Why visit Salem
Townapedia lists 9 museums and landmarks, 13 parks and trails, 19 places to eat and 3 places to stay in and around town.
Highlights include Dent County Courthouse and Bonebrake Center of Nature and History.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 88°F; January lows average 22°F.
Weather in Salem
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Salem
Salem is a city in and the county seat of Dent County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,608 at the 2020 census, which allows Salem to become a Class 3 city in Missouri; however, the city has chosen to remain a Class 4 city under Missouri Revised Statutes. Salem is located a few miles north of the Ozark Scenic Riverways and close to Montauk State Park, which contains the headwaters of the Current River.
From the Wikipedia article Salem, Missouri (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks9
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Dent County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
House in Missouri, United States of America
The Gassy Pig
Monument and historic site
A propane tank painted pink, wide eyes, and given metal additions to look like a pig.
SHS Tiger Tank
Monument and historic site · 0.9 mi
Mural of a Tiger on a large steel tank
Parks, trails and playgrounds13
Al Brown Ball Fields
Park · 1.3 mi
2 baseball field, playground, pavilions, restrooms.
Craig Plaza
Park · 0.4 mi
Small relaxation area with benches, flowers, assorted greenery, and a beautiful fountain. Includes small walking path.
Roadside Park
Park · 0.7 mi
Park with memorial benches to Robert O. Schaefer. Pavilion with grill and trash cans. Contains a sign for Salem's civil war history,...
1 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes19
7 more on the map.
Where to stay3
History
Dent County was first explored by Dustin Counts and settled between 1818 and 1829. In 1851, the Missouri Assembly created Dent County from portions of Crawford Shannon and Texas counties. It was named for early settler Lewis Dent, who served as the first representative. A log courthouse, built c. 1851–1852, was Dent County's first and was located on the Wingfield farm northeast of Salem. W. P. Williams became the first mayor of Salem in 1860, just after the Missouri State Legislature passed laws regarding the administration of village government. During the American Civil War, units of the 5th Missouri State Militia would sometimes garrison in Salem. Village governments were suspended during the Civil War. In 1881, Salem was incorporated as a town.
The town's museums include the Dent County Museum, the Ozark Natural & Cultural Resource Center, the Bonebrake Center of Nature and History, and a historic Downtown Walking Tour.
The Dam and Spillway in the Hatchery Area at Montauk State Park, Dent County Courthouse, Lower Parker School, Montauk State Park Open Shelter, Nova Scotia Ironworks Historic District, Old Mill at Montauk State Park, and W.A. Young House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
From the History section of Salem, Missouri on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship4
Shopping6
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries13
Healthcare3
Map of Salem
73 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 22°F | 2.7 in | 0.2 in |
| Feb | 48°F | 26°F | 2.8 in | 0.4 in |
| Mar | 57°F | 34°F | 4.0 in | 0.5 in |
| Apr | 68°F | 44°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 76°F | 53°F | 5.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 83°F | 61°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 88°F | 65°F | 3.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 87°F | 63°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 80°F | 56°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 69°F | 45°F | 3.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 56°F | 35°F | 3.9 in | 0.1 in |
| Dec | 45°F | 26°F | 3.0 in | 0.1 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Salem (0 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Dent County has had 16 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2025-01-01: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2020-03-26: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2017-06-02: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding (Flood)
- 2016-01-02: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2011-02-03: Severe Winter Storm (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport (TBN) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 34 miles away.
- Rolla 25 mi northwest, about 39 min by car
- St. James 25 mi north, about 41 min by car
- Steelville 25 mi northeast, about 40 min by car
- Cuba 30 mi north, about 49 min by car
- Houston 32 mi southwest, about 52 min by car
- Fort Leonard Wood 33 mi west, about 54 min by car
- Bourbon 39 mi northeast, about 1 h by car
- Mountain View 46 mi south, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Potosi 46 mi northeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Owensville 49 mi north, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Salem (17), Drowzy at English Wikipedia, Public domain
- Dent County Missouri Courthouse-20150101-083-pano, Kbh3rd, CC BY 4.0
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