Salem, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Salem is a city located in the U.S. state
of Illinois
. It is the county seat
of Marion County. The population was 7,485 at the 2010 census.
Salem is the birthplace of William Jennings Bryan
and his brother vice presidential candidate Charles W. Bryan
, the G. I. Bill of Rights, and Miracle Whip
salad dressing. It is also home to three homes on the National Register of Historic Places
: the Charles and Naomi Bachmann House
, the Badollet House
, and the William Jennings Bryan Boyhood Home
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 6.3 square miles (16.3 km²), of which, 6.1 square miles (15.8 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (2.56%) is water.
of 2000, there were 7909 people, 4,249 households, and 3,082 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,296.5 people per square mile (500.6/km²). There were 3,473 housing units at an average density of 569.3 per square mile (219.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.13% White, 0.72% African American, 0.30% Native American, 1.15% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races
, and 0.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.72% of the population.
There were 3,249 households out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples
living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% 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 2.91.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,339, and the median income for a family was $42,070. Males had a median income of $31,811 versus $21,931 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,954. About 6.1% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.
Catholic schools:
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Marion County. The population was 7,485 at the 2010 census.
Salem is the birthplace of William Jennings Bryan
William Jennings Bryan
William Jennings Bryan was an American politician in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. He was a dominant force in the liberal wing of the Democratic Party, standing three times as its candidate for President of the United States...
and his brother vice presidential candidate Charles W. Bryan
Charles W. Bryan
Charles Wayland Bryan was the younger brother of perennial U.S. Democratic presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan, with whom he shares the distinction of being the only set of brothers to be nominated for national office by a major party.-Biography:Born in 1867 in Salem, Illinois, Bryan...
, the G. I. Bill of Rights, and Miracle Whip
Miracle Whip
Miracle Whip is a white salad dressing and sandwich spread manufactured by Kraft Foods, sold throughout the United States and Canada. It is often used as an alternative to mayonnaise in recipes, although it is sweeter and has additional ingredients.-History:...
salad dressing. It is also home to three homes on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
: the Charles and Naomi Bachmann House
Charles and Naomi Bachmann House
The Charles and Naomi Bachmann House is located in Salem, Illinois, the county seat of Marion County, Illinois. The house has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2001. It is one of three properties in Salem listed on the Register. The other two properties, also houses, are...
, the Badollet House
Badollet House
The Badollet House is one of three properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the Marion County, Illinois county seat of Salem. The William Jennings Bryan Boyhood Home and Bachmann House round out the list of Salem Historic Places. The house has been listed in the Register...
, and the William Jennings Bryan Boyhood Home
William Jennings Bryan Boyhood Home
The William Jennings Bryan Boyhood Home is located in Salem, Illinois, the county seat of Marion County. William Jennings Bryan is noted as a three-time Democratic Party nominee for president. The Home has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1975...
.
Geography
Salem is located at 38°37′42"N 88°56′53"W (38.628195, -88.948168).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 6.3 square miles (16.3 km²), of which, 6.1 square miles (15.8 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (2.56%) is water.
Marion County Townships
Alma, Carrigan, Centalia, Foster, Haines, Iuka, Kell, Kinmundy, Meacham, Odin, Omega, Patoka, Raccoon, Romine, Salem, Sandoval, Stevenson, Tonti, Farina,Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 7909 people, 4,249 households, and 3,082 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,296.5 people per square mile (500.6/km²). There were 3,473 housing units at an average density of 569.3 per square mile (219.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.13% White, 0.72% African American, 0.30% Native American, 1.15% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.72% of the population.
There were 3,249 households out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% 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 2.91.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,339, and the median income for a family was $42,070. Males had a median income of $31,811 versus $21,931 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $16,954. About 6.1% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Public schools:Catholic schools: