Salem Nebraska - Nebraska Directory

Salem Area Cameras

Village · Richardson County · Population 84 (2020 census) · ZIP 68433 · Founded 1855 · Peak population 533 (1900)

About Salem

Salem is a village of 84 in southern Richardson County, on a hill between the North and South Forks of the Big Nemaha River, which join on the east side of town, about 7 miles west of Falls City.

History

The Hare brothers, J. W. Roberts and John A. Singleton arrived in 1854, and J. C. Lincoln, Thomas R. Hare and J. W. Roberts laid out the town on January 30, 1855, naming it for the biblical city of peace. The post office opened in January 1856 in Lincoln's store, and the Hares built saw and grist mills. West Salem was laid out in 1857, and much of it was deeded to the county in the contest for the county seat.

After the first seat, Archer, was found to lie on the Half-Breed Reservation, Salem won an election on January 10, 1859, but lost to Falls City on May 22, 1860, in a vote marked by two killings on election day; an 1871 bid to win the seat back failed. Salem became a city in 1871 and returned to village government in 1879. Salem City Mills opened in 1878. The population peaked at 533 in 1900. Missionary Tacy Atkinson was born here.

Nearby towns

Verdon	about 5 mi north	County roads
Falls City	about 7 mi east	NE 8
Dawson	about 7 mi northwest	County roads
Strausville	about 5 mi east-northeast	County roads
Archer	about 8 mi east	County roads
Nim City	about 8 mi west-southwest	County roads
Shubert	about 11 mi north-northeast	County roads
Humboldt	about 13 mi west-northwest	County roads

Things to see

Maple Cemetery · the Big Nemaha, where its forks meet east of town · Verdon State Recreation Area, about 5 mi north

Health care

No clinic in Salem; Community Medical Center, 3307 Barada St., Falls City, 402-245-2428 (25-bed critical access hospital, with its Family Medicine Clinic at the same address)

Sources: U.S. Census; Wikipedia; Andreas, History of the State of Nebraska (1882); Edwards, History of Richardson County (1917); History Nebraska; National Register of Historic Places; Nebraska Game and Parks; Nemaha NRD; Nebraska Department of Transportation; city, village, school, library, museum and parish websites. Distances marked "about" are straight-line estimates.