Serving as the proud county seat, Salem City is a deeply historic riverfront community that packs centuries of American heritage into just 2.8 square miles, with tidal waters accounting for nearly 18% of its total area. Founded by Quaker John Fenwick in 1675, the city recently experienced a modest population uptick to nearly 5,300 residents, reflecting a renewed wave of local engagement.
Today, it remains a bustling, architecturally stunning urban center focused on community revitalization and preserving its massive historical footprint.
Boasting incredible colonial architecture, Salem City’s roots predate the nation itself. For centuries, the legendary Salem Oak stood as a living monument to these origins, shading the ancient Quaker burial grounds and symbolizing the city’s enduring, resilient strength.
The historic Market Street district and the iconic county courthouse form the bustling center of civic life. Through dedicated community events and revitalization efforts, locals are breathing vibrant new energy into this quintessential historic downtown.
Today, it remains a bustling, architecturally stunning urban center focused on community revitalization and preserving its massive historical footprint.
Salem City News and Articles
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Salem Council to Weigh Sale of Hubbell Avenue Lots, $175K Demolition Contract Monday
Four vacant Hubbell Avenue lots, a blighted New Market Street building and school-route safety grants top Monday’s agenda SALEM, N.J. – The Salem City Council will take up the sale of four city-owned lots for redevelopment and a nearly $175,000 contract to demolish 25 New Market St. when it holds its caucus meeting Monday, Nov.…
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Rams flatten Woodstown for first trip to sectional final since 2022
Parsley rushes for 141 yards, 3 TDs; Merendino, defense hold Wolverines to 20 net yards and zero points SOUTH JERSEY GROUP ! CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 1 Schalick 21, Shore 0, Fri. Paulsboro 38, Audubon 0 Pennsville 49, Delaware Valley 21, Fri. Salem 36, Woodstown 0 SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Friday, Nov. 13, 6 p.m. Saturday,…
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Gun Charges, Terroristic Threats and Assaults Lead Salem City’s Late-October Arrest Log
Salem police reported four arrests from Oct. 16 to 31, including a Bridgeton man charged with unlawful gun possession and a Salem man charged with terroristic threats. SALEM — Salem Police reported four arrests between Oct. 16 and Oct. 31, according to the department’s media arrest summary. The cases include weapons charges, terroristic threats, a…
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Salem Police Calls Dip to 767 in October, With a Homicide Call, an Aggravated Assault and Five ShotSpotter Activations
The department’s October report lists 86 ambulance calls, 22 burglar alarms, 14 crashes, two burglaries and 11 criminal mischief calls, among other incidents. SALEM – The Salem Police Department handled 767 total incidents during October 2026, down from 816 in September and 781 in August. It is the lowest total of the five months from…
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Salem City, Penns Grove Nominated for Opportunity Zone 2.0; County Says It’s a Financial Tool, Not a Zoning Bypass
The county’s economic development director says the designation is a financial tool, not a way around local zoning, as Treasury review nears. Three census tracts in Salem County, two in Salem City and one in Penns Grove are among the tracts New Jersey has nominated for the next round of the federal Opportunity Zone program,…
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Hassler edges ahead of Ramsay as new ballots are counted; Salem County commissioner races still too close to call
Last updated: Nov. 4, 12:58 AM. Unofficial results from the Salem County Clerk’s Office, 12:07 AM. UPDATED 12:58am — Salem County’s two Commissioner races remain too close to call early Wednesday. Updated unofficial results from the Salem County Clerk’s Office flipped the three-year seat, with Democrat Charles Hassler now leading Republican Ed Ramsay, 9,483 votes…
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Salem shows no signs of slowing down entering playoffs
Rams overwhelm Penns Grove 40-0 in playoff opener, host Woodstown Saturday SALEM – When Salem lost its season opener in Ohio 55-14 head coach Kemp Carr wasn’t worried. When the Rams started the season 1-3 with two losses by a total of three points he wasn’t worried either. While some teams might start hitting the…
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$21.3M PFAS Treatment System at Salem Water Plant Officially Complete
New Jersey American Water and city officials mark the finish of a project that serves Salem City and parts of Quinton, Elsinboro and Mannington SALEM — Officials from New Jersey American Water, Salem City and the state gathered Tuesday to celebrate the completion of a $21.3 million PFAS treatment project at the Salem Water Treatment…
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Volunteers Build Salem’s First ADA-Accessible Playground at Hubbell Park
SALEM – Volunteers built a new playground at Hubbell Park on Thursday, Oct. 22, a project the City of Salem said was shaped by drawings and ideas from local children. The build began at 8:30 a.m. at the park, 100 Hubbell Ave., and a ribbon-cutting ceremony followed that afternoon. The City of Salem partnered with…
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Salem uses ‘1,000 in Cash’ to win its fifth in a row
Sophomore Parsley becomes Rams’ latest 1,000-yard rusher after going for 239 yards, 3 TDs against Pennsville PENNSVILLE – The countdown started sometime between the first time he touched the ball and the middle of the second quarter. After Cashmir Parsley broke off another long touchdown run that was called back by a penalty the whispers…
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Resisting Arrest, Shoplifting Charges and Two Warrant Arrests Make Up Salem’s Early-October Crime Log
SALEM — Salem Police reported three arrests between Oct. 1 and Oct. 16, 2026, according to the department’s media arrest summary. They include one case with resisting arrest, shoplifting and drug paraphernalia charges, and two arrests on outstanding warrants, both on Oct. 10. All individuals are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a…
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Shooting under investigation at Salem Sunoco
Update: The victim of this incident has been identified as Devinder Carter, a 22 year old male according to information released by the Salem County Prosecutor’s Office SALEM – The Salem County Prosecutor’s Office is investigating a shooting that occurred Tuesday evening, Oct. 13, around the general area of the E. Broadway Sunoco in Salem…
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This Day in Salem County History – October 5, 1909: The Day Salem Dressed Up
On October 5, 1909, the city hung bunting on the bank, the farm country sent in its decorated wagons, and a man with a tripod camera photographed the whole of it. SALEM – One hundred seventeen years ago today, on Tuesday, October 5, 1909, Salem held a carnival. The parade came up the street in…
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Salem City Police Department: September 2026 Totals
By the Numbers: Salem City Police release September Totals SALEM – The Salem Police Department handled 816 total incidents during September 2026 — up from 781 in August, though still below the 912 calls logged in July and the 848 recorded in June. The month’s most serious incidents included an unattended death and three reports…
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Salem’s ‘Blue Storm’ defense doesn’t rest against Woodstown
The combination of relentless defense and another big day from QB Thomas leads Rams in rivalry game SALEM – The bad weather cleared out right before the start of the game, but luckily for the Salem football team the Blue Storm stayed around. Rams head coach Kemp Carr put the moniker on his defense before…