Salem, New Jersey

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Salem, New Jersey
settlement_type = City (New Jersey)
nickname =
motto =

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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = The City of Salem highlighted in Salem County. Inset



mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = New Jersey
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Salem
government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 7.2
area_land_km2 = 6.8
area_water_km2 = 0.5
area_total_sq_mi = 2.8
area_land_sq_mi = 2.6
area_water_sq_mi = 0.2

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 5857
population_density_km2 = 866.5
population_density_sq_mi = 2244.3

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 3
elevation_ft = 10
latd = 39 |latm = 34 |lats = 11 |latNS = N
longd = 75 |longm = 28 |longs = 3 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 08079
area_code = 856
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 34-65490GR|2 [ [http://mcdc2.missouri.edu/webrepts/commoncodes/ccc_nj.html A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey] , Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.]
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0880233GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Salem is a City in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the city population was 5,857. It is the county seat of Salem CountyGR|6. The name Salem is related to the Hebrew word "shalom", meaning peace.

Salem's formal existence dates back to a township of the same name established in October 1693 for the purpose of electing officers. The area had been laid out in 1675 by John Fenwick. The township was formally incorporated on February 21, 1798. On February 25, 1858, it was reincorporated as Salem City."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 217.]

It is home to the "Today's Sunbeam" daily newspaper, which is distributed throughout the county for primarily local news.

Geography

Salem is located at coor dms|39|34|11|N|75|28|3|W|city (39.569584, -75.467622),GR|1 along the Salem River. [DeLorme (2005). "New Jersey Atlas & Gazetteer". Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. ISBN 0-89933-324-9.]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²), of which, 2.6 square miles (6.8 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²) of it (6.79%) is water.

Salem borders Elsinboro Township, Pennsville Township, Mannington Township, Quinton Township, and Lower Alloways Creek Township.

Demographics

USCensusPop
1850=3052
1860=3865
1870=4555
1880=5056
1890=5516
1900=5811
1910=6614
1920=7435
1930=8047
1940=8618
1950=9050
1960=8941
1970=7648
1980=6959
1990=6883
2000=5857
estimate= 5784
estyear=2006
estref= [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=Search&geo_id=16000US3407750&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US34%7C16000US3407750&_street=&_county=deal&_cityTown=deal&_state=04000US34&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=160&_submenuId=population_0&ds_name=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry= Census data for Deal borough] , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 30, 2007.]
footnote=Population 1930 - 1990. [ [http://www.wnjpin.net/OneStopCareerCenter/LaborMarketInformation/lmi01/poptrd6.htm Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990] , Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.] [ [http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/decennial/index.htm U.S. Census Historical Data 1790-2000] , United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 16, 2007.] [Data for 1790-1840 not available] As of the censusGR|2 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/sq mi (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.

Government

Federal, state and county representation

Salem is in the Second Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 3rd Legislative District. [ [http://www.lwvnj.org/pubs/CG06.pdf 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government] , New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 63. Accessed August 30, 2006.]

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 Districts statewide. [ [http://www.nj.gov/cgi-bin/education/abbotts/abbotturls.pl?string=code&maxhits=100 Abbott Districts] , New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 31, 2008.]

Schools in the district are [http://salemnj.org/fenwick.shtml John Fenwick School] for PreK-2, [http://salemnj.org/midsch.shtml Salem Middle School] for grades 3-8 and
Salem High School for grades 9-12.

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 relationships. [ [http://education.state.nj.us/rc/rc06/narrative/33/4630/33-4630-050.html Salem High School 2006 School Report Card] , New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed January 27, 2008. "Salem High School is one of the oldest comprehensive high schools in the State of New Jersey. Our high school is proud to serve its students in grades 9-12 from Salem City, Elsinboro, Lower Alloways Creek, Mannington, and Quinton."]

History

Salem City is the county seat of Salem County. The Salem County Courthouse serves the county. The Old Salem County Courthouse, situated on the same block as the Salem County Courthouse, 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 oldest active courthouse being King William County Courthouse (1725) in Virginia. [ [http://www.kingwilliamcounty.us/ Welcome to King William County ] ] The present courthouse was erected in 1735 during the reign of King George II using locally manufactured bricks. [ [http://www.salemcitynj.com/trails.html Welcome to Salem, New Jersey ] ] 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. [ [http://cupojersey.blogspot.com/2007/11/william-hancock-house-hancocks-bridge.html Cup O'Jersey South - South Jersey History: William Hancock House, Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey ] ] He was later unintentionally killed by the British in the American Revolution during the massacre of Hancock House (New Jersey) committed by the British against local militia during the Salem Raid in 1778. The courthouse was afterwards the scene of the "treason trials," wherein suspected Loyalists were put on trial for having allegedly aided the British during the Salem Raid. 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 tomatoes in front of a large amazed crowd assembled to watch him do so. [ [http://www.salemcounty.com/schs/The%20Salem%20County%20Historical%20Society%20%20%20%20%20%20May%202005.htm "The Story of Robert Gibbon Johnson and the Tomato"] , "The history Highway" of the Salem County Historical Society. May 2005. Accessed August 13, 207.]

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Salem include:
*Benjamin H. Brewster (1816-1888), United States Attorney General from 1881 - 1885. [ [http://www.millercenter.virginia.edu/academic/americanpresident/arthur/essays/cabinet/369 Benjamin H. Brewster (1882 - 1885): Attorney General] , Miller Center of Public Affairs. Accessed November 27, 2007.]
*Alexander G. Cattell (1816-1894), United States Senator from New Jersey. [ [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C000254 Alexander Gilmore Cattell profile] , United States Congress. Accessed July 30, 2007.]
*John Chowning (born 1934), musician, inventor and professor who developed FM synthesis
*Leon "Goose" Goslin (1900-1971), played Major League Baseball for the Washington Senators, St. Louis Browns and Detroit Tigers. Goslin was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1968. He was one of three players born in New Jersey to be elected to the Hall of Fame, and one of five to have attended school in the State – in each case, the only one from the southern part of the State. In 1999, he ranked Number 89 on "The Sporting News"' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was nominated as a finalist for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. He is buried in the Baptist Cemetery in Salem. Ranked #6 on the "Sports Illustrated" list of "The 50 Greatest New Jersey Sports Figures". [ [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/magazine/features/si50/states/new_jersey/greatest/ The 50 Greatest New Jersey Sports Figures] , "Sports Illustrated", December 27, 1999.]
*William J. Hughes (born 1932), represented New Jersey's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives for 20 years. [ [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=H000930 William John Hughes profile] , United States Congress. Accessed July 30, 2007.]
*Orlando Jordan (born 1980), professional wrestler
*Lydell Mitchell (born 1949), running back in the National Football League for the Baltimore Colts, San Diego Chargers and Los Angeles Rams, spanning 1972-1980. [ [http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=MITCHLYD01 Lydell Mitchell] , database Football. Accessed February 22, 2008.]
*Charles J. Pedersen (1904-1989), American organic chemist best known for describing methods of synthesizing crown ethers. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1987. [Bass, Alison. [http://www.boston.com/globe/search/stories/nobel/1987/1987l.html "CHEMISTRY NOBEL IS SHARED BY 3; 2 WIN IN PHYSICS"] , "The Boston Globe", October 15, 1987/. Accessed June 26, 2007. "Pedersen, 83, reached at his home in Salem, N.J., told reporters: "I've never had an experience like this. It is a great honor."]
*Clement Hall Sinnickson (1834-1919), represented New Jersey's 1st congressional district from 1875-1879. [ [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S000447 Clement Hall Sinnickson biography] , United States Congress. Accessed June 26, 2007.]

References

Bibliography

*Shourds, Thomas (1876), "History and genealogy of Fenwick's Colony, New Jersey", New Jersey: Bridgeton, ISBN 0-8063-0714-5

External links

* [http://www.salemcitynj.com/ Salem, New Jersey]
* [http://www.salemnj.org/index.shtml Salem City School District]
*NJReportCard|33|4630|0|Salem City School District
* [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3414550 National Center for Education Statistics data for the Salem City School District]
* [http://www.salemcitynj.com/history.html History of Salem]
* [http://www.nj.com/sunbeam/ Today's Sunbeam - Salem's local Newspaper]
* [http://www.salemcounty.com/schs/index-2.html/ Salem County Historical Society]
* [http://www.salemcountynj.gov/fedstatelocal/salem.html Salem page on Salem County website]