city's four elementary schools is named after African American scientist [[George Washington Carver|G. W. Carver]]. Before integration, this was the high school for African Americans in Salem.

Salem annexed South Salem in 1953 and also an eastern tract in 1960, giving it a population of 16,058 – making it Virginia's largest ''town'' at the time. Salem officially became a city on December 31, 1967, to avoid the possibility of annexation into the city of Roanoke. Per the Virginia constitution, it was separated from Roanoke County. However, it remains the official county seat, although the Roanoke County Administrative Building is located in the [[Cave Spring, Virginia|Cave Spring]] area of the county.

Salem has been the home of two colleges. In 1847, the Virginia Institute, a boy's preparatory school, moved to Salem from [[Staunton, Virginia|Staunton]]. It received a college charter in 1853 and was renamed [[Roanoke College]] for the [[Roanoke Valley]]. The college is located in central Salem, one block north of Main Street. Roanoke Women's College, later named [[Elizabeth College, Virginia|Elizabeth College]], operated between 1912 and 1922. The college burned in late 1921 and did not reopen. Like Roanoke College, it was affiliated with the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]]. The Elizabeth College campus is now the site of residence halls and athletic fields that belong to [[Roanoke College]].

Salem is home to the [[Salem Red Sox]], a Class-A affiliate to the [[Boston Red Sox]].

The [[NCAA Division III national football championship|Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, the NCAA Division III Football Championship game]] was held at [[Salem Football Stadium]] between 1993 and 2016. Salem's success in holding that event led the [[NCAA]] to also move the [[NCAA Men's Division III Basketball Championship]] and [[NCAA Division III women's volleyball tournament]] to the [[Salem Civic Center]] and the [[NCAA Division II softball tournament]] and the [[NCAA Division III softball tournament]] to the [[James I. Moyer Sports Complex]].

In August 2007, the Salem Football Stadium also hosted the Southwestern Virginia Educational Classic. This game is played annually in the Roanoke Valley and consists of two football teams from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The city hosts several other statewide, regional, and national sporting events at its facilities. These events are attracted by the city's hospitality, modern facilities and overall support.  [[Salem High School (Salem, Virginia)|Salem High School]], is also known for its athletic programs, particularly the football team which has won ten state championships since 1996, and also the [[Individual events (speech)|forensics]] team, which has won eighteen consecutive state championships.

==Geography==
Salem is located at {{coord|37|17|12|N|80|3|21|W|type:city}} (37.286895, -80.055836).

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|14.5|sqmi|1}}, of which {{convert|14.4|sqmi|1}} is land and {{convert|0.1|sqmi|1}} (0.7%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 612
|1870= 1355
|1880= 1759
|1890= 3279
|1900= 3412
|1910= 3849
|1920= 4159
|1930= 4833
|1940= 5737
|1950= 6823
|1960= 16058
|1970= 21982
|1980= 23958
|1990= 23756
|2000= 24747
|2010= 24802
|2020= 25346
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000|publisher=[[US Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 24, 2022}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=January 6, 2014}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/va190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 6, 2014}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=2010-03-27 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 6, 2014}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Salem city, Virginia - Demographic Profile'''<br> (''NH = Non-Hispanic'')
!Race / Ethnicity
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Salem city, Virginia|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=1600000US5170000&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Salem city, Virginia|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=1600000US5170000&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|21,653
|20,673
|87.30%
|81.56%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|1,732
|1,913
|6.98%
|7.55%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|55
|42
|0.22%
|0.17%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|398
|534
|1.60%
|2.11%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|6
|5
|0.02%
|0.02%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Some Other Race]] alone (NH)
|31
|66
|0.12%
|0.26%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|326
|1,025
|1.31%
|4.04%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|601
|1,088
|2.42%
|4.29%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''24,802'''
|'''25,346'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|}
''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.''

===2000 Census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 24,747 people, 9,954 households, and 6,539 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1,696.4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 10,403 housing units at an average density of {{convert|713.1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 91.88% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 5.88% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.13% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.97% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.25% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.86% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.83% of the population.

There were 9,954 households, out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.9% under the age of 18, 11.7% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.3 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,997, and the median income for a family was $47,174. Males had a median income of $32,472 versus $23,193 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $20,091. About 4.3% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.

==Government ==
Salem is a Republican-leaning city. Since its founding, it has only supported a Democratic candidate once, when [[Jimmy Carter]] carried it by 208 votes in 1976.<ref>https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/</ref>

{{PresHead|place=Salem, Virginia|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=3 May 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|7,769|5,237|201|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|7,683|5,148|220|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|7,226|4,202|797|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|7,299|4,760|259|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|7,088|5,164|154|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|7,115|4,254|115|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|6,188|4,348|234|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|4,936|4,282|861|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|5,143|4,028|1,498|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|5,694|3,760|73|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|6,419|3,347|44|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|4,862|4,091|436|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|4,196|4,404|90|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|5,649|1,744|160|Virginia}}
{{PresFoot|1968|Republican|3,955|1,369|1,522|Virginia}}
Salem is governed by a five-member council. The council elects a mayor and vice mayor from among its members. The members of council are Mayor Renée Ferris Turk, Vice Mayor James "Jim" Wallace III, Byron "Randy" Foley, William "Bill" Jones, and Hunter H. Holliday.

Day-to-day operations are run by the City Manager, Chris Dorsey.

==Notable people==
<!-- Please include only people who meet notability standards per WP:NBIO, i.e. those whose who have standalone articles on Wikipedia -->
*[[Mark Byington]], current head [[Vanderbilt Commodores men's basketball|men's basketball]] coach at [[Vanderbilt University]]
*[[Leslie D. Carter]], U.S. Army major general.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/4389003?mark=7b22746f6b656e223a22415739724a55363136684f4a4847574d567337453143335171706f54647151784f38564c575238744f6d453d222c22746f6b656e5f76657273696f6e223a225632227d |title=1910 United States Federal Census, Entry for Edward R. Carter Family |date=April 23, 1910 |website=Ancestry.com |publisher=Ancestry.com, LLC |location=Lehi, UT |access-date=Jun 19, 2023 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
*[[Dennis Haley]], former NFL Linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, and San Francisco 49ers.
*[[John McAfee]], computer programmer and businessman.
*Marcus Parker, former Virginia Tech and NFL, Cincinnati Bengals running back.
*[[Ruth Painter Randall]], biographer
*[[Billy Sample]], former Major League baseball outfielder for the Texas Rangers, New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves; broadcaster and writer
*[[David C. Shanks]], US Army major general<ref name="Davis">{{cite book |last=Davis |first=Henry Blaine Jr. |date=1998 |title=Generals in Khaki |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fJvvAAAAMAAJ |location=Raleigh, NC |publisher=Pentland Press |pages=327–328 |isbn=978-1-5719-7088-6 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>
*[[Leander J. Shaw, Jr.]], Chief Justice of the [[Florida Supreme Court]], was born in Salem.<ref>[http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/justices/retired/shaw.html Florida Supreme Court-Leander J. Shaw, Jr.]</ref>
*[[Adam Ward (murder victim)|Adam Ward]], photojournalist, killed on live television while reporting for WDBJ7.

==See also==
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Salem, Virginia]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{AmCyc Poster|Salem (Virginia)|Salem, Virginia}}
*{{official website|http://www.salemva.gov/}}
*[http://www.roanoke.edu Roanoke College]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051217154554/http://www.salemmuseum.org/hist_brief.html Community history]
*{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Salem (Virginia)|display=Salem, a town and the county-seat (since 1838) of Roanoke county, Virginia, U.S.A. |short=x}}

{{Coord|display=title|37.286895|-80.055836}}

{{Virginia}}
{{Virginia county seats and independent cities}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Salem, Virginia| ]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1802]]
[[Category:County seats in Virginia]]
[[Category:1802 establishments in Virginia]]
[[Category:Cities in Virginia]]