Salem, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
Salem is a city
in Salem County
, New Jersey
, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the city population was 5,146. It is the county seat
of Salem County, the most rural county in the state of New Jersey. The name Salem is related to the Hebrew word shalom
, meaning "peace".
The town and colony of Salem was founded in 1675 by John Fenwick. On February 25, 1858, it was reincorporated as Salem City.
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.8 mi2, of which 2.6 mi2 is land and 0.2 mi2 (6.79%) is water.
Salem borders Elsinboro Township
, Pennsville Township
, Mannington Township
, Quinton Township
, and Lower Alloways Creek Township
.
was a settlement that was part of New Sweden
. Fort Nya Elfsborg was built shortly after Johan Printz, governor of New Sweden, arrived in the colony in 1643. Named after the old Älvsborg Fortress
off shore from Gothenburg
, Sweden
, it was located on the Delaware River
near Alloway Creek
. Fort Nya Elfsborg was one of the earliest European
settlements in the State of New Jersey
. In 1655 Peter Stuyvesant
, on behalf of the Dutch West India Company
, re-asserted control over the region, which was later captured by the British
in 1664.
Salem City is the county seat of Salem County. The Salem County Courthouse serves the county while the Old Salem County Courthouse, situated on the same block, serves Salem City. The Old Salem County Courthouse is the oldest active courthouse in New Jersey and is the second oldest courthouse
in continuous use in the United States. The present courthouse was erected in 1735 during the reign of King George II
using locally manufactured bricks. The building was enlarged in 1817 and additionally enlarged and remodeled in 1908. Its distinctive bell tower is essentially unchanged and the original bell sits in the courtroom.
Judge William Hancock of the King's Court presided at the courthouse at the beginning of the American Revolution
and was accidentally killed by the British troops during the Hancock House Massacre
committed by the British against local militia during the Salem Raid in 1778. The courthouse was afterward the scene of treason trials wherein suspected Loyalists were put on trial for having allegedly aided the British raid of Salem. Four men were convicted and sentenced to death for treason; however, they were pardoned by Governor William Livingston
and exiled from New Jersey.
The courthouse is also the site of the legend of Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson proving the edibility of the tomato. Before 1820, Americans often assumed tomatoes were poisonous. In 1820, Colonel Johnson, according to legend, stood upon the courthouse steps and ate tomato
es in front of a large amazed crowd assembled to watch him do so. Modern scholars doubt the veracity of this story, however.
of 2000, there were 5,857 people, 2,383 households, and 1,463 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,244.3 people per square mile (866.4/km2). There were 2,863 housing units at an average density of 1,097.0 per square mile (423.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 37.46% White, 56.77% African American, 0.60% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 1.38% from other races
, and 3.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.88% of the population.
There were 2,383 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 27.7% were married couples
living together, 29.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.0% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 80.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,846, and the median income for a family was $29,699. Males had a median income of $35,389 versus $24,354 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,559. About 24.7% of families and 26.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.3% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.
form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor, who is elected at large. The City Council is made up of eight members, with four members representing each of two wards. Council members are elected on a staggered basis in partisan elections, with one seat from each ward up for election each year.
The Mayor of Salem is Robert Davis.
Salem is in the
s statewide.
Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics
) are
John Fenwick School for PreK-2 (384 students),
Salem Middle School for grades 3-8 (469) and
Salem High School
for grades 9-12 (476).
Public school students from Elsinboro, Lower Alloways Creek Township
, Mannington Township
and Quinton Township
attend the district's high school for grades 9-12 as part of sending/receiving relationship
s.
City (New Jersey)
A City in the context of New Jersey local government refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government....
in Salem County
Salem County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 64,285 people, 24,295 households, and 17,370 families residing in the county. The population density was 190 people per square mile . There were 26,158 housing units at an average density of 77 per square mile...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the city population was 5,146. 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 Salem County, the most rural county in the state of New Jersey. The name Salem is related to the Hebrew word shalom
Shalom
Shalom is a Hebrew word meaning peace, completeness, and welfare and can be used idiomatically to mean both hello and goodbye...
, meaning "peace".
The town and colony of Salem was founded in 1675 by John Fenwick. On February 25, 1858, it was reincorporated as Salem City.
Geography
Salem is located at 39.569584°N 75.467622°W (39.569584, -75.467622), along the Salem RiverSalem River
The Salem River is a tributary of the Delaware River in southwestern New Jersey in the United States.The course and watershed of the Salem River are entirely within Salem County. The river rises in Upper Pittsgrove Township and flows initially westwardly, through Pilesgrove Township and the...
.
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 2.8 mi2, of which 2.6 mi2 is land and 0.2 mi2 (6.79%) is water.
Salem borders Elsinboro Township
Elsinboro Township, New Jersey
Elsinboro is a Township in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 1,092.Elsinboro's first mention dates back to May 12, 1701, though it was also mentioned in records on November 28, 1676. The details and date of its original...
, Pennsville Township
Pennsville Township, New Jersey
Pennsville Township is a Township in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 13,194. The township is named for William Penn....
, Mannington Township
Mannington Township, New Jersey
Mannington Township is a Township in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 1,559....
, Quinton Township
Quinton Township, New Jersey
Quinton Township is a Township in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 2,786....
, and Lower Alloways Creek Township
Lower Alloways Creek Township, New Jersey
Lower Alloways Creek Township is a Township in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 1,851....
.
History
Fort Nya ElfsborgFort Nya Elfsborg
Fort Nya Elfsborg was a fortification and settlement established as a part of New Sweden. Built in 1643 and named after the Älvsborg Fortress off Gothenburg, Fort Nya Elfsborg was located on the New Jersey side of the Delaware River, between present day Salem and Alloway Creek.-History:Fort Nya...
was a settlement that was part of New Sweden
New Sweden
New Sweden was a Swedish colony along the Delaware River on the Mid-Atlantic coast of North America from 1638 to 1655. Fort Christina, now in Wilmington, Delaware, was the first settlement. New Sweden included parts of the present-day American states of Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania....
. Fort Nya Elfsborg was built shortly after Johan Printz, governor of New Sweden, arrived in the colony in 1643. Named after the old Älvsborg Fortress
Älvsborg Fortress
Älvsborg, also Elfsborg Fortress, is a sea fortress located in today's Gothenburg , Sweden. Situated on the mouth of the Göta Älv river, it served to protect Sweden's access to the Atlantic Ocean and the nearby settlement of today's Gothenburg and its four predecessors. The fortress was relocated...
off shore from Gothenburg
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, it was located on the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
near Alloway Creek
Alloway Creek
Alloway Creek is a tributary of the Delaware River in Salem County, southwestern New Jersey in the U.S.The headwaters of the creek are to the southeast of Daretown, in Upper Pittsgrove Township. It flows roughly parallel and to the south of Commissioners Pike, meeting Cool Run before turning west...
. Fort Nya Elfsborg was one of the earliest European
European ethnic groups
The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....
settlements in the State of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. In 1655 Peter Stuyvesant
Peter Stuyvesant
Peter Stuyvesant , served as the last Dutch Director-General of the colony of New Netherland from 1647 until it was ceded provisionally to the English in 1664, after which it was renamed New York...
, on behalf of the Dutch West India Company
Dutch West India Company
Dutch West India Company was a chartered company of Dutch merchants. Among its founding fathers was Willem Usselincx...
, re-asserted control over the region, which was later captured by the British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
in 1664.
Salem City is the county seat of Salem County. The Salem County Courthouse serves the county while the Old Salem County Courthouse, situated on the same block, serves Salem City. The Old Salem County Courthouse is the oldest active courthouse in New Jersey and is the second oldest courthouse
Oldest courthouses in the United States
-Active:-Former courthouses:The following other old courthouses still standing today exist as museums, for other government functions, or are now privately owned facilities.-Active:-Former:-See also:*List of courthouse buildings in the United States...
in continuous use in the United States. The present courthouse was erected in 1735 during the reign of King George II
George II of Great Britain
George II was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Archtreasurer and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death.George was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain. He was born and brought up in Northern Germany...
using locally manufactured bricks. The building was enlarged in 1817 and additionally enlarged and remodeled in 1908. Its distinctive bell tower is essentially unchanged and the original bell sits in the courtroom.
Judge William Hancock of the King's Court presided at the courthouse at the beginning of the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
and was accidentally killed by the British troops during the Hancock House Massacre
Hancock House (New Jersey)
The Hancock House is a historic structure in the Hancock's Bridge section of Lower Alloways Creek Township, New Jersey. It was the site of the 1778 Hancock's Bridge massacre...
committed by the British against local militia during the Salem Raid in 1778. The courthouse was afterward the scene of treason trials wherein suspected Loyalists were put on trial for having allegedly aided the British raid of Salem. Four men were convicted and sentenced to death for treason; however, they were pardoned by Governor William Livingston
William Livingston
William Livingston served as the Governor of New Jersey during the American Revolutionary War and was a signer of the United States Constitution.-Early life:...
and exiled from New Jersey.
The courthouse is also the site of the legend of Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson proving the edibility of the tomato. Before 1820, Americans often assumed tomatoes were poisonous. In 1820, Colonel Johnson, according to legend, stood upon the courthouse steps and ate tomato
Tomato
The word "tomato" may refer to the plant or the edible, typically red, fruit which it bears. Originating in South America, the tomato was spread around the world following the Spanish colonization of the Americas, and its many varieties are now widely grown, often in greenhouses in cooler...
es in front of a large amazed crowd assembled to watch him do so. Modern scholars doubt the veracity of this story, however.
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 5,857 people, 2,383 households, and 1,463 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 2,244.3 people per square mile (866.4/km2). There were 2,863 housing units at an average density of 1,097.0 per square mile (423.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 37.46% White, 56.77% African American, 0.60% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 1.38% 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 3.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.88% of the population.
There were 2,383 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 27.7% 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, 29.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.0% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 80.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,846, and the median income for a family was $29,699. Males had a median income of $35,389 versus $24,354 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 $13,559. About 24.7% of families and 26.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.3% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.
Local government
Salem is governed under the CityCity (New Jersey)
A City in the context of New Jersey local government refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government....
form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor, who is elected at large. The City Council is made up of eight members, with four members representing each of two wards. Council members are elected on a staggered basis in partisan elections, with one seat from each ward up for election each year.
The Mayor of Salem is Robert Davis.
Federal, state and county representation
Salem is in the 2nd Congressional district.Salem is in the
Transportation
Roads and highways passing through Salem include Route 45 and Route 49. Nearby highways and structures include Interstate 295, the New Jersey Turnpike, and the Delaware Memorial Bridge.Education
The Salem City School District serves public school students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district is one of 31 Abbott DistrictAbbott District
Abbott districts are school districts in New Jersey that are provided remedies to ensure that their students receive public education in accordance with New Jersey’s state constitution. They were created in 1985 as a result of the first ruling of Abbott v. Burke, a case filed by the Education Law...
s statewide.
Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics
National Center for Education Statistics
The National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
) are
John Fenwick School for PreK-2 (384 students),
Salem Middle School for grades 3-8 (469) and
Salem High School
Salem High School (New Jersey)
Salem High School is a comprehensive community four-year public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grade from Salem City, in Salem County, New Jersey, United States, as part of the Salem City School District....
for grades 9-12 (476).
Public school students from Elsinboro, Lower Alloways Creek Township
Lower Alloways Creek Township, New Jersey
Lower Alloways Creek Township is a Township in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 1,851....
, Mannington Township
Mannington Township, New Jersey
Mannington Township is a Township in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 1,559....
and Quinton Township
Quinton Township, New Jersey
Quinton Township is a Township in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 2,786....
attend the district's high school for grades 9-12 as part of sending/receiving relationship
Sending/receiving relationship
A sending/receiving relationship is one in which a public school district sends some or all of its students to attend the schools of another district. This is often done to achieve costs savings in smaller districts or continues after districts have grown as part of a historical relationship...
s.
Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Salem include:- Benjamin H. BrewsterBenjamin H. BrewsterBenjamin Harris Brewster was an attorney and politician from New Jersey, who served as United States Attorney General from 1881 to 1885.-Early life:...
(1816–88), United States Attorney GeneralUnited States Attorney GeneralThe United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government...
from 1881 to 1885. - Alexander G. CattellAlexander G. CattellAlexander Gilmore Cattell was a United States Senator from New Jersey. Born in Salem, New Jersey, he received an academic education, and engaged in mercantile pursuits in Salem until 1846. He was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1840, and served as clerk from 1842-1844...
(1816–94), United States Senator from New Jersey. - John ChowningJohn ChowningJohn M. Chowning is an American composer, musician, inventor, and professor best known for his work at Stanford University and his invention of FM synthesis while there.-Contribution:...
(born 1934), musician, inventor and professor who developed FM synthesisFrequency modulation synthesisA 220 Hz carrier tone modulated by a 440 Hz modulating tone with various choices of modulation index, β. The time domain signals are illustrated above, and the corresponding spectra are shown below ....
. - Leon "Goose" GoslinGoose GoslinLeon Allen "Goose" Goslin was a left fielder in Major League Baseball known for his powerful left-handed swing and dependable clutch hitting. He played 18 seasons with the Washington Senators, St. Louis Browns, and Detroit Tigers, from until...
(1900–71), Hall of FameNational Baseball Hall of Fame and MuseumThe National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player. - William J. HughesWilliam J. HughesWilliam John "Bill" Hughes served as a Democratic Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1975 to 1995, representing New Jersey’s Second Congressional District which includes major portions of the Jersey Shore and Pine Barrens, the cities of Vineland and Atlantic City, and the counties...
(born 1932), represented New Jersey's 2nd congressional districtNew Jersey's 2nd congressional districtNew Jersey's Second Congressional District is currently represented by Republican Frank LoBiondo.-Counties and municipalities in the district:...
in the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution... - Orlando JordanOrlando JordanOrlando Jordan is an American professional wrestler, most recently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Jordan is best known for his tenure in World Wrestling Entertainment, where he was a one-time United States Champion....
(born 1971), professional wrestlerProfessional wrestlingProfessional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport... - Lydell MitchellLydell MitchellLydell Douglas Mitchell , is a former professional American football player. He played running back in the National Football League for the Baltimore Colts, San Diego Chargers and Los Angeles Rams spanning 1972-1980....
(born 1949), running backRunning backA running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
in the National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
from 1972 to 1980. - John R. PatrickJohn R. PatrickJohn Russell Patrick is a business executive and innovative leader in the information technology industry. During his tenure as a vice president at IBM, he helped launch the IBM ThinkPad and the OS/2 operating system and was later an influential force behind IBM’s early adoption of the Internet...
(born 1945), former IBM vice-president and innovative leader in the information technology industry, author of Net Attitude (Perseus, 2001). - Charles J. PedersenCharles J. PedersenCharles John Pedersen was an American organic chemist best known for describing methods of synthesizing crown ethers. He shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1987 with Donald J. Cram and Jean-Marie Lehn...
(1904–1989), American organic chemist and winner of the 1987 Nobel Prize in ChemistryNobel Prize in ChemistryThe Nobel Prize in Chemistry is awarded annually by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences to scientists in the various fields of chemistry. It is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the will of Alfred Nobel in 1895, awarded for outstanding contributions in chemistry, physics, literature,... - John S. RockJohn Rock (Abolitionist)John Stewart Rock John Stewart Rock John Stewart Rock (October 13, 1825 – December 3, 1866; was an American teacher, doctor, dentist, lawyer and abolitionist who originated the notion of "black is beautiful." Rock was one of the first African American men to earn a medical degree. In...
(1826-66) African-American doctor, dentist, abolitionist, and lawyer. - Clement Hall SinnicksonClement Hall SinnicksonClement Hall Sinnickson , was an American Republican Party politician, who served in the United States House of Representatives, where he represented New Jersey's 1st congressional district from 1875–1879...
(1834–1919), represented New Jersey's 1st congressional districtNew Jersey's 1st congressional districtNew Jersey's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of New Jersey.The current U.S. Representative from the 1st district is Democrat Rob Andrews...
from 1875 to1879.
External links
- Salem, New Jersey
- Salem City School District
- Data for the Salem City School District, National Center for Education StatisticsNational Center for Education StatisticsThe National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
- History of Salem
- Today's Sunbeam - Salem's local Newspaper
- Salem County Historical Society