Salem, New Jersey
Salem, New Jersey | |
|---|---|
Location of Salem in Salem County, New Jersey | |
| Coordinates: 39°34′06″N 75°28′21″W / 39.568236°N 75.472553°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Salem |
| Formed | October 1675 |
| Incorporated | February 21, 1798 (as township) |
| Incorporated | February 25, 1858 (as city) |
| Government | |
| • Type | City |
| • Body | City Council |
| • Mayor | Jody Veler (D, term ends December 31, 2024) |
| • Municipal clerk | Ben Angeli |
| Area | |
• Total | 2.81 sq mi (7.29 km2) |
| • Land | 2.34 sq mi (6.07 km2) |
| • Water | 0.47 sq mi (1.22 km2) 16.73% |
| • Rank | 353rd of 565 in state 12th of 15 in county |
| Elevation | 10 ft (3 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 5,296 |
• Estimate (2023) | 5,325 |
| • Rank | 371st of 565 in state 4th of 15 in county |
| • Density | 2,259.4/sq mi (872.4/km2) |
| • Rank | 278th of 565 in state 3rd of 15 in county |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) |
| ZIP Code | 08079 |
| Area code(s) | 856 exchanges 339, 878, 935 |
| FIPS code | 3403365490 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885385 |
| Website | cityofsalemnj |
Salem is a city in and the county seat of Salem County, the most rural county in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The name Salem, for both the city and county, is derived from the Hebrew word shalom, meaning peace. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 5,296, an increase of 150 (+2.9%) from the 2010 census count of 5,146, which in turn reflected a decrease of 711 (−12.1%) from the 5,857 counted in the 2000 census. Salem is part of the Delaware Valley or Philadelphia greater metropolitan area.
The town and colony of Salem was laid out in 1675 by John Fenwick and the community was given permission to choose officers in October 1693. It was incorporated on February 21, 1798, as part of the initial group of 104 townships established by the New Jersey Legislature. On February 25, 1858, it was reincorporated as Salem City.
Salem had the second-highest property tax rate in New Jersey, with an equalized rate of 6.519% in 2020, compared to 3.476% in Salem County and a statewide average of 2.279%.