| City of Salem | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| Washington County Courthouse, in the town square | |
| Location in the state of Indiana | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Washington |
| Township | Washington |
| Town founded | 1814 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | David L. Bower (D) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.9 sq mi (10.1 km2) |
| • Land | 3.9 sq mi (10.1 km2) |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.1 km2) 0.51% |
| Elevation | 751 ft (229 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 6,172 |
| • Density | 1,586.8/sq mi (612.6/km2) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP Code | 47167 |
| Area code(s) | 812 |
| FIPS code | 18-67464[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0442876[2] |
| Website | http://www.cityofsalemin.com/ |
Salem is a city in Washington Township, Washington County, Indiana, United States. Salem serves as the county seat,[3] and its downtown area is on the National Register of Historic Places (as are several local buildings). The population was 6,172 at the 2000 census.
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Salem is primarily an agricultural community, surrounded by typical Indiana forests and farmland and small bodies of water. The primary crop grown in the area is corn and soybeans. Homes in the area are of a variety of styles, with a portion of residential homes having Victorian architectural design.
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 6,172 people, 2,555 households, and 1,635 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,586.8 inhabitants per square mile (612.6/km²). There were 2,745 housing units at an average density of 705.7 per square mile (272.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.74% White, 0.03% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.08% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.42% of the population.
There were 2,555 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.4% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 86.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,256, and the median income for a family was $37,179. Males had a median income of $27,521 versus $21,952 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,299. About 8.5% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.6% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.
In June 1863, the Confederate cavalry under John Hunt Morgan had departed Tennessee on what would later became known as Morgan's Raid. Traveling through Tennessee and into Kentucky, Morgan eventually crossed into Indiana; he reached Salem on July 10, 1863, coming north from Corydon. Upon entering Salem at approximately 9 a.m., Morgan immediately took possession of the town and placed guards over the stores and streets. The cavalrymen burned the large, brick railroad depot, along with all the train cars on the track and the railroad bridges on each side of the town. Morgan demanded taxes from the two flour mills that belonged to DePauw and Knight, and from the Allen Wollen Mill. Morgan's men looted stores and took about $500 from the area before departing about 3 p.m.
Of the brief action at Salem, Col. Basil W. Duke, Morgan's second-in-command and brother-in-law, later said:
"They did not pillage with any sort of method or reason; it seemed to be a mania, senseless and purposeless. One man carried for two days a bird cage containing three canaries. Another rode with a huge chafing dish on the pommel of his saddle. Although the weather was intensely warm, another slung seven pairs of skates around his neck. I saw very few articles of real value taken; they pillaged like boys robbing an orchard."
The Carnegie Library in Salem was one of nearly 2,000 libraries built in the United States including 164 in Indiana in the early 20th century with funds donated by steel conglomerate Andrew Carnegie. Salem received the grant in February 1904, broke ground in August 1904 and opened in July 1905. Still in use today, the Carnegie Library in Salem is one of just one hundred in the state of Indiana still being used for its original purpose.
On July 5th, 1988, Salem garnered national attention when 13 homemade bombs placed inside brown grocery bags were discovered near bridges and buildings around the town containing 278 sticks of dynamite. However, due to faulty blasting caps, none of the bombs exploded. Had the explosives gone off, it would have severed the town from outside aid. Two men, John M. Hubbard and Jerry A. Conrad were convicted on all counts in the fall of 1989. Prosecutors allege that Mr. Hubbard had a long standing rivalry with Democratic State Representative Frank Newkirk Jr. whose father Frank Newkirk Sr. was mayor of Salem at the time. Salem's radio station, WSLM, broke the story across several wire services that day and reported live on various radio and TV networks.[4]
John Hay, private secretary to President Abraham Lincoln and Secretary of State to Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt, was born in Salem and is generally known as Salem's most prominent citizen. A variety of museums and local buildings make reference to Mr. Hay's connections to the town.
Washington C. DePauw, successful businessman whom DePauw University is named after. DePauw donated a large portion of his wealth shortly before his death to the now defunct Indiana Asbury University who renamed their school in his honor in January 1884.
Located in the center of Salem's town square, the Washington County Courthouse is generally known as Salem's most famous and recognizable landmark. The courthouse has historical placemarkers surrounding it, and at the southeastern corner of the grounds, there is a memorial to veterans killed in action during conflicts dating back to the Revolutionary War.
Unusual for a town of this size is a large children's playground, "Riley's Place" at DePauw Park. Named after Riley Jean Tomlinson, a local toddler who accidentally drowned in a swimming pool, the park was built in 2001 and contains two- and three- story wooden castles and other structures for children's play (along with swings, slides, and similar playground equipment).
Every September, Salem celebrates "Old Settler's Day" at the John Hay Center. Set in a village of authentic log structures, the festival features historical re-enactments, as well as local arts and crafts.
Recently, Lake Salinda in Salem has been rumored to be home to the Salinda Serpent after reports were made about sightings of a giant snake in the lake. This information was reported by the Salem Leader in early June 2010.
Salem is also home to the legendary Salem Speedway. It is a half mile high banked paved oval that was first built in 1947. Many of the most legendary drivers of the past 50 years have raced there including Ted Horn, Parnelli Jones, AJ Foyt, Bobby and Al Unser, Mario Andretti, Larry Dickson, Darrell Waltrip and Jeff Gordon. AJ Foyt at one time held the world record for a half mile oval at the speedway. One of ESPN's first televised auto racing events was held there in 1979.
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