Rowley, MA
February 22, 2017
Salisbury, MA
February 22, 2017
Salem is a coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. Located on Massachusetts’ North Shore, Salem is a New England bedrock of history and is considered one of the most significant seaports in Puritan American history.
The city’s reported population was 41,340 at the 2010 census.[1] Salem and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County, though the county government was abolished in 1999.[2]
The city is home to the House of Seven Gables, Salem State University, the Salem Willows Park, Forrest River Park, Federal Street District, Charter Street Historic District the Peabody Essex Museum[3][4][5][6] Salem is a residential and tourist area which includes the neighborhoods of Salem Neck, Downtown Salem District,[7] The Point, South Salem and North Salem, Witchcraft Heights, Pickering Wharf, and the McIntire Historic District[8] (named after Salem’s famous architect and carver, Samuel McIntire).[9][10]
Featured notably in Arthur Miller‘s The Crucible, much of the city’s cultural identity is reflective of its role as the location of the Salem witch trials of 1692: Police cars are adorned with witch logos, a local public school is known as the Witchcraft Heights Elementary School, the Salem High School athletic teams are named the Witches; and Gallows Hill, originally believed to be the site of numerous public hangings, is currently used as a playing field for various sports. Tourists know Salem as a mix of important historical sites and a vibrant downtown that has more than 60 restaurants, cafes and coffee shops.[11] In 2012, the Retailers Association of Massachusetts chose Salem as the recipient of their inaugural “Best Shopping District” award.[12]
President Barack Obama on January 10, 2013, signed executive order HR1339 designating Salem as the birthplace of the U.S. National Guard.[13][14][15][16]
More than one million tourists from all around the world visit Salem annually, bringing in at least $100 million in tourism spending each year.[17] In 2016, during halloween-weekend, over 250,000 visited Salem
