City Town Info

Salem, VA


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Salem, Virginia

Introduction to Salem, Virginia

Salem, Virginia is 7 miles W of Roanoke, Virginia (center to center) and 131 miles NW of Raleigh, North Carolina. The people of the city are in the Roanoke metropolitan area. Salem has a population of 24,747.

Salem History

European explorers Thomas Batts and Robert Fallam first arrived in this area in 1671. At that time, it was a village of the Totero people. Batts and Fallam named this area Totero Town. It developed into a small settlement that served travelers on the Great Wilderness Road. The town of Salem was established in 1802 but got its charter in 1806. The most widespread belief behind the naming of the town is that it was named in honor of a prominent citizen, William Bryan, who came from Salem, New Jersey.

Salem and nearby Attractions

  • Blue Ridge Parkway
  • Natural Bridge of Virginia
  • Salem Museum and Historical Society
  • Roanoke Valley Greenways
  • Mill Mountain Zoo
  • Science Museum of Western Virginia & Hopkins Planetarium

Things To Do In Salem

Salem offers facilities for a variety of recreational activities. The city has several parks which provide a host of amenities including playgrounds, sport courts and fields, and picnic pavilions. The Department of Parks and Recreation regularly organizes special events, recreation programs, and tournaments. The Salem Museum has a significant collection of local artifacts such as Native American items, relics from the Civil War, and other historically important items.

Salem Transportation

Roanoke Regional/Woodrum Field Airport provides air transportation.

Salem Higher Education

National Business College, Roanoke College, and Virginia Western Community College are nearby.

High Points

Salem strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Virginia):

CategoryTrophy
Short Commute Times
(vs. State)		Top 9%Salem Short Commute Times
Low Rate of Poverty
(vs. State)		Top 17%Salem Low Rate of Poverty
People in Middle Class or Better
(vs. State)		Top 19%Salem People in Middle Class or Better

Comparative Profile of Salem, VA

Comparing Salem to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Virginia (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Age of the Population85
Female Share of the Population84
Senior Citizens75
Well-Paid Single Women78
Well-Paid Single Men58
Racial Diversity53
Male Share of the Population37
Children Under 5 Years Old12

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Portion of People Married58
Average Household Size36

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
People Above Poverty79
People in Middle Class or Better69
College Educated Adults57
Median Family Income58

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Short Commute Times910
Walking and Biking to Work57
Public Transportation Use46
Working at Home33

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Affordability of Property Taxes73
People Living Alone64
Affordability of Rents63
Seasonal and Vacation Housing54
Housing Recently Built56
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals33

Crime

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Low Violent Crime76
Low Property Crime76

Detailed pages on related topics: Salem colleges • Salem travel • Salem mortgage and property.

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Additional Details

Salem CollegesSalem Colleges
Salem colleges and trade schools.
Salem Hotels & TravelSalem Hotels & Travel
Salem hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation.
Salem MortgageSalem Mortgage
Salem property, mortgage, and real estate.

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