Salem (town), New York
Encyclopedia
Salem is a town in eastern Washington County
, New York
. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town population was 2,702 at the 2000 census. The town of Salem contains a village also named Salem
.
, County Monaghan, Ireland.
The Charlotte County and White Creek militia used Salem as its base in 1776.
The 123rd Volunteer Regiment was recruited from Salem during the Civil War.
, the town has a total area of 52.5 square miles (136.0 km²), of which, 52.5 square miles (135.9 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.10%) is water.
The east town line is the border of Vermont
, and the beginning of New England
proper. Part of the west and south town lines are defined by the Batten Kill
, a tributary of the Hudson River
that has its beginnings in Vermont.
NY Route 29
joins NY Route 22
at Greenwich Junction, and Route 22 continues north into the town of Hebron, New York
.
of 2000, there were 2,702 people, 1,065 households, and 740 families residing in the town. The population density
was 51.5 people per square mile (19.9/km²). There were 1,285 housing units at an average density of 9.5 persons/km² (24.5 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the town was 98.11% White, 0.93% African American
, 0.07% Native American, 0.19% Asia
n, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.04% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. 0.56% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 1,065 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples
living together, 9.5% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 30.5% were non-families. 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 102.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $40,227, and the median income for a family was $45,668. Males had a median income of $32,821 versus $22,167 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,499. 8.3% of the population and 5.6% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 9.1% are under the age of 18 and 5.9% are 65 or older.
Washington County, New York
Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the Glens Falls, New York, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 63,216. It was named for the Revolutionary War general George Washington...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town population was 2,702 at the 2000 census. The town of Salem contains a village also named Salem
Salem (village), New York
Salem is a village located in the town of Salem in Washington County, New York. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The village population was 964 at the 2000 census....
.
History
Salem was first settled in 1761 by Joshua Conkey and James Turner who as soldiers in the French and Indian War, passed through the territory. In 1764, Alexander and James Turner acquired a patent which was soon divided up between the New Englanders from Pelham Mass. and a group of Scotch-Irish Presbyterians led by Dr Thomas Clark from BallybayBallybay
Ballybay, County Monaghan is a town in County Monaghan in Ireland, centered on the crossroads of the R183 and R162 regional roads. The name in English means "The Mouth of the Ford of the Birches".- Town layout :...
, County Monaghan, Ireland.
The Charlotte County and White Creek militia used Salem as its base in 1776.
The 123rd Volunteer Regiment was recruited from Salem during the Civil War.
People of note in the town of Salem
- Francis J. ClarkFrancis J. ClarkFrancis J. Clark was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.-Biography:...
, WWII Congressional Medal of Honor recipient; entered the service in Salem. - Dr. Asa FitchAsa FitchDr. Asa Fitch Dr. Asa Fitch Dr. Asa Fitch (February 24, 1809 – April 8, 1879. His early studies were of both natural history and medicine, which he studied at the newly formed Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, graduating in 1827. However, in 1838 he decided to start studying agriculture and...
(1803 - 1879) - Noted entomologist; born, educated, and died in Salem. - Sigurd RaschèrSigurd RaschèrSigurd Manfred Raschèr was an American saxophonist of German birth. He became one of the most important figures in the development of the 20th century repertoire for the classical saxophone.-Career in Europe:...
, Musician. - Matt Brian, the controversial star of YoutubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
's The Hicks.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 52.5 square miles (136.0 km²), of which, 52.5 square miles (135.9 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.10%) is water.
The east town line is the border of Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, and the beginning of New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
proper. Part of the west and south town lines are defined by the Batten Kill
Batten Kill
The Batten Kill, or Battenkill, or the Battenkill River, is a river rising in Vermont that flows into New York and is a tributary of the Hudson River....
, a tributary of the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
that has its beginnings in Vermont.
NY Route 29
New York State Route 29
New York State Route 29 is a state highway extending for across the eastern portion of the U.S. state of New York. The western terminus of the route is at NY 28 and NY 169 in Middleville, Herkimer County. The eastern terminus of the route is at NY 22 just south of Salem,...
joins NY Route 22
New York State Route 22
New York State Route 22 is a north–south state highway in eastern New York in the United States. It runs parallel to the state's eastern edge from the outskirts of New York City to a short distance south of the Canadian border. At , it is the state's longest north–south route and...
at Greenwich Junction, and Route 22 continues north into the town of Hebron, New York
Hebron, New York
Hebron is a town in Washington County, New York, United States. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town population was 1,773 at the 2000 census...
.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,702 people, 1,065 households, and 740 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 51.5 people per square mile (19.9/km²). There were 1,285 housing units at an average density of 9.5 persons/km² (24.5 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the town was 98.11% White, 0.93% African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 0.07% Native American, 0.19% Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.04% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. 0.56% of the population were Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
or Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
of any race.
There were 1,065 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.5% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 30.5% were non-families. 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 102.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $40,227, and the median income for a family was $45,668. Males had a median income of $32,821 versus $22,167 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $19,499. 8.3% of the population and 5.6% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 9.1% are under the age of 18 and 5.9% are 65 or older.
Communities
- Eagleville – A hamlet at the south town line on the Batten Kill.
- Fitch Point – A hamlet near the west town line on NY-29.
- Greenwich Junction – A hamlet southeast of Salem village at the junction of NY-22 and NY-29.
- Rexleigh – A hamlet at the east town line on the Batten Kill.
- SalemSalem (village), New YorkSalem is a village located in the town of Salem in Washington County, New York. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The village population was 964 at the 2000 census....
– A village located on NY-22. - ShushanShushan, New YorkShushan is a hamlet in the town of Salem in Washington County, New York, United States. It is in the eastern region of the state, located four miles west of the Vermont border. Its ZIP code is 12873....
– A hamlet at the south town line on the Batten Kill. It is the location of the Shushan BridgeShushan BridgeShushan Bridge is a covered bridge over the Batten Kill in the hamlet of Shushan in Washington County, New York, near Vermont. It is one of 29 surviving historic covered bridges in New York State, and one of 4 surviving in Washington County....
, an historic covered bridge. Part of the community is in the town of JacksonJackson, New YorkJackson is a town in southeastern Washington County, New York, United States. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town population was 1,718 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Andrew Jackson.- History :...
.
Geographical features
- Black Creek – A stream flowing through the western part of the town.
- Blind Buck Brook – A stream entering the Batten Kill south of Rexleigh.
- Camden Creek – A stream in the eastern part of the town, It enters the Batten Kill west of Eagleville.
- Dillon Hill – An elevation by the west town line.
- East Beaver Brook – A stream flowing through Salem village.
- Juniper Swamp Brook – A tributary of the Batten Kill.
- Scott Lake – A lake near the north town line.
- Steele Brook – A stream west of Camden Creek. It enters the Batten Kill west of Eagleville.
- West Beaver Brook – A tributary of Black Brook.
- Wheeler Hill – An elevation by the east town line.
Points of interest
- Shushan Covered Bridge
- Rexleigh Covered Bridge
- Eagleville Covered Bridge
- Georgi Museum & Gardens; art collection of Italian, Dutch, Flemish, German and French paintings from the fourteenth through the eighteenth centuries.
- Revolutionary War Cemetery
- Historic Salem Courthouse & Prison