Salem is a town located in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 28,112. Salem is a marketing and distributing center, with several colleges, recreation attractions and a large shopping mall, the Mall at Rockingham Park.

The area was first settled in 1652. As early as 1736, Salem was the "North Parish" of Methuen, Massachusetts, or "Methuen District." In 1741, when the boundary line between Massachusetts and New Hampshire was re-established, the "North Parish" became part of New Hampshire, and was given the name "Salem," taken from nearby Salem, Massachusetts. It was incorporated in 1750 by Colonial Governor Benning Wentworth.

In 1902, Canobie Lake Amusement Park was established in Salem by the Massachusetts Northeast Street Railway Company, to encourage leisure excursions on its trolleys. The plan was successful, and the enterprise quickly became one of the leading resorts of its type in New England. Crowds arrived from all over, including the nearby mill towns of Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell and Methuen in Massachusetts, and Manchester and Nashua in New Hampshire. Factory workers and others found respite strolling along tree-lined promenades, between flower-beds or beside the lake. Rides, arcades and a dance-hall provided lively entertainments. The rise of the automobile, however, brought the decline of the trolley. But Canobie Lake Park, one of the few former street railway amusement resorts still in existence, continues to be popular.

Other features of Salem's tourism history include Rockingham Park Race Track, the first horse race track in New England, and America's Stonehenge, a curiousity formerly called "Mystery Hill." A recent attraction in town is the Icenter, a skating arena.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 67.0 km² (25.9 mi²). 64.0 km² (24.7 mi²) of it is land and 3.0 km² (1.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 4.49% water. Salem is drained by the Spicket River and Policy Brook. Canobie Lake is on the western boundary, Arlington Mill Reservoir is in the north, and World End Pond is in the southeast.

As of the census² of 2000, there were 28,112 people, 10,402 households, and 7,603 families residing in the town. The population density was 439.4/km² (1,138.0/mi²). There were 10,866 housing units at an average density of 169.9/km² (439.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.01% White, 0.55% African American, 0.21% Native American, 2.27% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.83% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. 1.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 10,402 households out of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the town the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $58,090, and the median income for a family was $67,278. Males had a median income of $46,330 versus $31,031 for females. The per capita income for the town was $26,170. 4.1% of the population and 3.1% of families were below the poverty line. 5.1% of those under the age of 18 and 7.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Colleges:

• Franklin Pierce College
• Hesser College
• Southern New Hampshire University

High School:

• Salem High School (includes Windham)

Administration:

• Salem School District

• Town of Salem, New Hampshire Official Website
  • Kelley Public Library
• New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile

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