Salem, Oregon
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Salem (IPA: [ˈseɪ lm̩]) is the capital of the state of Oregon in the United States of America, and county seat of Marion County. Part of the city is also in Polk County. It is located in the mid-Willamette Valley, between Portland and Eugene, in one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world. As of July 1, 2005 [link] it had a population of 147,250, making it the second largest city in Oregon (after Portland).
"Salem" is derived from the Arabic word "Salam" and the Hebrew word "Shalom", both meaning "peace". Historically, Salem has been nicknamed the "Cherry City", because of the importance of the local cherry growing industry [link].
History
The Native American name for the area was Chemeketa, which means "meeting or resting place". The name "Chemeketa" is preserved as the name of the local community college, Chemeketa Community College.The first European settlement in the area was the Jason Lee mission in 1840. In 1842, the missionaries established the Oregon Institute (the forerunner of Willamette University) in the area that was to become the first townsite of Salem. In 1844 the mission was dissolved and the townsite established. According to Oregon Geographic Names, it is uncertain who chose the name for the town, but it is believed to be one of two people: Trustee David Leslie from Salem, Massachusetts, or W. H. Willson who in 1850-1851 filed the plats for the main part of the city.
In 1851, Salem became the state capital after it was moved from Oregon City. The capital was moved briefly to Corvallis in 1855, but was moved back to Salem permanently that same year. A two-story state house, which had been occupied for only two months, burned to the ground in December of 1855. Salem was incorporated as a city in 1857.
Oregon's second capitol building was completed in 1876 on the site of the original. The Greek revival-style building was based in part on the U.S. Capitol building. The building received its distinctive copper dome in 1893. Tragically, fire claimed the second Oregon capitol building on April 25, 1935.
The third and current capitol building was completed on the same site in 1938. It is recognizable by its distinctive gold-plated pioneer statue atop the capitol dome.
The first cherry festival in Salem was held in 1903. In the following decades, the event briefly became an annual event, with parades and the election of a cherry queen, but was disbanded after World War I. It was revived briefly as the Salem Cherryland Festival for several years in the late 1940s. [link]
Economy
The city's focus is primarily governmental, but it serves as a hub for the area farming communities and is one of the largest centers of food processing in the nation. It lies along the I-5 corridor and is within an hour's drive of Oregon's largest city, Portland.In a bid to diversify its economic base, Salem attracted a number of computer-related manufacturing plants in the 1990s. In November 2003, the Sumitomo Mitsubishi Silicon Group (SUMCO), one of these arrivals, announced it would be closing its two silicon wafer plants at the end of 2004, eliminating 620 jobs, and moving production to other plants. [link] In June 2006, SUMCO announced that its last facility in the city, a technology center, would close by the end of the year. [link]
The top private employer in Salem is the Salem Hospital with over 2700 employees. Others include the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde's Spirit Mountain Casino west of Salem, the T-Mobile Calling Center, GE Security (Formerly Supra Products Inc.), Norpac Foods Inc. and Fred Meyer. The largest public employer in Salem is the Department of Human Services which employs over 4000 people.
Geography
Salem is located at (44.931109, -123.029159)[Geographic references#1GR1]. The 45th Parallel (halfway between the North Pole and the Equator) passes through Salem's city limits.According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 120.1 km² (46.4 mi²). 118.4 km² (45.7 mi²) of it is land and 1.6 km² (0.6 mi²) of it (1.35%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census[Geographic references#2GR2] of 2000, there were 136,924 people, 50,676 households, and 32,331 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,156.1/km² (2,994.0/mi²). There were 53,817 housing units at an average density of 454.4/km² (1,176.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.07% White, 1.28% African American, 1.51% Native American, 2.41% Asian, 0.47% Pacific Islander, 7.90% from other races, and 3.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.59% of the population.There were 50,676 households out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.7% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 100.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,881, and the median income for a family was $46,409. Males had a median income of $34,746 versus $26,789 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,141. About 10.5% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.2% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.
Points of interest
In addition to the Oregon State Capitol building, Salem is the home of Willamette University, the Mission Mill Museum, the historic Elsinore Theatre, and the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, a minor league baseball team.
Salem maintains 42 city parks. Minto-Browns Island Park is the largest at 900 acres. Bush's Pasture Park, a 90.5 acre urban park a few blocks south of downtown Salem, features natural groves of native Oregon White Oak trees. [link] Riverfront Park, adjacent to downtown, runs along the Willamette River and is the home of the Salem Carousel. [link] The A.C. Gilbert House, located near Riverfront Park, has a toy museum and "discovery house" for children. [link] Salem is also home to one of the smallest city parks in the world, Waldo Park, which consists of a single Sequoia tree. [link] (It used to be claimed that it was the smallest, but Mill Ends Park park in Portland is smaller.)
The federal Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) operates Chemawa Indian School, a Native American boarding school near Salem.
Although the Willamette River flows along the western side of Salem, the North Santiam River Watershed is Salem's primary drinking water source.
The historic Reed Opera House in downtown Salem has a number of local shops and dining establishments. It also includes an art gallery, and the Salem Repertory Theatre presents shows in its Cyrus Reed Ballroom.
Salem has been awarded "Tree City USA" status by the National Arbor Day Foundation for 30 consecutive years for its dedication to urban forestry. [link] Salem was the first city in Oregon to recieve the award. [link] In keeping with the city's "Cherry City" theme, flowering cherry trees have been planted along many Salem streets as well as on the Capitol Mall across from the capitol building.
Events
Every summer from May through October, Salem hosts a Saturday Market just north of the Capitol. There is an emphasis on local products including crafts, baked goods, produce, meat, and other items. There is also a Wednesday Farmers' Market during the summer, as well a Holiday Gift Market in December.Also in the summer is the annual World Beat Festival, sponsored by the nonprofit Salem Multicultural Institute. The event lasts for two days and is held at the Riverfront Park. It features international crafts, music, dance, food, and folklore from every continent.
The Oregon Symphony is based in nearby Portland, but it also hosts a concert series in Salem each year. Its Salem events are held in Smith Auditorium on Willamette University's campus. In addition to the Oregon Symphony, the Salem Chamber Orchestra is a local orchestra which features professional area musicians as well as student musicians from Willamette University. Its shows are played in Hudson Hall in the University's Mary Stuary Rogers Music Hall.
Big name acts such as Korn and Phish have played in the Salem Armory auditorium, and Slayer and Rob Zombie are scheduled to perform there later this year.
The Salem Art Association sponsors the annual Salem Art Fair & Festival, which takes place at Bush's Pasture Park during the summer. Its displays, interactive exhibits, food, and performances attract thousands of visitors each year, making it the largest juried art festival of its kind in the state.
Media
- Salem Monthly is the city's only alternative newspaper.
- The Statesman Journal is Salem's only daily newspaper.
Sister cities
Salem has four sister cities. According to [link], only the Japanese exchange program is currently active:
External links
- [City of Salem]
- [Official tourism site]
- [The Salem Chamber of Commerce]
- [Oregon Blue Book entry for Salem]
- [Salem Saturday Market]
- [Oregon Symphony Association in Salem]
- [Salem Chamber Orchestra]
- [World Beat Festival]
- [Reed Opera House]
- [Salem Art Association]
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