New Jersey

Salem

64,837
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Salem

Salem, New Jersey, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 10,437. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 64,837.

Its recorded population peaked at 66,083 in 2010, and has since declined by roughly 2 percent.

On the ground today, 7 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Hancock's Bridge, Skirmish at Quintan's Bridge (NJ, 1778), Hancock's Bridge Massacre (NJ, 1778), and 27 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202064,837
201066,083
200064,285
199065,294
198064,676
197060,346
196058,711
195049,508
194042,274
193036,834
192036,572
191026,999
190025,530
189025,151
188024,579
187023,940
186022,458
185019,467
184016,024
183014,155
182014,022
181012,761
180011,371
179010,437
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Salem

Military engagements that took place in Salem, New Jersey.

Battle of Hancock's Bridge
1778
Skirmish at Quintan's Bridge (NJ, 1778)
1778
Hancock's Bridge Massacre (NJ, 1778)
1778
Battle of Quinton's Bridge
1778
Battle of Quinton's Bridge Mar 18 1778
1778
Hancock's Bridge Massacre
1778
Battle of Quintan's Bridge (NJ)
1778

Historic places in Salem

National Register of Historic Places listings in Salem, New Jersey.

Ware, Joseph, House
Hancock's Bridge
Fries, Philip, House
Friesburg
Seven Stars Tavern
Woodstown
Lawson, James and Mary, House
Woodstown Borough
Nicholson, Abel and Mary, House
Salem
Alloways Creek Friends Meetinghouse
Hancock's Bridge
Mecum, William and Margaret, House
Pennsville Township
Hancock House
Lower Alloways Creek Township
Dickinson House
Alloway
Fort Mott and Finns Point National Cemetery District
Salem
Market Street Historic District
Salem
Holmes, Benjamin, House
Salem
Finn's Point Rear Range Light
Salem
Shinn, Joseph, House
Woodstown
Browse all New Jerseyhistoric sites ›

Other counties in New Jersey

Explore census history and historic records for more New Jersey counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Salem County, New Jersey

This page charts the census history of Salem County, New Jersey. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Salem

When does Salem first appear in the US census?
Salem, New Jersey first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 10,437.
What is the population of Salem?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Salem had a recorded population of 64,837.
When did Salem's population peak?
Salem's recorded population peaked at 66,083 in 2010.
Were any battles fought in Salem?
7 documented military engagements took place in Salem, including Battle of Hancock's Bridge, Skirmish at Quintan's Bridge (NJ, 1778), Hancock's Bridge Massacre (NJ, 1778).
How many historic places are in Salem?
27 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Salem, New Jersey.
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