Salem is a city in and the county seat of Marion County, Illinois, United States. The population was 7,485 at the 2010 census.
Geography
Salem is located at (38.6282, -88.9482).
According to the 2010 census, Salem has a total area of , of which (or 97.79%) is land and (or 2.21%) is water.
Climate
History
Salem was formerly a sundown town. For decades, Salem had signs on each main road going into town, telling the blacks, that they were not allowed in town after sundown."
Demographics
At the 2000 census there were 7,909 people in 3,249 households, including 2,082 families, in the city. The population density was 1,296.5 people per square mile (500.6/km). There were 3,473 housing units at an average density of 569.3 per square mile (219.8/km). The racial makeup of the city was 97.13% White, 0.72% African American, 0.30% Native American, 1.15% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 0.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.72%.
Of the 3,249 households, 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 32.3% of households were one person and 17.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.91.
The age distribution was 23.5% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.
The median household income was $34,339 and the median family income was $42,070. Males had a median income of $31,811 versus $21,931 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,954. About 6.1% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Public schools:
Salem Community High School
Salem Elementary School
Selmaville Elementary School
Notable people
William Jennings Bryan, 41st US Secretary of State; US congressman representing Nebraska's 1st district, 3-time U.S. presidential candidate; born in Salem
Charles W. Bryan, 20th and 23rd governor of Nebraska; younger brother of William Jennings Bryan; born in Salem
Jim Finks, pro football player and executive; attended high school in Salem
Jim Bredar, basketball player for 1950-51 Illinois team that reached NCAA basketball tournament's Final Four; born in Salem
Merle Harmon, sports broadcaster; born in Salem
Bill Laswell, bassist, producer, and record label owner
Jess Marlow, television journalist; born in Salem
Rockette Morton, musician and bassist with Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band.
John T. Scopes, science teacher who defended the teaching of Evolution against William Jennings Bryan in Dayton, Tennessee at the Scopes Trial
Morrie Steevens, pitcher for Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies; born in Salem
Erastus D. Telford, Illinois state senator and lawyer
Jared Simmons, musician with Vipid who performed at one of the largest digital music events, #iVoted Festival in 2020; born in Salem
Arts and culture
Salem is said to be home to Miracle Whip salad dressing and three homes on the National Register of Historic Places: the Charles and Naomi Bachmann House, the Badollet House, and the William Jennings Bryan Boyhood Home. Recently Grace United Methodist Church was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered an address on May 3, 1934, dedicating a statue of William Jennings Bryan created by Borglum. This Bryan statue by Borglum originally stood in Washington, D.C. but was displaced by highway construction in 1961 moved by an Act of Congress to Salem, Illinois, Bryan's birthplace with formal Congressional approval in 1974.
