Salem, Arkansas
11 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1950 and the latest in 1984. It stands in Benton Township. It lies in ZIP code area 72576. It stands on Salem Knob. The Survey maps it on the Salem quadrangle. 1,566 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 663 feet above sea level.
Research this city
On record in Salem
Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.
On the National Register 2 records
- Castleberry Buildinglisted 2021
- Green Valley Homesteadlisted 2018
Population over time
4 figuresSalem grew from 86 to 1,566 between 1880 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.
| Year | People | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 86 | |
| 2000 | 1,591 | |
| 2010 | 1,635 | +44 (+3%) |
| 2020 | 1,566 | -69 (-4%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
8 surveys from 11 printed sheetsMatched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.
- 1950 USGS Salem quadrangle1:62500, 2 printings
- 1951 USGS Salem quadrangle1:62500
- 1957 USGS Poplar Bluff quadrangle1:250000, 3 printings
- 1959 USGS Poplar Bluff quadrangle1:250000
- 1960 USGS Poplar Bluff quadrangle1:250000
- 1976 USGS Salem SE quadrangle1:24000
- 1983 USGS Cherokee Village quadrangle1:100000
- 1984 USGS Salem quadrangle1:24000
Fires near this place
145 since 1997Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 145 fires within 5 miles of Salem between 1997 and 2020, burning about 1,507 acres in total. 3 started naturally. 25 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Debris and open burning | 74 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 28 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 25 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 12 |
| Natural | 3 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 1 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 1 |
| Railroad operations and maintenance | 1 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 September 2004 | Debris and open burning | 22 acres | Arkansas Forestry Commission | not named |
| 5 September 2011 | Debris and open burning | 2.0 acres | Arkansas Forestry Commission | not named |
| 4 September 2000 | Natural | 2.0 acres | Arkansas Forestry Commission | not named |
| 29 September 2009 | Debris and open burning | 1.0 acres | Arkansas Forestry Commission | not named |
| 20 September 2019 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 10 acres | Arkansas Forestry Commission | not named |
| 15 September 2001 | Debris and open burning | 2.0 acres | Arkansas Forestry Commission | not named |
| 13 September 2002 | Arson/incendiarism | 1.0 acres | Arkansas Forestry Commission | not named |
| 13 September 1999 | Equipment and vehicle use | 11 acres | Arkansas Forestry Commission | not named |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
9 within 5 milesRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 9 workings within 5 miles of Salem: 5 producers, 2 unknowns, 1 prospect, 1 past producer. 5 still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Stone, Crushed/Broken, Magnesium Compounds. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice Farm | Magnesium Compounds | Unknown | ||
| Crusher No. 1 | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Joyce Brothers Quarry & Plant | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Humphrie | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Lafevers Sand & Gravel Co. | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Prospect | ||
| Pierce Pit & Plant | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Salem Quarry | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Sturkie Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unk | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Unknown |
Storms near this place
59 since 1994Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Salem in 59 storm reports between 1994 and 2026: 30 thunderstorm wind, 17 hail, 6 flash flood, 2 lightning. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Salem | $500,000 | Airplanes were severely damaged along with structural damage to some airport buildings. Winds estimated at 80 to 100 mph. |
| January 2007 | Flash Flood | Salem | $310,000 | Heavy rains produced widespread flash flooding across Fulton County. Numerous secondary and county roads were flooded and impassible. |
| August 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Salem | $100,000 | Tin roofing was removed from several structures, especially on the west side of Salem. Numerous trees and power lines were blown down. |
| October 2009 | Flash Flood | Salem | $30,000 | Water rescues were carried out north of Salem on Arkansas Highway 395 along Pine Hill Creek. |
| December 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Salem | $20,000 | Several power lines were blown down across the county. A roof was blown off a barn in Viola, and a tree fell onto a car in Mammoth Springs. |
| May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Salem | $5,000 | Trees were downed on houses...with some building damage reported. Straight-line winds were estimated at 60 to 80 mph. |
| April 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Salem | $5,000 | Tree limbs were blown down, causing minor power outages. |
| July 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Salem | $2,000 | Power lines were blown down in Salem. |
| August 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Salem | $2,000 | Limbs were blown down on Arkansas Highway 9. |
| May 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Salem | $2,000 | A tree was down on U.S. Highway 412. |
| July 2008 | Lightning | Salem | $2,000 | An outbuilding received damage due to lightning. |
| August 2008 | Lightning | Salem | $100 | Lightning struck in a field and started a fire near the seven mile marker on U.S. Highway 62 west of Salem. Approximately 2 acres of grass and brush were burned. |
| March 2026 | Hail | Salem | - | Quarter-sized hail fell at the 911 dispatch office in Salem. |
| April 2025 | Flash Flood | Salem | - | Widespread flooding occurred in Salem. Water even got into some businesses. |
| May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Salem | - | Numerous trees were blown down across Fulton County. |
| November 2024 | Flash Flood | Salem | - | Watered covered AR-Highway 395 in Salem via report from KY3 News out of Springfield, Missouri. |
| July 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Salem | - | Some trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds. |
| September 2019 | Flash Flood | Salem | - | Water was over the roadway in Salem. |
| May 2017 | Hail | Salem | - | Both a COOP observer and trained spotter reported hail ranging from 0.88 inches to 1.75 inches in diameter as it moved over Salem, Arkansas. |
| May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Salem | - | Trees were snapped and uprooted in Salem. Large trees were downed with multiple power and telephone lines down. Trained spotter estimated the wind speed at 75 mph. |
| September 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Salem | - | Trees were blown down in Salem across Byron St. and Young St. |
| November 2015 | Flash Flood | Salem | - | State Hwy 365 was closed north of Salem due to flooding. |
| April 2011 | Heavy Rain | Salem | - | The reporting station at Salem recorded its wettest April ever. |
| October 2009 | Heavy Rain | Salem | - | In Salem, it was the wettest October ever recorded. |
| July 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Salem | - | Trees and power lines were blown down. |
| July 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Salem | - | A few trees were blown down. |
| April 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Salem | - | Power lines were blown down. |
| August 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Salem | - | Three trees were reported down on Arkansas Highway 9 one mile south of Salem. |
| August 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Salem | - | Trees and power lines were downed in the city of Salem. |
| March 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Salem | - | Thunderstorm winds blew down trees and power lines at Salem, with the roof of a building caving in. |
| November 2006 | Tornado (F1) | Salem | - | A weak tornado was spawned roughly 2 miles west-northwest of Salem. As the tornado tracked to the northeast, it damaged or destroyed several mobile homes and a couple of barns. A large metal business building also suffered damage, with part of a wall blown out and the roof peeled back. A metal shop lost part of a roof as well. A few sheds were destroyed, with a carport thrown across a road. Power lines and power poles were downed, with dozens of trees snapped or uprooted. The tornado dissipated about 3 miles north of Saddle. | |
| August 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Salem | - | Thunderstorm winds blew down several large trees on Highway 9N at Salem. |
| May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Salem | - | Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees and power lines. Several homes also sustained roof damage. |
| August 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Salem | - | Thunderstorm winds knocked down a few trees. |
| August 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Salem | - | Some power lines were knocked down. |
| April 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Salem | - | Thunderstorm winds gusting to 60 mph blew down some large tree limbs in Salem. |
| April 2022 | Hail | Salem | - | no account filed |
| July 2016 | Hail | Salem | - | no account filed |
| March 2015 | Hail | Salem | - | no account filed |
| May 2011 | Hail | Salem | - | no account filed |
| May 2011 | Funnel Cloud | Salem | - | no account filed |
| April 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Salem | - | no account filed |
| March 2006 | Hail | Salem | - | no account filed |
| June 2004 | Hail | Salem | - | no account filed |
| May 2001 | Hail | Salem | - | no account filed |
| January 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Salem | - | no account filed |
| August 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Salem | - | no account filed |
| June 1998 | Hail | Salem | - | no account filed |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Salem | - | no account filed |
| June 1998 | Hail | Salem | - | no account filed |
| April 1998 | Hail | Salem | - | no account filed |
| May 1997 | Hail | Salem | - | no account filed |
| July 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Salem | - | no account filed |
| July 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Salem | - | no account filed |
| July 1996 | Hail | Salem | - | no account filed |
| October 1996 | Hail | Salem | - | no account filed |
| March 1996 | Hail | Salem | - | no account filed |
| March 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Salem | - | no account filed |
| June 1994 | Hail | Salem | - | no account filed |
Nearest settlements
The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.
| Map | Place | Distance | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeling | 4.1 miles | 11 | |
| Fairview | 4.2 miles | 11 | |
| Shady Grove | 4.8 miles | 11 | |
| Camp | 5.5 miles | 8 | |
| Flint Springs | 6.0 miles | 11 | |
| Mount Pleasant | 6.4 miles | 11 | |
| Sturkie | 6.5 miles | 11 | |
| Heart | 6.6 miles | 9 |
Elsewhere
Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.
| Wikipedia article on Salem | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q79646 | The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0). |
Provenance
This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 78274. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.







