Salem is a

hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...

(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 count ...

) located in the

town A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world. Origin and use The word "town" shares an ori ...

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. Washington County is part of the Glen ...

, United States. It is part of the

Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area The Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in Upstate New York, anchored by the city of Glens Falls. It is considered to be a part of the greater Capital D ...

. 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, from the outskirts of New York City to the hamlet of Mooers in Clinton County near the Canadian border ...

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

village A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town (although the word is often used to describe both hamlets and smaller towns), with a population typically ranging from a few hundred ...

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 are listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

. 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 (USCB), 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 Census Bureau is part of the ...

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 (USCB), 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 Census Bureau is part of t ...

, the hamlet has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.6 km²)

NY 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, from the outskirts of New York City to the hamlet of Mooers in Clinton County near the Canadian borde ...

(Main Street) passes through the hamlet and intersects County Roads 30 and 153.

Demographics

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...

of 2000, there were 964 people, 363 households, and 257 families residing in what was then village. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical ...

was 329.2 people per square mile (127.0/km²). 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 the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, for example, by the United States ...

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 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 total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

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