Salem, Ohio

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Salem, Ohio
Location of Salem, Ohio
Location of Salem, Ohio
Coordinates: 40°54′3″N 80°51′10″W / 40.90083, -80.85278
Country United States
State Ohio
County Columbiana
Area
 - Total 5.5 sq mi (14.2 km²)
 - Land 5.5 sq mi (14.2 km²)
 - Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²)
Elevation [1] 1,227 ft (374 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 12,197
 - Density 2,228.2/sq mi (860.3/km²)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 44460
Area code(s) 330
FIPS code 39-69834[2]
GNIS feature ID 1045870[1]

Salem is a city in northern Columbiana County, Ohio, United States. At the 2000 census, the city's population was 12,197.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Salem is located at 40°54′3″N, 80°51′10″W (40.900885, -80.852831)[3].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.5 square miles (14.2 km²), all of it land.

The municipal boundaries of the city of Salem are geographically adjacent to Perry Township, and many residents of that township attend Salem City Public Schools.[4] Though Perry Township surrounds the city limits of Salem, its residents are not governed by the Mayor of Salem (instead they elect their own three-member Trustee panel), they do not pay city taxes, and the Township provides its residents with a police force, fire department, and road and bridge maintenance crews, none of which are supervised or regulated by the city of Salem.[5] However, residents of the city of Salem may run for one of the aforementioned township trustee positions.

Several acres of Salem Township and Green Township were annexed into the city limits in 2000 and 2001. Other actions to spur economic development undertaken around the same time annexed specific land: in 1999, 82.24 acres of Salem Township were granted police and fire protection, snow removal service, and other standard services already provided to the City of Salem by Ordinance passed by the city government.[6]

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 12,197 people, 5,146 households, and 3,247 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,228.2 people per square mile (860.9/km²). There were 5,505 housing units at an average density of 1,005.7/sq mi (388.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.35% White, 0.52% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.54% of the population.

There were 5,146 households out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 84.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,006, and the median income for a family was $40,191. Males had a median income of $31,630 versus $19,471 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,579. About 9.8% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.9% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

[edit] Origins and settlers

Salem was founded by a Pennsylvanian potter, John Straughan (Strawn) and a New Jersey clockmaker, Zadok Street, in 1806. The city’s name comes from “shalom” and “salaam,” and means “peace.”

Early settlers to the city included the Religious Society of Friends (“Quakers”), which the school system’s sports teams honor by referring to themselves collectively as the "Mighty Quakers."[7][8]

[edit] Contributions to American history

Active in the abolitionist movement of the early- to mid- 1800s, Salem acted as a hub for the American Underground Railroad, with several homes serving as “stations.” Salem retained many of these homes, but none are open to the public at present.

In April 1895, Salem hosted the first Women's Rights Convention in Ohio, the second such convention in the United States. J. Elizabeth Jones delivered an address, and men were refused attendance for the two-day proceedings.[9]

[edit] Prosperity through industry

Over its history, Salem thrived on an industrial-based economy, advantageously located between Cleveland and Pittsburgh. For several decades, the largest corporations located in Salem were American Standard, Eljer, and Salem China. Today, American Standard and several tool-and-die manufacturers remain.

[edit] National recognition of historic resources

Two sections of the city are designated National Register historic districts: the "Salem Downtown Historic District” (bounded by Vine Avenue, Ohio Avenue, East Pershing Street, South Ellsworth Avenue, and Sugar Tree Alley, designated 1995), and the South Lincoln Avenue Historic District (designated 1993), which includes several of the town’s monumental and architecturally distinctive homes.

Other city properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places include: the Burchfield Homestead (home to Charles Burchfield from ages five to twenty-eight), Daniel Howell Hise House (home of local Quaker abolitionist and Underground Railroad station), the Salem Methodist Episcopal Church, and the John Street House (Underground Railroad station and home to descendant of city founder).

[edit] Schools

Main article: Salem City School District, Ohio

Salem is served by the Salem City School District. Additionally, Kent State University operates a regional campus in Salem, and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown operates St. Paul Elementary School in Salem.

[edit] Notable residents

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  4. ^ For boundary information, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perry_Township,_Columbiana_County,_Ohio.
  5. ^ Auditor of the State of Ohio. "Perry Township Columbiana County Regular Audit for the Years Ended December 31 2003-2002." Columbus, Ohio: State of Ohio Office of the Auditor, 2004: 11. Available: http://www.auditor.state.oh.us/public/auditsearch/reports/2004/perry_township_03-columbiana.pdf
  6. ^ This is understood to cover the area including the Wal-Mart Supercenter. See: ORDINANCE NO. 991103 - 74, City of Salem
  7. ^ The girls' and boys' teams' individual mascots are known as the "Quaker Lady" (or "Quaker Sadie") and "Quaker Sam," respectively.
  8. ^ The team nickname (and, possibly, the American tradition of placing the word "Fighting" in front of such nicknames) was noted by USA Today as one of several "that could be considered offensive." See "What's in a Nickname?" USA Today, 23 Oct. 1991, Sports section, 06C.
  9. ^ ”Years of Hope, Years of Struggle: a Few Important Dates from the Woman Suffrage Movement.” http://www.mith2.umd.edu/WomensStudies/ReadingRoom/History/Vote/years-of-hope.html

[edit] External links

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Municipalities and communities of
Columbiana County, Ohio
County seat: Lisbon
Cities
Map of Ohio highlighting Columbiana County
Villages
Townships
CDPs
Unincorporated
communities