Salem | |
|---|---|
 Flag  Logo | |
| Nickname: Cherry City | |
 | |
  Salem Location within the United States  Salem Salem (the United States) | |
| Coordinates: 44°55′23″N 123°01′28″W / 44.92306°N 123.02444°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| Counties | Marion and Polk |
| Founded | 1842 |
| Government | |
| • Type | City Council – City Manager |
| • Mayor | Chris Hoy (D) |
| • City Manager | Keith Stahley[1] |
| Area | |
• City | 49.45 sq mi (128.08 km2) |
| • Land | 48.91 sq mi (126.67 km2) |
| • Water | 0.55 sq mi (1.41 km2) |
| Elevation | 177 ft (54 m) |
| Population | |
• City | 175,535 |
| • Rank | US: 147th |
| • Density | 3,589.09/sq mi (1,385.74/km2) |
| • Urban | 268,331 (US: 152nd)[4] |
| • Urban density | 3,691.8/sq mi (1,425.4/km2) |
| • Metro | 433,353 (US: 125th) |
| Demonym | Salemite[6][7] |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 97301–97306 and 97308–97314 |
| Area codes | 503 and 971 |
| FIPS code | 41-64900 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2411764[3] |
| Website | cityofsalem |
Salem (/ˈseɪləm/ SAY-ləm) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood of West Salem is in Polk County. Salem was founded in 1842, became the capital of the Oregon Territory in 1851, and was incorporated in 1857.
Salem had a population of 175,535 at the 2020 census,[8] making it the third-most populous city in the state after Portland and Eugene. Salem is the principal city of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area, a metropolitan area that covers Marion and Polk counties[9] and had a combined population of 433,353 at the 2020 census.[10] This area is, in turn, part of the Portland–Vancouver–Salem Combined Statistical Area.
The city is home to Willamette University, Corban University, and Chemeketa Community College. The State of Oregon is the largest public employer in the city, and Salem Health is the largest private employer. Transportation includes public transit from Cherriots (legally known as Salem Area Mass Transit District), Amtrak service, as well as limited commercial and non-commercial air travel at McNary Field.[11] Major roads include Interstate 5, Oregon Route 99E, and Oregon Route 22, which connects West Salem across the Willamette River via the Marion Street and Center Street bridges.
- ^ "Salem City Manager Keith Stahley". Salem, Oregon. November 17, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
- ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Salem, Oregon
- ^ "List of 2020 Census Urban Areas". census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnlywas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Maxwell, Michelle (July 28, 2008). "Salemite realizes dream of publishing book". StatesmanJournal.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
- ^ Hagan, Chris (July 26, 2011). "A pair of CC tools for Tuesday". StatesmanJournal.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
Are you a Mid-Valley resident or a Salemite first?
- ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Salem city, Oregon". www.census.gov. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
- ^ "Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas". U.S. Census Bureau. June 15, 2014. Archived from the original on June 27, 2014.
- ^ "2020 Census Metropolitan Statistical Area Profiles" (PDF). Retrieved February 12, 2023.
- ^ "Salem Municipal Airport | Salem, Oregon". www.cityofsalem.net. Retrieved November 10, 2023.