Salem, Alabama
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Salem, Alabama is an unincorporated community east-centrally located in Lee County, Alabama on U.S. Highway 280 between Opelika and Phenix City. It is part of the Auburn Metropolitan Area.
[edit] History
Salem was first settled in 1835, and grew rapidly for the next two decades. Salem incorporated in 1846 and quickly became one of the area's largest cities. However, a fire which engulfed the town in 1854 and the subsequent Civil War resulted in the collapse of the town's government, and rapid depopulation. Salem lost a bid to be the county seat of the newly-formed Lee County in 1865, and then saw its charter become inactive in the following decades. Today, Salem is a small community of a few hundred.
By the late 20th century Salem was the location of Lee County's only covered bridge, the Salem-Shotwell Bridge. A symbol of the area, the bridge collapsed in a storm in 2005. Attempts are underway to rebuild the bridge.
[edit] References
- Nunn, Alexander (Ed.) (1983). Lee County and Her Forebears. Montgomery, Ala., Herff Jones. LCCCN 83-081693
