Virginia

Salem

23,756
1990 population
1970
first census record
3
census records

About Salem

Salem, Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1970, when it recorded a population of 21,982. At the most recent census, in 1990, its population stood at 23,756.

Its recorded population peaked at 23,958 in 1980, and has since declined by roughly 1 percent.

On the ground today, 19 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
199023,756
198023,958
197021,982
Source

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

Historic places in Salem

National Register of Historic Places listings in Salem, Virginia.

Salem Post Office
Salem (Independent City)
Blair Apartments
Salem (Independent City)
Downtown Salem Historic District
Salem (Independent City)
Evans House
Salem (Independent City)
Main Campus Complex, Roanoke College
Salem (Independent City)
Salem Presbyterian Parsonage
Salem (Independent City)
Salem Presbyterian Church
Salem (Independent City)
Valley Railroad Bridge
Salem
Southwest Virginia Holiness Association Camp Meeting
Salem (Independent City)
Roanoke Veterans Administration Hospital Historic District
Salem (Independent City)
Williams-Brown House and Store
Salem (Independent City)
Browse all Virginiahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Virginia

Explore census history and historic records for more Virginia counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Salem County, Virginia

This page charts the census history of Salem County, Virginia. 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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Virginiahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Virginia›

Frequently asked about Salem

When does Salem first appear in the US census?
Salem, Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1970, with a recorded population of 21,982.
What is the population of Salem?
At the most recent federal census (1990), Salem had a recorded population of 23,756.
When did Salem's population peak?
Salem's recorded population peaked at 23,958 in 1980.
How many historic places are in Salem?
19 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Salem, Virginia.
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