Salem is a

hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...

(and

census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counte ...

) located in the

town A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city. The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...

of Salem in

Washington County, New York Washington County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 61,302. The county seat is Fort Edward. The county was named for U.S. President George Washington. The county is part of the Capital Dis ...

, United States. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 946 at the 2010 census. The hamlet is located in the north central part of Town of Salem, at the junction of

New York State Route 22 New York State Route 22 (NY 22) is a north–south state highway that parallels the eastern border of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York, from the outskirts of New York City to the hamlet of Mooers (CDP), New York, Mooers i ...

and Washington County routes 30 and 153. It was an incorporated

village A village is a human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand. Although villages are often located in rural areas, the term urban v ...

from 1803 to 2016. Part of the county government was located here, including the jail and the Sheriff's Department. The courthouse, formerly housing the jail, remains a historical landmark in the town. It was built from an E.F. Cummings design in 1869 and remained as the jail until 2004. The Sheriff's Department opened its new sub-station south of the community on Route 22 in August 2007. Government offices for the Town of Salem are located in the hamlet.Town of Salem, Local Governments
Retrieved Apr. 2, 2016.

History

The community was settled in 1762 by settlers from New England and Scotland while still part of Albany County. Salem was incorporated as a village in 1803. The Salem Historic District and

Revolutionary War Cemetery The Revolutionary War Cemetery, also called the Old Salem Burying Ground, is located on Archibald Street, just off state highway NY 22 in the village of Salem, New York, United States. It is a area with over a thousand graves, at least 100 of ...

are listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

. Residents voted in favor, 192 to 49, of dissolving the Village of Salem on August 5, 2014.WAMC Northeast Public Radio, ''Salem Residents Vote To Dissolve Village'' by Lucas Willard, August 6, 2014
Retrieved Mar. 16, 2016. A final dissolution plan was adopted and passed on April 16, 2015. The village officially dissolved on March 31, 2016.
Retrieved Mar. 16, 2016.[http://poststar.com/news/local/village-of-salem-dissolution-is-done/article_d3bf8558-baaf-5f79-9757-67b1ab70e717.html ''The Post-Star'', ''A quiet ending: Village of Salem to finish dissolution at end of the month'' by Kathleen Moore, March 27, 2016.], Retrieved Apr. 2, 2016. It should be classified as a

by the

U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The U.S. Census Bureau is part of the U ...

within the next couple years. All government activities previously managed by the village are now handled by the Town of Salem.

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the hamlet has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.6 km²) NY Route 22 (Main Street) passes through the hamlet and intersects County Roads 30 and 153.

Demographics

As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

of 2000, there were 964 people, 363 households, and 257 families residing in what was then village. The population density was . There were 412 housing units at an average density of 54.3 persons/km² (140.7 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the village was 97.61% white, 1.14% black, 0.10% Native American, 0.10% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. 0.62% of the population were

Hispanic or Latino ''Hispanic'' and '' Latino'' are ethnonyms used to refer collectively to the inhabitants of the United States who are of Spanish or Latin American ancestry (). While many use the terms interchangeably, for example, the United States Census Bureau ...

of any race. There were 363 households, out of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

living together, 14.0% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 29.2% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.98. In the village, the population was spread out, with 26.3% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males. The median income for a household in the village was $37,357, and the median income for a family was $44,375. Males had a median income of $31,625 versus $23,500 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the village was $19,233. 4.5% of the population and 4.2% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 4.5% are under the age of 18 and 4.3% are 65 or older.

Notable people

David Rumsey (New York politician) David Rumsey (December 25, 1810 – March 12, 1883) was a United States representative from New York. Born in Salem, Washington County, he attended school at Auburn and Geneva College (now Hobart College) at Geneva, New York. He studied ...

, former US Congressman

References

External links

Vintage Images of Salem NY and area ~ Richard Clayton Photography
{{authority control Hamlets in New York (state) Glens Falls metropolitan area Hamlets in Washington County, New York Former villages in New York (state) Populated places disestablished in 2016