Salem, Missouri
| Salem, Missouri | |
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| — City — | |
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| Coordinates: 37°38′29″N 91°32′20″W / 37.64139°N 91.53889°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Missouri |
| County | Dent |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.18 sq mi (8.24 km2) |
| • Land | 3.18 sq mi (8.24 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,184 ft (361 m) |
| Population (2010)[1] | |
| • Total | 4,950 |
| • Estimate (2011[2]) | 4,956 |
| • Density | 1,556.6/sq mi (601.0/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 65560 |
| Area code(s) | 573 |
| FIPS code | 29-65234[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0725919[4] |
Salem is the county seat of Dent County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,950 at the 2010 census. Salem sits very close to the Ozark Scenic Riverways and is close to Montauk, which is where the Current River begins.
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History [edit]
Dent County was first explored and settled between 1818 and 1829. In 1851 the Missouri Assembly created Dent County from Crawford and Shannon counties. It was named for early settler Lewis Dent, who served as the first representative. A log courthouse, built about 1851 or 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.[5] Village governments were suspended during the Civil War.[6] In 1881, Salem was incorporated as a town.[7]
The town boasts a number of museums including the Ozark Natural & Cultural Resource Center, the Bonebrake Center of Nature and History, and a historic Downtown Walking Tour.[8][9]
In 2013, controversy erupted when the Salem Public Library was sued by the ACLU after local resident Anika Hunter attempted to use the library’s public Internet access to research indigenous American religious and cultural history. The library's internet filtering system prevented her from doing this because it deemed indigenous American tribes’ religion and cultural history to be part of the occult. The library changed it's filtering software before a judgement was handed down. Both sides claimed victory in the court case.[10]
In 2012 Salem attracted widespread media attention when it impounded a labrador retriever accused of biting a child during a backyard play-date.[11][12] Missouri state investigators became involved when allegations that the city was abusing the dog were reported to the Missouri attorney generals office.[13] The dog, Phineas, was eventually scheduled to be euthanized and a judge ruled in favor of the city.[14] Legal action from the dog's owners attracted attention from national news outlets, social media, and even a professional athlete when St. Louis Blues hockey player David Backes publicly spoke out.[15] After months of legal action a new court date was scheduled for May 23, 2013.[16]
Geography [edit]
Salem is located at 37° 38' 29" North, 91° 32' 20" West (37.641445, -91.538929)[17]. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.18 square miles (8.24 km2), all of it land.
Demographics [edit]
2010 census [edit]
As of the census[1] of 2010, there were 4,950 people, 2,152 households, and 1,248 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,556.6 inhabitants per square mile (601.0 /km2). There were 2,408 housing units at an average density of 757.2 per square mile (292.4 /km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.9% White, 0.5% African American, 1.1% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population.
There were 2,152 households out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.1% were 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 [edit]
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 4,854 people, 2,115 households, and 1,269 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,607.4 people per square mile (620.6/km²). There were 2,368 housing units at an average density of 784.2 per square mile (302.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.05% White, 0.74% African American, 0.54% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.25% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or 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 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 [edit]
Salem High School is the only high school located within the city. Salem is also home to an extension of Southwest Baptist University.
Climate [edit]
Salem has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa). It receives cold winters and warm summers with consistent rainfall year-round.
| Climate data for Salem | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °F (°C) | 43 (6) |
49 (9) |
59 (15) |
70 (21) |
77 (25) |
85 (29) |
90 (32) |
89 (32) |
81 (27) |
71 (22) |
57 (14) |
46 (8) |
68 (20) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 23 (−5) |
28 (−2) |
36 (2) |
45 (7) |
53 (12) |
61 (16) |
66 (19) |
64 (18) |
57 (14) |
46 (8) |
37 (3) |
27 (−3) |
45 (7) |
| Precipitation inches (mm) | 2.19 (55.6) |
2.37 (60.2) |
4.02 (102.1) |
4.39 (111.5) |
4.55 (115.6) |
3.64 (92.5) |
3.56 (90.4) |
4.14 (105.2) |
3.80 (96.5) |
3.48 (88.4) |
4.36 (110.7) |
3.40 (86.4) |
43.9 (1,115) |
| Source: [18] | |||||||||||||
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Salem's Historical Walking Tour". Pamphlet, online. City of Salem. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ "Salem's Historic Walking Tour". Pamphlet available on the Internet. City of Salem. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ "Historic Downtown Walking Tour of Salem". Pamphlet available online. City of Salem. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ "Our Community". Salem Missouri Website. City of Salem. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ Pozen, Lauren (16 May 2013). "KSPR33". KSPR33-Shurz Communications. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ Dudley, Allyssa D. (12 March 2013). "Library ACLU declare victory". The Salem News. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ Dudley, Allyssa D. (14 May 2013). "THE TALE OF PHINEAS: The journey started with a dog bite in June of 2012". The Salem News. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ Staff (13 May 2013). "State Investigators Enter Case Of Phineas, Missouri’s Lennox". North Country Gazette: Serving New York and Beyond. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ "State investigators look into Phineas the dog case". Fox Channel 2. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ Dudley, Allyssa D. (11 May 2013). "Phineas in good condition". The Salem News. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ Peters, Chris (17 May 2013). "David Backes taking up fight to save dog on death row". CBS Sports, CBS Broadcasting. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ Staff (17 May 2013). "Phineas the Dog: Court date set in Salem, Missouri over whether to euthanize". KY3. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ "Monthly averages for Salem, MO". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
External links [edit]
Coordinates: 37°38′29″N 91°32′20″W / 37.64139°N 91.53889°W
- City of Salem, Missouri
- Historic maps of Salem in the Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection at the University of Missouri
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