Salem

History

The earliest history of Salem exists as archaeological evidence of Native American tribes from as far back as 8,000 BCE until the middle of the 18th century. Europeans first explored the area of Salem in 1671, when the Siouan-speaking Totero people had a village nearby. Explorers Thomas Batts and Robert Fallam gave the area its first recorded name: Totero Town, after this tribe, who supplied them with a guide to help with further exploration. Fort Lewis, named for General Andrew Lewis, of what is now Roanoke County, was built west of the town in 1752. Salem's Andrew Lewis Middle School (formerly Andrew Lewis High School) was named after General Lewis. Salem became a small settlement serving travelers on the Great Road (roughly the same path followed by US-11 and later Interstate 81 today) and was officially founded in 1802, receiving its charter in 1806. It is not known why the town was named Salem; the most widely accepted explanation is that it was named to honor William Bryan, a prominent citizen, who had moved from Salem, New Jersey. Salem was attacked twice by the Union Army during the American Civil War, (including Averell's Cavalry Raid) but its Salem Flying Artillery is said to have fired the last Confederate shot at Appomattox Court House prior to Robert E. Lee's surrender. One of the city's four elementary schools is named after African American scientist G. W. Carver. Before integration, this was the high school for African Americans in Salem. The other three elementary schools are South Salem, East Salem, & West Salem. Salem annexed South Salem in 1953 and also an eastern tract in 1960, giving it a population of 16,058 – making it Virginia's largest town at the time. Salem officially became a city on December 31, 1967, to avoid the possibility of…

Geography

Salem is located at (37.286895, -80.055836). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and (0.7%) is water.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  17,112
• Carolina Wren

  Thryothorus ludovicianus (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  14,904
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  14,785
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  13,468
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  13,091
• Song Sparrow

  Melospiza melodia (A.Wilson, 1810) · Aves
  12,062
• Carolina Chickadee

  Poecile carolinensis (Audubon, 1834) · Aves
  11,842
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  11,816