Home › Oregon › Salem

Salem, Oregon

Located in Marion County, Oregon, Salem was established in 1842. Salem's name comes from the Hebrew 'Shalom' meaning peace. The Oregon State Capitol has burned down twice—the current building is the third.

Founded 1842 | Population 182,620 | Peak 182,620 (2024) | County Marion County

Top 10 Most Important Events for Salem, Oregon

undefined

1842 Jason Lee Establishes Mission Settlement: Methodist missionary founds settlement that becomes Salem and Oregon's oldest university, Willamette.

undefined

1851 Becomes Oregon Territory Capital: Salem designated permanent capital after rivalry with Oregon City.

undefined

1876 Oregon State Hospital Opens: State asylum opens; later filmed for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

undefined

1935 Art Deco Capitol Building Completed: Third capitol building finished with golden Oregon Pioneer statue after two predecessors burned.

undefined

2017 Solar Eclipse Totality Draws Crowds: Salem in path of totality for Great American Eclipse; hundreds of thousands visit.

🧠

How Well Do You Know Salem?

5 questions • 2 minutes

Take the Quiz →

Latest News in Salem

Oregon Democrats Block ICE Notification for Felony Convicts

Oregon Democratic senators have unanimously blocked a bill that would have mandated state authorities to notify U.S. Immigration a…

Complete Historical Timeline

1842 Culture

Jason Lee Establishes Mission Settlement

1851 Government

Becomes Oregon Territory Capital

1876 Culture

Oregon State Hospital Opens

1935 Architecture

Art Deco Capitol Building Completed

2017 Science

Solar Eclipse Totality Draws Crowds

Did You Know?

1

Salem's name comes from the Hebrew 'Shalom' meaning peace.

2

The Oregon State Capitol has burned down twice—the current building is the third.

3

Willamette University (1842) is the oldest university west of the Mississippi.

4

Salem is located in Marion County, Oregon.

5

Salem has a population of approximately 182,620.

Famous People from Salem, Oregon

JZ

John Zerzan

Writer, Historian · Born Aug 10, 1943 · Age 82

JK

Justin Kirk

Actor, Stage Actor · Born May 28, 1969 · Age 56

CB

Carmella Bing

Pornographic Actor · Born Oct 21, 1981 · Age 44

AG

Alfred Carlton Gilbert

Entrepreneur, Inventor · Born Feb 15, 1884 · Died Jan 24, 1961 (age 76)

DA

Debbie Armstrong

Alpine Skier, Cross-Country Skier · Born Dec 6, 1963 · Age 62

Other Cities in Oregon

View all Oregon cities →

Pop. 652,503

Pop. 178,961

Pop. 115,000

Pop. 110,000

Pop. 108,000

Pop. 98,000

See something that needs correcting?

We take accuracy seriously. Help us keep Salem's history right.