Salem is a city in and the county seat of Salem County,New Jersey County Map, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed July 10, 2017. the most rural county in the U.S. state of New Jersey.Walsh, Daniel. "History and nature to merge on byway / Officials unveil scenic bayshore route for drivers" , The Press of Atlantic City, July 23, 2009. Accessed November 29, 2011. "The county has rolled out an advertising campaign that includes radio, print and television commercials, along with a new Web site, and county leaders have sought to sell outsiders on New Jersey's least-populated and most-rural county." The name Salem, for both the city and county, is derived from the Hebrew word shalom, meaning peace.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 30, 2015.Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 272. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed September 30, 2015. 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.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023. 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.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 217. Accessed May 30, 2024.
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%."Here are the 30 N.J. towns with the highest property tax rates", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, March 15, 2021. Accessed January 19, 2022. "The average equalized tax rate in New Jersey was 2.279 in 2020, according to data from the Department of Community Affairs. Here is the list of 30 New Jersey towns with the highest property tax rates.... 1. Woodlynne Borough Equalized tax rate in Woodlynne Borough, Camden County, was: 7.384 in 2020; Average equalized tax rate in Camden County: 3.470"
History Salem was founded by John Fenwick, a Quaker.About, City of Salem. Accessed May 29, 2024. "The town and colony of Salem was laid out in 1675 by a Quaker, 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." 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.Clement, John (1875). A sketch of the life and character of John Fenwick. Published by Friends Historical Association. Philadelphia: Henry S. VolkmarShourds, Thomas (1876). "John Fenwick." History and genealogy of Fenwick's Colony, New Jersey. Bridgeton, New Jersey, pp. 3-17 Salem remained as a settlement and continued to grow.Scharf, Thomas J., History of Delaware, 1609–1688, 1935. 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.Alexander Grant House, Crossroads of the American Revolution. Accessed April 14, 2015.
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."Robert Gibbon Johnson: As the story is told, it was Colonel Johnson who on September 26, 1820 once and for all proved tomatoes non-poisonous and safe for consumption." , Tomato and Health. Accessed April 14, 2015. "As the story is told, it was Colonel Johnson who on September 26, 1820 once and for all proved tomatoes non-poisonous and safe for consumption. He stood on the steps of the Salem courthouse and bravely consumed an entire basket of tomatoes without keeling over or suffering any ill effects whatsoever." 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.
Historical buildings 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.Salem, NJ, Discover Salem County. Accessed August 18, 2015. "The Old Salem County Courthouse is the second oldest courthouse in the United States; the oldest is King William County Courthouse in Virginia." 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.
Geography 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.Salem County Map , Coalition for a Healthy NJ. Accessed March 5, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.
Climate 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.Climate Summary for Salem, New Jersey
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition +Salem city, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010% 2000% 2010White alone (NH)2,1011,5151,29035.87%29.44%24.36%Black or African American alone (NH)3,2603,0873,09855.66%59.99%58.50%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)242080.41%0.39%0.15%Asian alone (NH)1419290.24%0.37%0.55%Pacific Islander alone (NH)0000.00%0.00%0.00%Some Other Race alone (NH)98330.15%0.16%0.62%Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)1631532202.78%2.97%4.15%Hispanic or Latino (any race)2863446184.88%6.68%11.67%Total5,8575,1465,296100.00%100.00%100.00%
2020 census 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%.
2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 5,146 people, 2,157 households, and 1,264 families in the city. The population density was . There were 2,633 housing units at an average density of . 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.