Salem

Sister cities

• Simferopol
• Kawagoe

History

Salem was founded in 1842, became the capital of the Oregon Territory in 1851, and was incorporated in 1857. The Native Americans who inhabited the central Willamette Valley at first European contact, the Kalapuya, called the area Chim-i-ki-ti, which is thought to mean "meeting or resting place" in the Central Kalapuya language (Santiam). When the Methodist Mission moved to the area, they called the new establishment Chemeketa; although it was more widely known as the Mill, because of its situation on Mill Creek. When the Oregon Institute was established, the community became known as the institute. The Reverend David Leslie, President of the town's Trustees, also wanted a Biblical name, and suggested using the last five letters of "Jerusalem". The Vern Miller Civic Center, which houses the city offices and library, has a public space dedicated as the Peace Plaza in recognition of the names by which the city has been known. In 1842, the missionaries established the Oregon Institute (the forerunner of Willamette University) in the area that was to become the site of Salem. In 1844, the mission was dissolved and the town site established. In 1851, Salem became the territorial 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. Salem incorporated as a city in 1857, and with the coming of statehood in 1859, it became the state capital. Oregon has had three capitol buildings in Salem. A two-story state house, which had been occupied for only two months, burned to the ground in December 1855. 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…

Geography

Salem is located in the north-central Willamette Valley, in Marion and Polk counties. The 45th Parallel (roughly the halfway point 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 , of which is land and (1.11%) is water. Although the Willamette River flows through Salem, the North Santiam River watershed is Salem's primary drinking water source. Other important streams that pass through Salem are Mill Creek, the Mill Race, Pringle Creek, and Shelton Ditch. Smaller streams in the southern and southeastern parts of the city include Clark Creek, Jory Creek, Battle Creek, Croisan Creek, and Claggett Creek, while Glen Creek and Brush Creek flow through West Salem. its annual precipitation is , with an average of snow included. However, over a quarter of years receive no snowfall. }}

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• California/Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay

  Aphelocoma californica (Vigors, 1839) · Aves
  22,044
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  21,948
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  21,349
• Song Sparrow

  Melospiza melodia (A.Wilson, 1810) · Aves
  21,200
• European Starling

  Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  18,850
• Mallard

  Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  18,663
• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  16,281
• Spotted Towhee

  Pipilo maculatus Swainson, 1827 · Aves
  16,132

Largest nearby schools

• McKay High School
  High · Salem · 2,311 students · 22:1 ratio
• South Salem High School
  High · Salem · 2,256 students · 21.9:1 ratio
• North Salem High School
  High · Salem · 2,239 students · 21.5:1 ratio
• McNary High School
  High · Keizer · 2,081 students · 23.9:1 ratio
• Sprague High School
  High · Salem · 1,779 students · 23.1:1 ratio
• Waldo Middle School
  Middle · Salem · 1,166 students · 18.8:1 ratio
• Stephens Middle School
  Middle · Salem · 1,024 students · 19.7:1 ratio
• Houck Middle School
  Middle · Salem · 949 students · 21.1:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.61 — 2026-07-10
  3 km SE of Rose Lodge, Oregon
• M 3.18 — 2025-11-23
  5 km SE of Amity, Oregon
• M 2.66 — 2024-08-30
  14 km ESE of Molalla, Oregon
• M 4.39 — 2022-10-07
  16 km ESE of Lacomb, Oregon
• M 2.84 — 2022-07-24
  6 km SW of Aloha, Oregon
• M 2.65 — 2022-06-07
  3 km SE of Mill Plain, Washington