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.[2][14]
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.[1] 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.[15] The courthouse was built in 1735 during the reign of King George II using locally manufactured bricks.[16] 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.[17] 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.[18]
Salem County is notable for its distinctive Quaker-inspired architecture and masonry styles of the 18th century.[19] 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 372.55 square miles (964.9 km2), of which 331.86 square miles (859.5 km2) was land (89.1%) and 40.69 square miles (105.4 km2) was water (10.9%).[4] The county is bordered on the west by the Delaware River, and drained by Salem River, Alloway, and other creeks.[20]
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 160 feet (49 m) in elevation.[21] Sea level is the lowest point.
The county has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) and monthly temperatures in Salem city average from 33.2 °F (0.7 °C) in January to 77.2 °F (25.1 °C) in July, while in Elmer they average from 33.1 °F (0.6 °C) in January to 76.8 °F (24.9 °C) in July.[22]
In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Salem have ranged from a low of 25 °F (−4 °C) in January to a high of 86 °F (30 °C) in July, although a record low of −14 °F (−26 °C) was recorded in January 1985 and a record high of 107 °F (42 °C) was recorded in August 1918. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.78 inches (71 mm) in February to 4.57 inches (116 mm) in July.[23]
As of the 2020 U.S. census, the county's had 64,837 people, 24,404 households, and 16,880 families.[25] The population density was 195.35 inhabitants per square mile (75.4/km2). There were 27,763 housing units at an average density of 83.64 per square mile (32.3/km2).[26] The racial makeup was 79.0% White, 13.1% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.1% Asian, and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.8% of the population.[27]
Of the 24,404 households, of which 21.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.6% had a male householder with no wife present and 30.8% were non-families, and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.03.
About 21.0% of the population was under age 18, 8.0% was from age 18 to 24, 35.2% was from age 15 to 44, and 19.8% was age 65 or older. The median age was 43.1 years. The gender makeup was 47.9% male and 52.1% female. For every 100 females, there were 92.1 males.[28]
The median household income was $68,531, and the median family income was $81,122. About 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.2% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.[29][30]
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 199.1 inhabitants per square mile (76.9/km2). There were 27,417 housing units at an average density of 82.6 per square mile (31.9/km2). 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.[11]
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.[11]
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.[11]
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.[31] In 2016, commissioners were paid $25,410 and the director was paid an annual salary of $26,410.[32]
In the 2016 general election, Salem County voters approved a binding referendum to cut the number of Commissioner from seven to five as well as a non-binding referendum to cut Commissioner salaries by 20%; both initiatives, which had been placed on the ballot as the result of grassroots campaigns opposed to a proposed outsourcing deal, passed by a 3–1 margin.[33] In the wake of the referendum results, Director Julie Acton resigned in December 2016 and was replaced by Scott Griscom.[34] In April 2017, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that the reduction in seats will be accomplished through attrition, with the seats expiring at the end of 2017 (held by Commissioners Cross, Painter, and Vanderslice) being eliminated; in the November 2017 general election there will be one new three-year seat up for a vote as well as a two-year unexpired term, so that on January 1, 2018, there will be a five-member board. Republicans have fully controlled the board since 2022.[35]
As of 2025[update], Salem County's Commissioners (with terms for director and deputy director ending every December 31) are:[36][37][38][39][40]
Pursuant to Article VII Section II of the New Jersey State Constitution, each county in New Jersey is required to have three elected administrative officials known as "constitutional officers." These officers are the County Clerk and County Surrogate (both elected for five-year terms of office) and the County Sheriff (elected for a three-year term).[43] Salem County's constitutional officers, elected on a countywide basis are:[44][45][46]
The Salem County Prosecutor is Kristin J. Telsey, who was nominated to fill the position in September 2022.[53][54] Salem County is a part of Vicinage 15 of the New Jersey Superior Court (along with Cumberland County and Gloucester County), seated in Woodbury in Gloucester County; the Assignment Judge for the vicinage is Benjamin C. Telsey. The Salem County Courthouse is in Salem.[55] No Democrat has won county-wide office since 2020.
The remainder of this district includes portions of Cumberland and Gloucester counties.
Politics
Salem County has generally and historically been a bellwether county in the state, having voted for the national winner all but three times (1960, 1992, and 2000) between 1936 and 2012. Since 2012, the county has swung more toward Republicans, following the trend of most rural counties in the United States. Republican Donald Trump won 54.9% of the vote in 2016, the highest vote share for a Republican since George H. W. Bush in 1988. Trump improved to 55.3% of the vote in 2020 and 58.71% in 2024. As of January 2023, there were a total of 48,956 registered voters in Salem County, of whom 14,768 (30.2%) were registered as Democrats, 14,839 (30.3%) were registered as Republicans and 18,525 (37.8%) were registered as unaffiliated. There were 824 voters (1.7%) registered to other parties.[59] Among the county's 2010 Census population, 64.6% were registered to vote, including 84.4% of those ages 18 and over.[60][61]
United States presidential election results for Salem County, New Jersey[62]
Limited access roads include Interstate 295 and the New Jersey Turnpike. Both highways pass through the northern part of the county. Only one turnpike interchange is located in Salem: Exit 1 in Carneys Point (which is also where the turnpike ends). There are a pair of service areas on the Turnpike, both located between exits 1 and 2 in Oldmans Township: The John Fenwick Service Area on the northbound side and the Clara Barton Service Area in the southbound direction.[74] The Route 55 freeway passes through the northeastern part of the county briefly but has no interchanges within the county.
NJ Transit operates three routes through Salem County:[76] the 401, which stops in Salem, Woodstown, Swedesboro, and Woodbury en route to and from Philadelphia;[77] the 402, which stops in Penns Grove and has two stops in Salem en route to and from Philadelphia;[78] and the 468, which has local stops throughout Salem County.[79]
Municipalities
Index map of Salem County municipalities (click to see index key)
Interactive map of municipalities in Salem County.
The 15 municipalities in Salem County (with 2010 Census data for population, housing units and area in square miles) are:[80] Other, unincorporated communities in the county are listed next to their parent municipality. Some of these areas are census-designated places (CDPs) that have been created by the United States Census Bureau for enumeration purposes within a Township. Other communities and enclaves that exist within a municipality are also listed next to the name.
^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."
^Jon Hurdle (May 13, 2021). "Report details surge in warehouse construction…". NJ Spotlight News. Archived from the original on July 9, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2023. In South Jersey, the area has become the "epicenter" of warehouse construction in the greater Philadelphia region.. Salem County sizzles..The South Jersey report included data from Salem County for the first time, in recognition of its rapid growth in the warehouse market. It noted that commercial rents are rising in the county although they are still lower than those in other areas..'Activity in the Southern New Jersey industrial market continues to amaze,' the report said.
^"The Story of Robert Gibbon Johnson and the Tomato", The History Highway of the Salem County Historical Society. May 2005. Accessed August 13, 2007. "The Salem County Historical Society May 2005 No". Archived from the original on July 24, 2008. Retrieved August 14, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^Gallo Jr., Bill. "Salem County votes to cut freeholder board from 7 to 5 members", NJ.com, November 9, 2016. Accessed October 29, 2017. "Salem County residents Tuesday voted overwhelmingly to cut the membership of the freeholder board from seven to five. The result means that at the next election, November 2017, a new five-seat board will be elected. The vote was 21,942 to 7,013 in favor of the referendum. Also on the ballot was a second question dealing with the freeholders, asking whether their salaries should be cut by 20 percent. That question was approved by a vote of 22,272 to 6,543."
^Gallo Jr., Bill. "Salem County freeholder board swears in new member", NJ.com, January 19, 2017. Accessed October 29, 2017. "Republican Scott Griscom, 69, was sworn in Wednesday night to fill the seat on the board left vacant by the abrupt resignation of Julie Acton in December."
^Gallo Jr., Bill. "High court rejects appeal on how to handle Salem freeholder election ", NJ.com, April 3, 2017. Accessed October 29, 2017. "Salem County Clerk Gilda T. Gill's original plan had been to elect all five new members to the board, but Democrat Party Chairman Steven Caltabiano disagreed and filed suit in Superior Court. A judge there agreed with Gill's formula, but Caltabiano pursued the matter and a state Appellate Court agreed with Caltabiano that only one freeholder should be elected to a new full term. The court also agreed with Caltabiano's contention that the board should be allowed to shrink through attrition and those whose terms are up at the end of the year be allowed to stay on until then."
^Surrogates, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed June 20, 2022.
^About, Salem County Prosecutor's Office. Accessed August 16, 2022.
^Gray, Matt. "New prosecutor in N.J. county brings 20 years of experience. And she’s a local.", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 20, 2021. Accessed August 16, 2022. "After more than 20 years in the legal profession, Kristin Telsey is three weeks into her role as the top law enforcement official in Salem County and says she’s excited to be a part of the changing landscape of criminal justice in New Jersey. Telsey, 46, was named acting Salem County prosecutor earlier this month following the retirement of John T. Lenahan, who served in the role for 18 years."
