Salem County is the westernmost county in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Its western boundary is formed by the Delaware River, and it has the eastern terminus of the Delaware Memorial Bridge, which connects the county with New Castle, Delaware. Its county seat is Salem.New Jersey County Map, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed December 2, 2022. The county is part of the South Jersey region of the state.Willis, David P. "'This is how wars start': Does Central Jersey include both Ocean and Union counties?", Asbury Park Press, February 20, 2023. Accessed March 31, 2024. "North Jersey is defined as Sussex, Warren, Morris, Passaic, Bergen, Essex and Hudson counties; South Jersey would be Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Atlantic, Salem, Cumberland and Cape May counties. But for Central, things get a little tricky. It would include Hunterdon, Somerset, Union, Middlesex, Mercer, Monmouth, and Ocean counties."
The county lies within the Philadelphia metropolitan area, also known as the Delaware Valley. As of the 2020 census, the county retained its position as the state's least-populous county,Table1. New Jersey Counties and Most Populous Cities and Townships: 2020 and 2010 Censuses, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed December 1, 2022.Wu, Sen-Yuan. NJ Labor Market Views; Population Keeps Growing in the Most Densely Populated State, United States Census Bureau, March 15, 2011. Accessed December 26, 2022. with a population of 64,837, a decrease of 1,246 (−1.9%) from the 2010 census count of 66,083. The United States Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program estimated a 2025 population of 66,280, an increase of 1,443 (+2.2%) from the 2020 decennial census. The most populous place in Salem County is Pennsville Township with 12,684 residents as of the 2020 Census. Lower Alloways Creek Township covers , the largest total area of any municipality.
Salem County, along with adjacent Gloucester County, also in South Jersey, have become an East Coast epicenter for logistics and warehouse construction.
History Etymology The county derives its name from the Hebrew word shalom, which means "peace", chosen by early Quaker settlers to mark the serenity of the area.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed April 4, 2023.Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 272. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed April 4, 2023.
Early history European settlement began with English colonists in the seventeenth century, who were settling both sides of the Delaware River. They established a colonial court in the area in 1681, but Salem County was first formally organized within West Jersey on May 17, 1694, from the Salem Tenth. Pittsgrove Township was transferred to Cumberland County in April 1867, but was restored to Salem County in February 1868.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 120. Accessed October 30, 2012. The area was initially settled by Quakers.
The Old Salem County Courthouse, located on the same block as the Salem County Courthouse, serves as the court for Salem City in the 21st century. It is the oldest active courthouse in New Jersey and is the second oldest courthouse in continuous use in the United States, the oldest being King William County Courthouse in Virginia.Welcome to King William County The courthouse was built in 1735 during the reign of King George II using locally manufactured bricks.Welcome to Salem, New Jersey The building was enlarged in 1817 and additionally enlarged and remodeled in 1908. Its distinctive bell tower is essentially unchanged and the original bell sits in the courtroom.
Judge William Hancock of the King's Court presided at the courthouse.William Hancock House, Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey, Cup O'Jersey - South Jersey History He was later killed by the British in the American Revolutionary War during the massacre at Hancock House committed by the British against local militia during the Salem Raid in 1778. Afterward the courthouse was the site of the "treason trials", wherein suspected Loyalists were put on trial for having allegedly aided the British during the Salem Raid. Four men were convicted and sentenced to death for treason; however, they were pardoned by Governor William Livingston and exiled from New Jersey. The courthouse is also the site of the legend of Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson's proving the edibility of the tomato. Before 1820, Americans often assumed tomatoes were poisonous. In 1820, Colonel Johnson, according to legend, stood upon the courthouse steps and ate tomatoes in front of a large crowd assembled to watch him do so."The Story of Robert Gibbon Johnson and the Tomato", The History Highway of the Salem County Historical Society. May 2005. Accessed August 13, 2007.
Salem County is notable for its distinctive Quaker-inspired architecture and masonry styles of the 18th century. It had a rural and agricultural economy. In the early 20th century, its towns received numerous immigrants from eastern and southern Europe, who markedly added to the population. In the period following World War II, the county's population increased due to suburban development. To accommodate increasing traffic, the Delaware Memorial Bridge was built from Salem County to New Castle, Delaware.
Geography and climate According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of the 2020 Census, the county had a total area of , of which was land (89.1%) and was water (10.9%).2020 Census Gazetteer File for Counties in New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed April 1, 2023. The county is bordered on the west by the Delaware River, and drained by Salem River, Alloway, and other creeks.
The terrain is almost uniformly flat coastal plain, with minimal relief. The highest elevation in the county has never been determined with any specificity, but is likely one of seven low rises in Upper Pittsgrove Township that reach approximately in elevation.New Jersey County High Points, Peakbagger.com. Accessed October 1, 2013. Sea level is the lowest point.
The county has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) and monthly temperatures in Salem city average from in January to in July, while in Elmer they average from in January to in July.Time Series Values for Individual Locations, Oregon State University. Accessed June 24, 2023.
Climate and weather
In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Salem have ranged from a low of in January to a high of in July, although a record low of was recorded in January 1985 and a record high of was recorded in August 1918. Average monthly precipitation ranged from in February to in July.
Demographics
2020 census As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 64,837, a median age of 42.1 years, 22.1% of residents under the age of 18, and 19.2% of residents aged 65 or older; for every 100 females there were 95.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.2 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 71.9% White, 14.7% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 4.6% from some other race, and 7.2% from two or more races; Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 10.1% of the population.
46.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 53.2% lived in rural areas.
There were 25,225 households in the county, of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them; 46.2% were married-couple households, 17.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 28.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 27,763 housing units, of which 9.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 69.6% were owner-occupied and 30.4% were renter-occupied; the homeowner vacancy rate was 2.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.7%.
The most reported ancestries in 2020 were: Irish (20.6%) German (19%) English (18%) Italian (13.4%) African American (10%) Puerto Rican (5.1%) Polish (3.6%) Scottish (2.8%) Mexican (2.6%) French (2%)
Racial and ethnic composition +Salem County, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)53,60353,83951,17150,73645,27982.88%82.46%79.60%76.78%69.84%Black or African American alone (NH)9,6349,3919,2578,9409,04914.90%14.38%14.40%13.53%13.96%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)1292061841871820.20%0.32%0.29%0.28%0.28%Asian alone (NH)1913633865486490.30%0.56%0.60%0.83%1.00%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census101013xx0.02%0.02%0.02%Other race alone (NH)1145958472770.18%0.09%0.09%0.07%0.43%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census7211,1082,853xx1.12%1.68%4.40%Hispanic or Latino (any race)1,0051,4362,4984,5076,5351.55%2.20%3.89%6.82%10.08%Total64,67665,29464,28566,08364,837 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%
2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 66,083 people, 25,290 households, and 17,551 families in the county. The population density was . There were 27,417 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 79.83% (52,757) White, 14.09% (9,309) Black or African American, 0.36% (240) Native American, 0.84% (557) Asian, 0.02% (10) Pacific Islander, 2.64% (1,745) from other races, and 2.22% (1,465) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.82% (4,507) of the population.
Of the 25,290 households, 29% had children under the age of 18; 49.9% were married couples living together; 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 30.6% were non-families. Of all households, 25.4% were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.07.
23.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 15% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.6 males.
Government County government
Salem County is governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners who are elected at-large to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year. At an annual reorganization meeting held at the beginning of January, the board selects a director and a deputy director from among its members. The appointed position professional county administrator was abolished by a unanimous vote of the commissioners in January 2014.Young, Alex. "Salem County freeholders look to 2014 at annual reorganization meeting", South Jersey Times, January 9, 2014. Accessed October 22, 2017. "He replaces Evern Ford, who will leave county government after the board also voted to abolish his county administrator position with a unanimous vote." In 2016, commissioners were paid $25,410 and the director was paid an annual salary of $26,410.Gallo Jr., Bill. "Which N.J. county freeholders are paid the most?", NJ.com, March 11, 2016. Accessed October 25, 2017. "Freeholder director: $26,410; Other freeholders: $25,410"