Salem, Oregon

Salem: The capital of Oregon. It is located on the Willamette River in northwestern Oregon. Salem is known for its many historic buildings, its many parks and green spaces, and its many attractions, such as the Oregon State Capitol and the Oregon Historical Society Museum.

About

Salem is a city located in the county of Marion in the U.S. state of Oregon. Its population at the 2010 census was 154,637 and a population density of 1,216 people per km². After 10 years in 2020 city had an estimated population of 175,891 inhabitants.

The city was created 182 years ago in 1841.

Salem is the capital and second-largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. Salem was founded in 1842 and has served as the capital of Oregon since 1851.

Early History

The area where Salem now sits was originally home to the Kalapuya Native Americans who had inhabited the valley for over 10,000 years before Europeans arrived. The origin of the city's name Salem is somewhat disputed but is most likely derived from the Hebrew word "Shalom" meaning peace.

In 1842, the Methodist Mission established the town of Salem which served as a trading post and layover for settlers heading to the Oregon Territory. Salem was incorporated as a city in 1857 and selected as the state capital in 1864.

Salem as the Capital

After Salem was named capital, the city began to develop rapidly. The Oregon State Capitol building was constructed in 1938 and remains the primary government building today. Salem also became home to Willamette University, the oldest university in the western United States, which was established in 1842.

As the capital, Salem is the center of governance for the state. Both the state legislature and the governor's office are located in Salem along with the Oregon Supreme Court. Numerous state agencies and departments are headquartered in office buildings throughout the city.

Tourism and Recreation

Today, Salem is also known as a hub for agriculture, education, and tourism. Some points of interest include:

  • The Oregon State Fair held annually in Salem
  • Riverfront Park which runs along the Willamette River
  • The Oregon State Capitol State Park
  • Minto-Brown Island Park, the largest city park in Salem

Salem provides residents and visitors with a small city feel while also serving as the center of state government and politics in Oregon. With historic architecture, parks, and a university campus, Salem has much to offer visitors and residents.

Salem locator map
Location of Salem on Oregon map.

Quick Facts about Salem

Population : 175,891 (2020)
Country : United States of America
State : Oregon (United States)
County : Marion County
Postal code : 97317, 97301–97312, 97314
Area : 127.22 km2
Official name : Salem
Altitude : 1,532 feet / 467 meters
Capital city : Salem is capital of Marion County, Oregon
Establishment : January 01, 1842 (182 years ago)
Time Zone : Pacific Time Zone, UTC−07:00, UTC−08:00
Local time : 00:57:25 (3rd December 2024)
Density : 1,383 Pop. per km² as of 2020
Population growth : 12.08% (2010-2020)
ORCap3 image
ORCap3
ORCap3 image

Geography

Salem is located at 44°56'34"N 123°2'6"W (44.9429000, -123.0351000).

Salem map

    Anna Peterson ,

  • Kawagoe
  • Simferopol (1986 )

Demographics

The population of Salem increased by 12.08% in 10 years.

Year Population % Change Method
2010 154,637 - census
2011 156,171 0.98% estimation process
2012 157,369 0.76% estimation process
2013 158,814 0.91% estimation process
2014 160,675 1.16% estimation process
2015 163,175 1.53% estimation process
2016 166,478 1.98% estimation process
2017 169,627 1.86% estimation process
2018 172,646 1.75% estimation process
2019 174,365 0.99% estimation process
2020 175,891 0.87% estimation process

Salem zip code is 97301. County name: Marion, County fips: 41047

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Where ot Eat in Salem

1 The Grand Hotel in Salem

Rating: 4.5 (1017)

201 Liberty St SE, Salem, OR 97301, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +15035407800 🔗 Url

The Grand Hotel in Salem

Where to Stay in Salem

1 Motel 6 Salem, OR

Rating: 3.2 (1656)

1401 Hawthorne Ave NE, Salem, OR 97301, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +15033718024 🔗 Url

Motel 6 Salem, OR

2 Days Inn by Wyndham Black Bear

Rating: 3.4 (756)

1600 Motor Ct NE, Salem, OR 97301, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +15039678153 🔗 Url

Days Inn by Wyndham Black Bear

3 Motel 6 Salem, OR - Expo Center

Rating: 3.3 (711)

3195 Portland Rd NE, Salem, OR 97301, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +15035852900 🔗 Url

Motel 6 Salem, OR - Expo Center

4 Howard Johnson by Wyndham Salem

Rating: 3.4 (611)

2250 Mission St SE, Salem, OR 97302, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +15039678461 🔗 Url

Howard Johnson by Wyndham Salem

5 Phoenix Inn Suites Salem

Rating: 4.1 (589)

4370 Commercial St SE, Salem, OR 97302, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +15035889220 🔗 Url

Phoenix Inn Suites Salem

Other Places in Salem

1 City of Salem Utility Billing

Rating: 1.9 (27)

1410 20th St SE, Salem, OR 97302, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +15035886099 🔗 Url

2 Salem Municipal Court

Rating: 2.7 (15)

555 Liberty St SE UNIT 215, Salem, OR 97301, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +15035886146 🔗 Url

Salem Municipal Court

3 City of Salem Public Works

Rating: 2.6 (8)

555 Liberty St SE UNIT 325, Salem, OR 97301, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +15035886211 🔗 Url

4 Oregon Department of Agriculture

Rating: 5 (6)

635 Capitol St NE, Salem, OR 97301, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +15039864550 🔗 Url

Oregon Department of Agriculture

5 Salem City Hall

Rating: 3.2 (6)

555 Liberty St SE, Salem, OR 97301, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +15035886255 🔗 Url

Salem City Hall

6 City of Salem

Rating: 1.2 (5)

555 Liberty St SE, Salem, OR 97301, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ 🔗 Url

7 Salem Building & Safety Division

Rating: 3 (4)

555 Liberty St SE, Salem, OR 97301, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +15035886256 🔗 Url

Salem Building & Safety Division

8 Salem Fire Department - Headquarters

Rating: 5 (4)

370 Trade St SE, Salem, OR 97301, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +15035886245 🔗 Url

Salem Fire Department - Headquarters

9 Salem City Council

Rating: 2.5 (4)

555 Liberty St SE #240, Salem, OR 97301, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +15035886255 🔗 Url

10 Salem Police Department

Rating: 2 (2)

333 Division St NE, Salem, OR 97301, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +15035886123 🔗 Url

Salem Police Department

People born in Salem (138)

People born in Salem, including movie actress & model Carmella Bing, alpine skier Debbie Armstrong, fantasy writer Patricia A. McKillip, .

List

  • Cathy McMorris Rodgers (U.S. Representative from Washington) she was born in 22/05/1969
  • Randall Woodfield (American serial killer and rapist) he was born in 26/12/1950
  • Jim Pepper (Kaw-Muscogee Creek jazz musician) he was born in 18/06/1941
  • Linda Friday (American movie actress) she was born in 14/07/1971
  • Kate Nauta (American model, actress, singer.) she was born in 29/04/1982
  • John Zerzan (American anarchist and primitivist philosopher and author) he was born in 01/01/1943
  • Justin Kirk (American actor) he was born in 28/05/1969
  • Zollie Volchok (American basketball executive) he was born in 22/09/1916
  • Alfred Carlton Gilbert (American athlete, inventor, and businessman) he was born in 15/02/1884
  • Theodore Thurston Geer (American politician (1851-1924)) he was born in 12/03/1851
  • Jed Lowrie (American baseball player) he was born in 17/04/1984
  • David Qualey (American composer) he was born in 30/12/1947
  • Edith Brown Weiss (American jurist) she was born in 19/02/1942
  • George Andrews (American mathematician) he was born in 04/12/1938
  • Samuel Colt (Americanmovie actor) he was born in 06/12/1973
  • Patrick Carman (American writer) he was born in 27/02/1966
  • Kat Bjelland (American musician) she was born in 09/12/1963
  • Porter Peter Lowry (U.S. botanist and curator) he was born in 27/10/1956

Schools in Salem

College & universities near Salem, OR

Code Name City ZIP
491242 Johnny Matthew's Hairdressing Training School Salem (OR) 97301
210401 Willamette University Salem (OR) 97301
208433 College of Hair Design Careers Salem (OR) 97301-1952
209694 Phagans School of Beauty Salem (OR) 97301
441663 Institute of Technology Salem (OR) 97305

Stations (15)

Amtrak & bus stations near Salem, OR

Code Name Address Type
SLM Salem station 500 13th Street SE RAIL
WBN Woodburn, OR 2900 Tom Tennant Drive BUS
ALY Albany station 110 10th Ave SW RAIL
CVI Corvallis, Oregon 153 NW 4th Avenue BUS
ORC Oregon City station 1757 Washington Street RAIL

Post offices near Salem

Post Office Name City ZIP
Pringle Park Post Office Salem (OR) 97301
West Salem Post Office Salem (OR) 97304
Hollywood Post Office Salem (OR) 97301
Salem Post Office Salem (OR) 97301
Vista Post Office Salem (OR) 97302

Other places with the same name (25)

  • Salem , Massachusetts The capital of Massachusetts. It is located on the North River in the northeastern part of the state. Salem is known for its many parks and green spaces, its many historical sites, and its many attractions, such as the Salem Witch Museum and the Salem Maritime National Historic Site. with a population of 43,581 people.
  • Salem , New Hampshire town in New Hampshire, United States with a population of 30,641 people.
  • Salem , Virginia City in Page County, Virginia, United States with a population of 25,340 people.
  • Salem , Utah city in Utah County, Utah, United States with a population of 8,866 people.
  • Salem , Illinois city in Illinois with a population of 6,952 people.
  • Salem , Michigan township in Washtenaw County, Michigan with a population of 6,464 people.
  • Salem , Pennsylvania township in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania with a population of 6,367 people.
  • Salem , Indiana city in Washington Township, Washington County, Indiana, United States with a population of 6,236 people.
  • Salem , Indiana city in Washington Township, Washington County, Indiana, United States with a population of 6,217 people.
  • Salem , Missouri city in Missouri, United States with a population of 4,874 people.
  • Salem , New Jersey city in Salem County, New Jersey, USA with a population of 4,713 people.
  • Salem , Connecticut town in New London County, Connecticut, United States with a population of 4,083 people.
  • Salem , New York city in Washington Township, Washington County, Indiana, United States with a population of 2,607 people.
  • Salem , North Carolina township in Burke County, North Carolina with a population of 2,218 people.
  • Salem , Arkansas city in Arkansas, United States with a population of 1,655 people.
  • Salem , West Virginia city in West Virginia with a population of 1,511 people.
  • Salem , Ohio city in Ohio with a population of 956 people.
  • Salem , Kentucky city in Kentucky, United States with a population of 717 people.
  • Salem , Wisconsin civil town in Kenosha County, Wisconsin with a population of 529 people.
  • Salem , Iowa city in Iowa, United States with a population of 380 people.
  • Salem , Kansas city (possibly historical) with a population of 305 people.
  • Salem , South Dakota city in South Dakota, United States of America with a population of 153 people.
  • Salem , South Carolina town in South Carolina, United States with a population of 153 people.
  • Salem , Nebraska village in Nebraska, United States with a population of 103 people.

Other cities in Marion County

Cities, towns, neighborhoods & other populated places in Marion County , OR. (more)

City Name Population Title
Keizer 39,593 City in Oregon, USA
Woodburn 26,175 City in Oregon, USA
Hayesville 19,936 City in Keokuk County, Iowa, United States of America
Four Corners 15,947 Region of the United States consisting of the southwestern corner of Colorado, northwestern corner of New Mexico, northeastern corner of Arizona and southeastern corner of Utah
Silverton 10,617 Historic district in the United States
Stayton 8,256 City in Oregon, USA
Aumsville 4,202 City in Oregon, USA
Mount Angel 3,650 Mountain in Oregon, United States of America
Hubbard 3,595 City in Oregon, USA
Jefferson 3,386 City in Marion County, Texas, USA
Sublimity 2,784 City in Oregon, USA
Gervais 2,774 City in Oregon, USA
Turner 2,130 City in Oregon, USA
Donald 1,064 City in Oregon, USA
Aurora 1,039 City in Oregon, USA
Gates 515 City in Oregon, USA

Distance to Other Cities

Salem distances to largest Oregon cities