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city in Salem County, New Jersey, United States
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Salem is a city in and the county seat of Salem County, the most rural county in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The name Salem, for both the city and county, is derived from the Hebrew word shalom, meaning peace. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 5,296, an increase of 150 (+2.9%) from the 2010 census count of 5,146, which in turn reflected a decrease of 711 (−12.1%) from the 5,857 counted in the 2000 census. Salem is part of the Philadelphia metropolitan area.
The town and colony of Salem was laid out in 1675 by John Fenwick and the community was given permission to choose officers in October 1693. It was incorporated on February 21, 1798, as part of the initial group of 104 townships established by the New Jersey Legislature. On February 25, 1858, it was reincorporated as Salem City.
Salem had the second-highest property tax rate in New Jersey, with an equalized rate of 6.519% in 2020, compared to 3.476% in Salem County and a statewide average of 2.279%.
Salem was founded by John Fenwick, a Quaker. Fenwick had been involved in a financial dispute with Edward Byllynge, another Quaker, who had received the undivided portion of New Jersey territory that James Stuart, Duke of York had granted to Lord John Berkeley in 1664. Berkeley had sold his share to Byllynge in 1675 for 1,000 pounds, but Byllynge had become bankrupt and had the property transferred to Fenwick to hold in trust for Byllynge and his assigns. Fenwick and Byllynge subsequently disagreed over ownership and control of the property.
William Penn was asked to adjudicate the matter, and he awarded 90% of the claim to Byllynge and the remaining 10% to Fenwick, along with a cash settlement for his share. Fenwick was dissatisfied with Penn's judgement and refused to abide by the decision. Essentially, Fenwick had no assurance that a man who had previously gone bankrupt would convey 10% of the net proceeds of the future venture, particularly since Byllynge had not even paid the adjudicated cash settlement. Fenwick therefore organized a colony of settlers and sailed to the Delaware Bay where he settled as patroon on the eastern shore near the abandoned Swedish settlement of Fort Nya Elfsborg. There he established himself as the local governor of the Fifth Tenth (approximately 20% of the original Byllynge property), issuing land patents and enforcing his own laws in defiance of Byllynge and Penn.
Byllynge countered by suing Fenwick, creating uncertainty over the chain of land title. The economic damages suffered by those who controlled property in and around Salem caused many affected individuals over the following decade to file numerous complaints and lawsuits in the colonial courts. To preserve Salem, its inhabitants and their property, Fenwick remained under arrest for months until copies of documents supporting his claims were obtained from England. The court of Dominion Governor Andros ultimately upheld Fenwick's claim, and he returned to govern the Salem tenth by 1689. Salem remained as a settlement and continued to grow. In October 1693, the community was given permission to choose its own officers.
During the American Revolutionary War, British forces under Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Mawhood launched a raid on Salem on March 18, 1778. Mawhood's troops surprised and defeated a force of American militia at a nearby bridge, and Mawhood threatened to burn Salem if the town's garrison refused to surrender. American Colonel Asher Holmes threatened to terrorize local Loyalists in retaliation if Mawhood carried out his threats, which led the latter to back down. However, on March 21 Major John Graves Simcoe led 300 troops of the 27th Regiment of Foot and Queen's Rangers in a surprise attack on Hancock House, where they killed between 20 and 30 American militiamen who were sleeping there. Simcoe's troops, reportedly exclaiming "Spare no one! Give no quarter!", allegedly killed several militiamen who were attempting to surrender and fatally injured Loyalist judge William Hancock Jr., the owner of Hancock House before American troops commandeered it. After the war ended in 1783, treason trials were held at the county courthouse where suspected Loyalists were tried for allegedly aiding the British during the raid on Salem. Four men were convicted and sentenced to death for treason, but they were pardoned by Governor William Livingston and exiled from New Jersey.
Salem was formally incorporated on February 21, 1798, as one of 104 townships initially established by the New Jersey Legislature under the Township Act of 1798.
The Old Salem County Courthouse is associated with the legend that Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson proved the edibility of the tomato. According to the legend, Colonel Johnson stood upon the courthouse steps in 1820 and ate tomatoes in front of a large, astonished crowd assembled to watch him do so. However, the legend did not appear in print until 1948 and modern scholars question its historical accuracy.
On February 25, 1858, Salem was reincorporated as Salem City.
The Old Salem County Courthouse now houses the administrative offices of Salem City. It is the oldest courthouse in New Jersey still in active use and the second-oldest courthouse in continuous use in the United States. Built in 1735 during the reign of King George II, the courthouse was constructed of locally manufactured bricks. It was enlarged in 1817 and enlarged and remodeled again in 1908, but its distinctive bell tower remains essentially unchanged, and the original bell is still displayed in the courtroom.
Salem is located along the Salem River. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 2.81 square miles (7.29 km2), including 2.34 square miles (6.07 km2) of land and 0.47 square miles (1.22 km2) of water (16.73%).
The city borders the Salem County municipalities of Elsinboro Township, Lower Alloways Creek Township, Mannington Township, Pennsville Township and Quinton Township.
The climate in the area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Salem has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.
As of the 2020 census, Salem had a population of 5,296. The median age was 33.3 years. 30.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 79.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 72.8 males age 18 and over.
98.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 1.3% lived in rural areas.
There were 2,093 households in Salem, of which 37.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 19.9% were married-couple households, 19.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 51.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 2,467 housing units, of which 15.2% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 7.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.6%.
The 2010 United States census counted 5,146 people, 2,157 households, and 1,264 families in the city. The population density was 2,195.9 inhabitants per square mile (847.8/km2). There were 2,633 housing units at an average density of 1,123.6 per square mile (433.8/km2). The racial makeup was 31.21% (1,606) White, 62.13% (3,197) Black or African American, 0.41% (21) Native American, 0.39% (20) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.85% (95) from other races, and 4.02% (207) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.68% (344) of the population.
Of the 2,157 households, 28.9% had children under the age of 18; 22.8% were married couples living together; 30.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 41.4% were non-families. Of all households, 35.5% were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.05.
28.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 22.4% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.4 years. For every 100 females, the population had 80.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 73.5 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $25,682 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,287) and the median family income was $38,286 (+/− $5,682). Males had a median income of $47,708 (+/− $9,641) versus $32,236 (+/− $5,778) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $17,733 (+/− $2,366). About 26.5% of families and 28.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 43.4% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.
As of the 2000 U.S. census, there were 5,857 people, 2,383 households, and 1,463 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,244.3 inhabitants per square mile (866.5/km2). There were 2,863 housing units at an average density of 1,097.0 per square mile (423.6/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.
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.
Salem is governed under the City form of New Jersey municipal government. The city is one of 15 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government. The government is comprised of the Mayor and the eight-member City Council. The mayor is elected at-large to a three-year term of office. The City Council is comprised of eight members, with four members representing one of two wards, East and West. Council members are elected to four-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one seat from each ward up for election each year. All members of the governing body are chosen on a partisan basis as part of the November general election.
As of 2022, the Mayor of Salem is Democrat Jody Veler, whose term of office ends December 31, 2024. Members of the City Council are Council President Earl R. Gage (D, 2022; West Ward), Council President Pro Tempore Timothy H. Gregory Jr. (D, 2022; East Ward), Sharen A. Cline (D, 2024, East Ward), Robert L. Davis (D, 2023; East Ward), Vaughn Groce (D, 2025, East Ward), Sharon K. Kellum (D, 2024, West Ward), Gail Slaughter (D, 2023; West Ward) and James W. Smith (D, 2025; West Ward).
Ruth Carter was named in October 2013 to fill the seat vacated in the previous month by Bob Johnson, who resigned due to family obligations. Carter served on an interim basis until the November 2014 general election, when she was elected to fill the balance of the term of office through December 2016. Vaughn Groce was chosen in January 2013 to fill the seat of Charles Washington Jr., expiring in December 2013 that was vacated when he took office as mayor.
Salem City is located in the 2nd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 3rd state legislative district.
For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 2nd congressional district is represented by Jeff Van Drew (R, Dennis Township). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2027) and Andy Kim (Moorestown, term ends 2031).
Text from the Wikipedia article “Salem, New Jersey”, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.