New Salem is an

unincorporated community An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...

located in

Rusk County, Texas Rusk County is a county located in Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 52,214. Its county seat is Henderson. The county is named for Thomas Jefferson Rusk, a secretary of war of the Republic of Texas. Rusk County is part of th ...

, United States. According to the

Handbook of Texas The ''Handbook of Texas'' is a comprehensive encyclopedia of Texas geography, history, and historical persons published by the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). History The original ''Handbook'' was the brainchild of TSHA President Wal ...

, the community had a population of 55 in 2000. It is located within the

Longview, Texas metropolitan area The Longview metropolitan statistical area is a metropolitan area in Northeast Texas that covers three counties— Gregg, Rusk, and Upshur. As of the 2010 census the MSA had a population of 280,000 (though a July 1, 2019 estimate placed the pop ...

History

Before the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

, New Salem was settled by planters. The town was named "Salem" by Oscar Wilson, in honor of his former home in

Victoria County, Texas Victoria County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 91,319. Its county seat is Victoria. Victoria County is included in the Victoria, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area. History * Paleo-I ...

. A

malaria Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases, it can cause jaundice, seizures, coma, or death. S ...

outbreak diminished the community's population. However, the population began to expand in the 1850s with the town being officially incorporated in 1856. A post office was established in 1849; the postmaster was Poindexter Payne. The town's population was 100 in 1855 and decreased to 85 by 1896. The town had three stores, two flour mills, and a

Baptist Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only (believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compete ...

church. The post office was shut down in 1955 and mail was redirected to

Henderson, Texas Henderson is a city and the county seat of Rusk County, Texas, in Northeast Texas. Its population was 13,271 at the 2020 census. Henderson is named for James Pinckney Henderson, the first governor of Texas. The city has functioned as a major cro ...

. The population remained stable at 180 from the 1920s through the 1960s, but by 1970 the population had decreased to 31. In the

2000 United States Census The United States census of 2000, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2 percent over the 248,709,873 people enumerated during the 1990 ce ...

the population was 55. John H. Pruitt was also a major settler in New Salem.

Geography

New Salem is located southwest of Laneville in southwestern Rusk County.

Education

New Salem Academy opened in 1854. Today, the community is served by the

Laneville Independent School District Laneville Independent School District is a public school district based in the community of Laneville, Texas (USA). Laneville ISD has one school, Laneville School that serves students in grades Pre-Kindergarten though twelve. In 2009, the sch ...

References

Unincorporated communities in Rusk County, Texas {{RuskCountyTX-geo-stub