Salem is the largest city in Columbiana County, Ohio, United States. At the 2020 census, the city's population was 11,915. Extending into southern Mahoning County, it is the principal city of the Salem micropolitan area, which includes all of Columbiana County. It lies about southwest of Youngstown, east of Canton, and southeast of Cleveland.
Founded by the Quaker society in 1806, Salem was notably active in the abolitionist movement of the early- to mid-19th century as a hub for the American Underground Railroad. Through the 20th century, Salem served as one of many industrial towns in Northeast Ohio's Mahoning Valley region. Today, the city is a commuter town and an economic center of Columbiana County, home to Allegheny Wesleyan College and Kent State University at Salem.
History
Salem was founded by a New Jersey clockmaker, Zadok Street, and a Pennsylvanian potter, John Straughan, in 1806. The city was named after Salem, New Jersey, Street's native community. The name Salem itself is a biblical derivative of Jerusalem in the Middle East, which means "city of peace". The city's early settlers included the Religious Society of Friends, also known as Quakers, which the local school district's sports teams honor by referring to themselves collectively as the Salem Quakers. Salem was incorporated in 1830.
Radio DJ Alan Freed was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Salem. While working at a radio station in Cleveland, he coined the phrase "Rock & Roll".
Advantageously located between Cleveland and Pittsburgh, Salem thrived on an industrial-based economy. For several decades, Salem's largest corporations included American Standard Brands, Eljer, Mullins Manufacturing, Deming Pump, and Salem China. Today, American Standard, a Fresh Mark, Inc meat production facility, and several tool-and-die manufacturers remain.
Reform efforts
Salem was a center for reform activity in several ways. The Anti-Slavery Bugle, an abolitionist newspaper, was published in Salem beginning in 1845. A local group of the Progressive Friends, an association of Quakers who separated from the main body partly to be freer to work for such causes as abolitionism and women's rights, formed in Salem in 1849. The local school board at that time was composed entirely of abolitionists.
Salem was the site of an annual conference, the Anti-Slavery Fair, whose purpose was to raise money for anti-slavery activities.
In April 1850, Salem hosted the first Women's Rights Convention in Ohio, the third such convention in the United States. (The first was the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848; the second was the Rochester Convention two weeks later.) The Salem Convention was the first of these conventions to be organized on a statewide basis. All the convention officers were women. Men were not allowed to vote, sit on the platform, or speak during the convention. The male spectators were supportive, however, and when the convention was over, they created an organization of their own and endorsed the actions of the women's convention.
Geography
Salem is located at (40.900885, −80.852831).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of , all land. Salem is the largest incorporated place by area in Columbiana County.
The city of Salem is mostly surrounded by Perry Township. As with other Ohio townships, Perry Township has been subject to annexation in recent years. Residents of land annexed to the city of Salem enjoy all benefits other city residents enjoy, and by Ohio law are now residents of the city. Several acres of Salem Township and Green Township were annexed into the city limits in 2000 and 2001. Other actions to spur economic development undertaken around the same time annexed specific land: in 1999, of Salem Township were granted police and fire protection, snow removal service, and other standard services already provided by the city by ordinance passed by the city government.
Demographics
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 12,303 people, 5,272 households, and 3,118 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 5,763 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 95.9% White, 0.7% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 1.6% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the population.