Salem, Virginia
Salem is a city of 25,618 people in Salem city, Virginia, founded in 1802.
Why visit Salem
Townapedia lists 34 museums and landmarks, 18 parks and trails, 64 places to eat, 18 places to stay and 7 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Lakeside Amusement Park, Memorial Bridge, Academy Street School and Apartment Building on Windsor Avenue and Brunswick St..
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 88°F; January lows average 29°F.
Weather in Salem
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Salem
Salem is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,346. It is the county seat of Roanoke County, although the two are separate jurisdictions. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Salem with Roanoke County, which surrounds both Salem and the neighboring City of Roanoke, for statistical purposes.
From the Wikipedia article Salem, Virginia (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do7
Lakeside Amusement Park
Monument and historic site · 1.6 mi
Former amusement park in Salem, Virginia
Memorial Bridge
Bridge · 5.0 mi
Bridge spanning the Roanoke River along U.S. Route 11 (Memorial Avenue) in Roanoke, Virginia
Showtimers Community Theatre
Cinema and theater · 2.6 mi
2067 McVitty Road Southwest, Roanoke
Museums and landmarks34
Academy Street School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Historic school complex located at Salem, Virginia
Apartment Building on Windsor Avenue and Brunswick St.
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.4 mi
United States historic place
Belle Aire
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.5 mi
Mansion in Virginia, United States
Blair Apartments
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Historic residential building in Virginia, United States
Burrell Memorial Hospital
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.2 mi
Hospital in Virginia, United States
Downtown Salem Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Historic district in Virginia, United States
English Gardens Apartments
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.9 mi
Historic apartment complex in Roanoke, Virginia, US
Evans House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Listed on the NRHP
Fishburn Park Keeper's Cottage
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.8 mi
Historic house in Virginia, United States
Grandin Road Commercial Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.5 mi
Area in Roanoke, Virginia
Lone Oaks
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.7 mi
Historic Greek Revival mansion in the Greater Deyerle neighborhood of Roanoke, Virginia
McVitty Home
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Historic building in Salem, Virginia, US
22 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds18
Salem Football Stadium
Sports field and stadium · 1.0 mi
1001 Roanoke Boulevard, Salem
Building 130- Grandstand
Sports field and stadium · 2.1 mi
1970 Roanoke Boulevard, Salem
Skate Center of Roanoke Valley
Sports field and stadium · 2.5 mi
4121 Brandon Avenue Southwest, Roanoke
6 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes64
Macado's
Restaurant · Sandwich · 0.6 mi
211 East Main Street, Salem
Mo-Th,Su 09:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 09:00-24:00
Applebee's
Diner · American · 1.8 mi
1806 West Main Street, Salem
Mo-Th 11:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-24:00; Su 11:00-23:00
Due South BBQ
Restaurant · Barbecue · 2.6 mi
4521 Melrose Avenue Northwest, Roanoke
Mo,We-Sa 11:00-21:00; Tu off; Su 11:00-20:00
Lydia's Italian Kitchen
Restaurant · Italian · 1.4 mi
1713 Riverview Drive, Salem
Tu-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr 11:00-22:00; Sa 12:00-22:00; Su 12:00-20:00; Mo off
Parkway Brewing Company
Brewery and winery · 2.0 mi
Indoor and Outdoor drinking areas. Food trucks on site.
739 Kessler Mill Road, Salem
We-Sa 12:00-20:30, Su-Mo 02:00-20:00
Tivoli Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza, Pasta, Burger · 1.5 mi
1601 Lynchburg Turnpike, Salem
Mo-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00; Su off
Mamma Marias
Restaurant · Italian · 2.1 mi
2025 West Main Street, Salem
Tu-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr 11:00-23:00; Sa 12:00-23:00; Su 12:00-21:00
52 more on the map.
History
The earliest history of Salem exists as archaeological evidence of Native American tribes from as far back as 8,000 BCE until the middle of the 18th century. Europeans first explored the area of Salem in 1671, when the Siouan-speaking Totero people had a village nearby. Explorers Thomas Batts and Robert Fallam gave the area its first recorded name: Totero Town, after this tribe, who supplied them with a guide to help with further exploration. Fort Lewis, named for General Andrew Lewis, of what is now Roanoke County, was built west of the town in 1752. Salem's Andrew Lewis Middle School (formerly Andrew Lewis High School) was named after General Lewis. Salem became a small settlement serving travelers on the Great Road (roughly the same path followed by US-11 and later Interstate 81 today) and was officially founded in 1802, receiving its charter in 1806. It is not known why the town was named Salem; the most widely accepted explanation is that it was named to honor William Bryan, a prominent citizen, who had moved from Salem, New Jersey.
Salem was attacked twice by the Union Army during the American Civil War, (including Averell's Cavalry Raid) but its Salem Flying Artillery is said to have fired the last Confederate shot at Appomattox Court House prior to Robert E. Lee's surrender.
From the History section of Salem, Virginia on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay18
Churches and places of worship52
Salem Presbyterian Church (Salem, Virginia)
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Saint Innocent Orthodox Church
Church · Bulgarian Orthodox · 1.4 mi
747 Thompson Memorial Drive, Salem
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church · Mormon · 2.8 mi
3808 Brandon Avenue Southwest, Roanoke
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church & Preschool
Church · Lutheran · 2.8 mi
1887 Electric Road, Roanoke
Shopping17
Gas and EV charging15
Schools, colleges and libraries60
Alternative Secondary Transition Educational Program
School · 3.2 mi
5937 Cove Road, Roanoke
Healthcare10
Salem Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Hospital · National Register of Historic Places · 2.1 mi
1970 Roanoke Boulevard, Salem
Carilion Clinic Family Medicine - Oakgrove
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.7 mi
1818 Electric Road Southwest, Roanoke
Map of Salem
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°F | 29°F | 3.2 in | 4.3 in |
| Feb | 51°F | 31°F | 2.9 in | 4.8 in |
| Mar | 59°F | 38°F | 3.5 in | 2.3 in |
| Apr | 70°F | 46°F | 3.5 in | 0.1 in |
| May | 77°F | 55°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 84°F | 63°F | 4.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 88°F | 67°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 86°F | 66°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 80°F | 59°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 70°F | 48°F | 3.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 59°F | 38°F | 3.0 in | 0.1 in |
| Dec | 50°F | 32°F | 3.1 in | 3.2 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Roanoke Rgnl Ap 72411 (5 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
Salem city has had 9 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-01-23: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2020-04-02: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2018-09-11: Hurricane Florence (Hurricane)
- 2012-10-29: Hurricane Sandy (Hurricane)
- 2012-07-27: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 5 miles away.
- Cave Spring 5 mi southeast, about 8 min by car
- Roanoke 5 mi east, about 9 min by car
- Hollins 7 mi northeast, about 11 min by car
- Blacksburg 21 mi west, about 33 min by car
- Christiansburg 22 mi southwest, about 35 min by car
- Radford 30 mi west, about 48 min by car
- Martinsville 43 mi south, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Forest 43 mi east, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Lynchburg 48 mi east, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Madison Heights 53 mi east, about 1 h 30 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
Loading what members have shared...
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 VA downtown, Mojo Hand, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Roanoke VA Hospital HABS VA1, unknown HABS photographer, Public domain
- APARTMENT BUILDING ON WINDSOR AVENUE AND BRUNSWICK ST. ROANOKE CITY, Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Keepers Cottage front, DrOrinScrivello, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Salem Camp Meeting, Nyttend, Public domain
- Compton-Bateman House from Hoover Street, Nyttend, Public domain
- OldRoanokeCtyCourt, Cdenas, CC BY-SA 3.0
- English Gardens 01, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Administration Snow (8474594858), roanokecollege, CC BY 2.0
- BELLE AIRE, ROANOKE CITY, VA, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ. M.D., CC BY-SA 4.0
- SalemPresbParsonage, Molly Cardenas, CC BY-SA 3.0
- PleasantGrove, Molly Cardenas, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Valley RR Bridge 2008 facing south, Xhancock, CC BY-SA 4.0
- AcademyStSchool, Cdenas, CC BY-SA 3.0
- McVittyHouse, Molly Cardenas, CC BY-SA 3.0
- WilliamsBrownHouse, Molly Cardenas, CC BY-SA 3.0
- OldSalemPostOffice, Molly Cardenas, CC BY-SA 3.0
- TAYLOE ROGERS HOUSE ROANOKE CITY, VA, Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, CC BY-SA 4.0
- PrestonHouse, Cdenas, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Blair Apartments construction site, Nyttend, Public domain
- SalemPresbyterian, Cdenas, CC BY-SA 3.0
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