The City of Salem is nestled in the beautiful rolling hills of Northeastern Ohio. It is centrally located about 65 miles from both Pittsburgh and Cleveland and approximately 20 miles southwest of the industrial city of Youngstown, Ohio. Founded and settled by the Friends (a.k.a. the Quakers) religious group in 1806, the city was active in the early anti-slavery movement from the early to mid 1800’s. Many of the beautiful century homes involved with the underground railroad are still standing along historic South Lincoln Avenue.

Salem serves as a trade center for the surrounding area, providing most of the shopping and health facilities, as well as commercial service and industrial employment. The community of Salem has over 90 manufacturing and industrial service firms. The wide array of businesses produce everything from molded plastics, hams and bacon, pumps, electric furnaces, rolling mills, plumbing fixtures, furniture, hydraulic valves and cylinders to machine tools, labels, castings, periscopes, tools and dies, wood/coal stoves, labeling equipment, aluminum sign blanks, corrugated boxes, vehicle ramps and jacks. The city also offers a 145 acre Industrial Park which contains 42 lots with the possibility of future expansion.

Salem’s fine school system, which was a pioneer in vocational education, has offered a comprehensive program since 1933. Three grade schools, and the junior high and senior high school comprise the general education program. Residents can pursue continuing education courses, two-year associate and limited Bachelor’s degree programs at the Salem Branch of Kent State University. Programs in mechanical and electrical technology, and courses of study in accounting, secretarial, nursing and computer technology are also available. The Kent State City Center located in the heart of Salem on North Lincoln Avenue houses the Hannah E. Mullins School of Nursing, the Workforce Development Department, and several other non-profit organizations from the Salem area.

The city owns over 300 acres of parks that contain lighted baseball diamonds, lighted tennis courts, and lighted basketball courts as well as picnic shelters, volleyball courts, and modern playground equipment. Salem’s Centennial Park contains the city’s municipal swimming pool. Waterworth Memorial Park features a bandshell that provides a place to hold summertime concerts and summer theatrical productions. The park also features a walking trail and waterfowl nature center.

The Salem Community Center located on North Ellsworth is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the improvement of the quality of life within our community. Salem Community Center features a lap, diving and training pool, spa and saunas, multi-purpose gym, cardio-strength training room, fitness assessment room, walking and jogging track, an activity center, game room and learning lab geared for young people, and community and meeting rooms for business and pleasure. The Center Circle Sports Complex was added and opened during the fall of 2007.

Salem has good highway transportation routes with U.S. 62, SR 14, 45, 9 and SR 11, seven miles east known as the “Lake-to-River Freeway,” providing access to I-76, I-80, and I-90. The community also has rail service provided by CSX.