Editing Salem, Missouri

{{For|the community in Lewis County|Salem, Lewis County, Missouri}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Salem, Missouri
| official_name            = City of Salem
| settlement_type          = [[City]]
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline            = 
| imagesize                = 250px
| image_caption            = Downtown Salem
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map                = Dent_County_Missouri_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Salem_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                  = 250px
| map_caption              = Location of Salem, Missouri
| image_map1               = 
| mapsize1                 = 
| map_caption1             = <!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Missouri]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Missouri|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Dent County, Missouri|Dent]]
| subdivision_type3        = [[Civil township|Township]]
| subdivision_name3        = [[Spring Creek East Township, Dent County, Missouri|Spring Creek East]], [[Spring Creek West Township, Dent County, Missouri|Spring Creek West]]
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = [[Mayor–council government]]
| leader_title             = Mayor
| leader_name              = Greg Parker<ref name="Mayor">{{cite web|publisher=The Salem News Online |url=https://www.thesalemnewsonline.com/news/local_news/article_17e9ae84-b546-11ec-ae48-3779ea7c977d.html|title=ELECTION APRIL 22: New mayor, Parker wants to make a difference|date=April 5, 2022 |access-date=February 1, 2023}}</ref>
| leader_title1            = 
| leader_name1             = 
| established_title        = 
| established_date         = <!-- Area -->
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=August 28, 2022}}</ref>
| area_magnitude           = 
| area_total_km2           = 9.01
| area_land_km2            = 9.01
| area_water_km2           = 0.00
| area_total_sq_mi         = 3.48
| area_land_sq_mi          = 3.48
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est           = 
| pop_est_as_of            = 
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_total         = 4608
| population_density_km2   = 511.41
| population_density_sq_mi = 1324.52
<!-- General information -->| timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset               = -6
| timezone_DST             = CDT
| utc_offset_DST           = -5
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft             = 1168
| coordinates              = {{coord|37|38|24|N|91|32|05|W|region:US-MO|display=inline}}
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = 65560
| area_code                = [[Area code 573|573]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 29-65234<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 2396528<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2396528}}</ref>
| website                  = https://www.salemmo.com/
| footnotes                = 
| pop_est_footnotes        = 
| image_blank_emblem       = 
| blank_emblem_type        = Logo
| blank_emblem_size        = 250px
}}

'''Salem''' is the [[county seat]] of [[Dent County, Missouri|Dent County]], [[Missouri]], United States. The population was 4,608 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2965234|access-date=January 19, 2022|website=data.census.gov}}</ref> which allows Salem to become a [[List of cities in Missouri|Class 3 city in Missouri]]; however, the city has chosen to remain a Class 4 city under Missouri Revised Statutes.<ref>{{cite web|last=Missouri Revised Statutes|title=Chapter 77 Third Class Cities|url=http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/chapters/chap077.htm|work=Government regulation publication|publisher=Missouri General Assembly|access-date=June 20, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Missouri Revised Statutes|title=Chapter 79 Fourth Class Cities|url=http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/chapters/chap079.htm|work=State Government Legislation|publisher=Missouri General Assembly|access-date=June 20, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=About Salem, Missouri--Local Government|url=http://www.salemmo.com/city/aboutsalem.asp|work=Government advertising site|publisher=Salem Area Chamber of Commerce|access-date=July 13, 2013}}</ref> Salem is located a few miles{{quantify|date=March 2024}} north of the [[Ozark National Scenic Riverways|Ozark Scenic Riverways]] and close to [[Montauk State Park]], which contains the headwaters of the [[Current River (Ozarks)|Current River]].

The name Salem is derived from the Hebrew word ''[[Shalom]]'', meaning "peace".<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RfAuAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA165 | title=How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named | publisher=The State Historical Society of Missouri | author=Eaton, David Wolfe | year=1916 | pages=165}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:W P Elmer Home and Dent County Museum.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1|Dent County Museum (former home of [[William P. Elmer|W. P. Elmer]])]]
[[File:Bonebrake Center of Nature and History, Salem, Missouri.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1|Bonebrake Center of Nature and History]]
Dent County was first explored by Dustin Counts and settled between 1818 and 1829. In 1851, the Missouri Assembly created Dent County from portions of Crawford Shannon and Texas counties. It was named for early settler Lewis Dent, who served as the first representative. A log courthouse, built {{circa|1851–1852}}, was Dent County's first and was located on the Wingfield farm northeast of Salem. W. P. Williams became the first mayor of Salem in 1860, just after the Missouri State Legislature passed laws regarding the administration of village government.<ref>{{cite web|title=Salem's Historical Walking Tour|url=http://www.salemmo.com/PDF_documents/WakingTour_001.pdf|work=Pamphlet, online|publisher=City of Salem|access-date=May 19, 2013}}</ref>  During the [[American Civil War]], units of the 5th [[Missouri State Militia (Union)|Missouri State Militia]] would sometimes [[garrison]] in Salem.<ref>Hewett, J. (1994). Supplement to the Official records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Wilmington, NC: Broadfoot Pub. Co., Volume 35, p. 136</ref> Village governments were suspended during the Civil War.<ref>{{cite web|title=Salem's Historic Walking Tour|url=http://www.salemmo.com/PDF_documents/WakingTour_001.pdf|work=Pamphlet available on the Internet|publisher=City of Salem|access-date=May 19, 2013}}</ref>  In 1881, Salem was incorporated as a town.<ref>{{cite web|title=Historic Downtown Walking Tour of Salem|url=http://www.salemmo.com/PDF_documents/WakingTour_001.pdf|work=Pamphlet available online|publisher=City of Salem|access-date=May 19, 2013}}</ref>
The town's museums include the Dent County Museum, the Ozark Natural & Cultural Resource Center, the Bonebrake Center of Nature and History, and a historic Downtown Walking Tour.<ref>{{cite web|title=Our Community|url=http://www.salemmo.com/community/ArtsCultureMuseums.asp|work=Salem Missouri Website|publisher=City of Salem|access-date=May 19, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Pozen|first=Lauren|title=KSPR33|url=http://www.kspr.com/|access-date=May 19, 2013|newspaper=KSPR33-Shurz Communications|date=May 16, 2013}}</ref>

The [[Montauk State Park|Dam and Spillway in the Hatchery Area at Montauk State Park]], [[Dent County Courthouse]], [[Lower Parker School]], [[Montauk State Park|Montauk State Park Open Shelter]], [[Nova Scotia Ironworks Historic District]], [[Montauk State Park|Old Mill at Montauk State Park]], and [[W.A. Young House]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|3.18|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.

===Climate===
Salem has a [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Cfa''). It has cool winters and warm summers with consistent rainfall year-round.

{{Weather box
|location = Salem, Missouri (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1903–present)
|single line = Y
| Jan record high F = 84
| Feb record high F = 85
| Mar record high F = 92
| Apr record high F = 93
| May record high F = 97
| Jun record high F = 112
| Jul record high F = 111
| Aug record high F = 112
| Sep record high F = 106
| Oct record high F = 93
| Nov record high F = 86
| Dec record high F = 79
| year record high F = 112
| Jan high F = 42.6
| Feb high F = 47.9
| Mar high F = 57.3
| Apr high F = 68.0
| May high F = 75.5
| Jun high F = 83.2
| Jul high F = 87.6
| Aug high F = 86.8
| Sep high F = 79.5
| Oct high F = 68.8
| Nov high F = 55.7
| Dec high F = 45.2
| year high F = 66.5
| Jan mean F = 32.2
| Feb mean F = 36.7
| Mar mean F = 45.8
| Apr mean F = 56.1
| May mean F = 64.3
| Jun mean F = 72.0
| Jul mean F = 76.3
| Aug mean F = 75.1
| Sep mean F = 67.5
| Oct mean F = 56.8
| Nov mean F = 45.2
| Dec mean F = 35.6
| year mean F = 55.3
| Jan low F = 21.8
| Feb low F = 25.6
| Mar low F = 34.2
| Apr low F = 44.2
| May low F = 53.1
| Jun low F = 60.9
| Jul low F = 64.9
| Aug low F = 63.4
| Sep low F = 55.5
| Oct low F = 44.9
| Nov low F = 34.7
| Dec low F = 26.0
| year low F = 44.1
| Jan record low F = −28
| Feb record low F = −23
| Mar record low F = −8
| Apr record low F = 13
| May record low F = 29
| Jun record low F = 30
| Jul record low F = 44
| Aug record low F = 39
| Sep record low F = 27
| Oct record low F = 16
| Nov record low F = -2
| Dec record low F = −21
| year record low F = −28
| precipitation colour= green
| Jan precipitation inch = 2.69
| Feb precipitation inch = 2.81
| Mar precipitation inch = 4.04
| Apr precipitation inch = 4.98
| May precipitation inch = 5.63
| Jun precipitation inch = 4.22
| Jul precipitation inch = 3.68
| Aug precipitation inch = 4.33
| Sep precipitation inch = 4.03
| Oct precipitation inch = 3.71
| Nov precipitation inch = 3.93
| Dec precipitation inch = 2.95
| year precipitation inch = 47.00
| Jan snow inch = 0.2
| Feb snow inch = 0.4
| Mar snow inch = 0.5
| Apr snow inch = 0.0
| May snow inch = 0.0
| Jun snow inch = 0.0
| Jul snow inch = 0.0
| Aug snow inch = 0.0
| Sep snow inch = 0.0
| Oct snow inch = 0.0
| Nov snow inch = 0.1
| Dec snow inch = 0.1
| year snow inch = 1.3
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 8.7
| Feb precipitation days = 9.0
| Mar precipitation days = 10.4
| Apr precipitation days = 10.6
| May precipitation days = 12.0
| Jun precipitation days = 9.5
| Jul precipitation days = 9.0
| Aug precipitation days = 8.2
| Sep precipitation days = 7.0
| Oct precipitation days = 8.3
| Nov precipitation days = 9.3
| Dec precipitation days = 9.0
| year precipitation days = 111.0
| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days = 0.2
| Feb snow days = 0.2
| Mar snow days = 0.1
| Apr snow days = 0.0
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.0
| Nov snow days = 0.1
| Dec snow days = 0.1
| year snow days = 0.7
|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name = NOAA >
{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=sgf
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = August 2, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00237506&format=pdf
| title = Station: Salem, MO
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = August 2, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 280
|1880= 1624
|1890= 1815
|1900= 1481
|1910= 1796
|1920= 1771
|1930= 2250
|1940= 3151
|1950= 3611
|1960= 3870
|1970= 4363
|1980= 4454
|1990= 4486
|2000= 4854
|2010= 4950
|2020= 4608
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
[[File:Lower Parker School House MO NPS.jpg|thumb|The Lower Parker School House which has been placed on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Missouri|National Register of Historic Places]].]]
[[File:Dent County Courthouse, Salem, Missouri.jpg|thumb|The Dent County Courthouse has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Missouri.]]
[[File:Old Mill, Montauk State Park, Missouri 2019.jpg|thumb|Old Mill at Montauk State Park has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.]]
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 19, 2013}}</ref> of 2010, there were 4,950 people, 2,152 households, and 1,248 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1556.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 2,408 housing units at an average density of {{convert|757.2|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.94% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.53% [[Black (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.13% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.16% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.08% [[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.32% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.84% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.17% of the population.

There were 2,152 households, of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.0% were non-families. 37.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.93.

The median age in the city was 39.5 years. 24.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.5% were from 25 to 44; 24.1% were from 45 to 64; and 20.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.5% male and 53.5% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 4,854 people, 2,115 households, and 1,269 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,607.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,368 housing units at an average density of {{convert|784.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.05% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.74% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.54% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.16% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.25% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.26% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.82% of the population.

There were 2,115 households, out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 36.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.4% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 23.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $21,648, and the median income for a family was $29,460. Males had a median income of $27,006 versus $17,285 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $12,766. About 12.9% of families and 17.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 22.8% of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
[[Salem High School (Missouri)|Salem High School]] is the only high school located within the city. Salem is also home to an extension of [[Southwest Baptist University]].

Salem has a lending library, the Salem Public Library.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.publiclibraries.com/missouri.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610012728/http://www.publiclibraries.com/missouri.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=June 10, 2017 | title=Missouri Public Libraries | publisher=PublicLibraries.com | access-date=June 2, 2019}}</ref>

==Notable people==
<!--Please only add people with referenced connections to Salem, MO and who also have a Wikipedia article written about him or her-->
*[[James Yancy Callahan]], [[Delegate (United States Congress)|delegate]] to the [[United States House of Representatives]] representing the [[Oklahoma Territory]] (1887–1899)
*[[Ben Cantwell]], [[MLB]] baseball player
*[[Orien Crow]], [[NFL]] football player
*[[William P. Elmer]], [[U.S. Representative]] from [[Missouri's 8th congressional district]] (1943–1945)
*[[Ralph K. Hofer]], World War II [[Royal Canadian Air Force|Royal Canadian]] and (later) American fighter pilot, killed in action and recipient of the [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)]]
*[[Elmer Jacobs]], [[MLB]] [[baseball]] player
*[[Doug Dillard]] and [[Mitchell F. Jayne]] of [[The Dillards]], [[Bluegrass music|bluegrass]] musicians
*[[Paulette Jiles]], [[novelist]] and [[poet]]
*[[Jason T. Smith]], [[U.S. Representative]] from [[Missouri's 8th congressional district]] (2013- )

==See also==
[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Dent County, Missouri]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Coord|37|38|29|N|91|32|20|W|source:enwiki-plaintext-parser|display=title}}
* [http://www.salemmo.com/ Salem, Missouri Chamber of Commerce website]
* Historic maps of Salem in the [http://dl.mospace.umsystem.edu/mu/islandora/object/mu%3A138954 Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection] at the [[University of Missouri]]

{{Dent County, Missouri}}
{{Missouri county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Dent County, Missouri]]
[[Category:County seats in Missouri]]
[[Category:Cities in Missouri]]