Salem, New Jersey
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Salem is a City in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the city population was 5,857. It is the county seat of Salem County[Geographic references#6GR6]. The name Salem is related to the Hebrew word shalom, meaning peace.
Geography
Salem is located at (39.569584, -75.467622)[Geographic references#1GR1].According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.3 km² (2.8 mi²). 6.8 km² (2.6 mi²) of it is land and 0.5 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (6.79%) is water.
Salem borders Elsinboro Township, Pennsville Township, Mannington Township, Quinton Township, and Lower Alloways Creek Township.
Demographics
As of the census[Geographic references#2GR2] of 2000, there were 5,857 people, 2,383 households, and 1,463 families residing in the city. The population density was 866.4/km² (2,244.3/mi²). There were 2,863 housing units at an average density of 423.5/km² (1,097.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 37.46% White, 56.77% African American, 0.60% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 1.38% from other races, and 3.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.88% of the population.There were 2,383 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 27.7% were married couples living together, 29.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.0% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 80.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,846, and the median income for a family was $29,699. Males had a median income of $35,389 versus $24,354 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,559. About 24.7% of families and 26.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.3% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Federal, state and county representation
Salem is in the Second Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 3rd Legislative District.New Jersey's Second Congressional District, covering all of Atlantic County, Cape May County, Cumberland County and Salem County and portions of Burlington County and Gloucester County, is represented by Frank LoBiondo (R, Vineland). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Robert Menendez (D, Union City).
The 3rd legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Stephen M. Sweeney (D, Thorofare) and in the Assembly by John J. Burzichelli (D, Thorofare) and Douglas H. Fisher (D, Thorofare). The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).
Salem County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders. Salem County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Lee R. Ware (term ends 2007), Freeholder Deputy Director Bruce L. Bobbitt (2008), Susan A. Bestwick (2007), Charles R. Sullivan (2008), David Lindenmuth (2008), R. Benjamin Simmermon, Jr. (2006) and Beth E. Timberman (2006).
Notable residents
- Leon "Goose" Goslin played Major League Baseball for the Washington Senators, St. Louis Browns and Detroit Tigers. Goslin was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1968. He was one of three players born in New Jersey to be elected to the Hall of Fame, and one of five to have attended school in the State – in each case, the only one from the southern part of the State. In 1999, he ranked Number 89 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was nominated as a finalist for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.
External links
- [Salem, New Jersey]
- [Salem City School District]
- [History of Salem]
- [Today's Sunbeam - Salem's local Newspaper]
- [Salem County Historical Society]
- [Salem page on Salem County website]
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