Broadway in downtown Salem in 2006
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 County[6], 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.[7]
Geography
Salem is located at 39°34′11″N 75°28′03″W / 39.569584°N 75.467622°W / 39.569584; -75.467622 (39.569584, -75.467622),[8] along the Salem River.[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
| Historical populations |
| Census |
Pop. |
|
%± |
| 1850 |
3,052 |
|
—
|
| 1860 |
3,865 |
|
26.6% |
| 1870 |
4,555 |
|
17.9% |
| 1880 |
5,056 |
|
11.0% |
| 1890 |
5,516 |
|
9.1% |
| 1900 |
5,811 |
|
5.3% |
| 1910 |
6,614 |
|
13.8% |
| 1920 |
7,435 |
|
12.4% |
| 1930 |
8,047 |
|
8.2% |
| 1940 |
8,618 |
|
7.1% |
| 1950 |
9,050 |
|
5.0% |
| 1960 |
8,941 |
|
−1.2% |
| 1970 |
7,648 |
|
−14.5% |
| 1980 |
6,959 |
|
−9.0% |
| 1990 |
6,883 |
|
−1.1% |
| 2000 |
5,857 |
|
−14.9% |
| Est. 2007 |
5,678 |
[2] |
−3.1% |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[10][11][12] |
As of the census[3] 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
Local government
Salem is governed under the City 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.[1]
The Mayor of Salem is Earl R. Gage.[13]
Federal, state and county representation
Salem is in the Second Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 3rd Legislative District.[14]
New Jersey's Second Congressional District, covering all of Atlantic County, Cape May County, Cumberland County and Salem County and portions of Burlington County, Camden County and Gloucester County, is represented by Frank LoBiondo (R, Ventnor City). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
The 3rd legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Stephen M. Sweeney (D, West Deptford Township) and in the Assembly by John J. Burzichelli (D, Paulsboro) and Celeste Riley (D, Bridgeton).[15] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[16]
Salem County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders who serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis. As of 2008[update], Salem County's Freeholders are Director Lee R. Ware (Elsinboro Township), Deputy Director David Lindenmuth (Woodstown), Julie A. Acton (Pennsville Township), Bruce L. Bobbitt (Pilesgrove Township), Jeffrey J. Hogan (Pennsville Township), Charles Sullivan (Salem) and Beth E. Timberman (Woodstown).[17]
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.[18]
Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[19]) are John Fenwick School for PreK-2 (462 students), Salem Middle School for grades 3-8 (638) and Salem High School for grades 9-12 (694).
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.[20]
History
Broadway in downtown Salem in 2006
Fort Nya Elfsborg was a settlement that was part of the 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. It 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. [21]
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.[22] The present courthouse was erected in 1735 during the reign of King George II using locally manufactured bricks.[23] 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.[24] 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.[25]
Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Salem include:
- Benjamin H. Brewster (1816-1888), United States Attorney General from 1881 - 1885.[26]
- Alexander G. Cattell (1816-1894), United States Senator from New Jersey.[27]
- 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.[28]
- William J. Hughes (born 1932), represented New Jersey's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives for 20 years.[29]
- 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.[30]
- 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.[31]
- Clement Hall Sinnickson (1834-1919), represented New Jersey's 1st congressional district from 1875-1879.[32]
- Mark Brown WBF All-Americas Heavyweight Boxing Champion
References
- ^ a b 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2006, p. 19.
- ^ a b Census data for Salem city, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 17, 2008.
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/usamap.cfm. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 217.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ DeLorme (2005). New Jersey Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. ISBN 0-89933-324-9.
- ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ U.S. Census Historical Data 1790-2000, United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 16, 2007.
- ^ Data for 1790-1840 not available
- ^ Salem County mayors, New Jersey Conference of Mayors. Accessed December 17, 2008.
- ^ 2008 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 63. Accessed September 30, 2009.
- ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ "About the Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/about/. Retrieved 6 June 2008.
- ^ 2008 Board of Chosen Freeholders, Salem County, New Jersey. Accessed May 13, 2008.
- ^ Abbott Districts, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 31, 2008.
- ^ Data for the Salem City School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 17, 2008.
- ^ 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."
- ^ Weslager, C. A. New Sweden on the Delaware 1638-1655 (Wilmington: The Middle Atlantic Press, .1988)
- ^ Welcome to King William County
- ^ Welcome to Salem, New Jersey
- ^ Cup O'Jersey South - South Jersey History: William Hancock House, Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey
- ^ "The Story of Robert Gibbon Johnson and the Tomato", The history Highway of the Salem County Historical Society. May 2005. Accessed August 13, 207.
- ^ Benjamin H. Brewster (1882 - 1885): Attorney General, Miller Center of Public Affairs. Accessed November 27, 2007.
- ^ Alexander Gilmore Cattell profile, United States Congress. Accessed July 30, 2007.
- ^ The 50 Greatest New Jersey Sports Figures, Sports Illustrated, December 27, 1999.
- ^ William John Hughes profile, United States Congress. Accessed July 30, 2007.
- ^ Lydell Mitchell, database Football. Accessed February 22, 2008.
- ^ Bass, Alison. "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, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed June 26, 2007.
Imam (Dr.) Muhiyyalin Ibn Noel, formerly Monroe Noel was the first Muslim Chaplain in the history of the United States Navy and the first Muslim Chaplain Candidate in the history of the U.S. Armed Forces. A graduate of Salem High School, Dr. Ibn Noel has served for over 30 years in the Navy and holds graduate and post-graduate degrees in Business, Theology and Anthropology.
Bibliography
- Shourds, Thomas (1876), History and genealogy of Fenwick's Colony, New Jersey, New Jersey: Bridgeton, ISBN 0-8063-0714-5
External links
