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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

Salem within Fulton County

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

Population over time

4 figures

Salem 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.

YearPeople Change
188086
20001,591
20101,635+44 (+3%)
20201,566-69 (-4%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

8 surveys from 11 printed sheets

Matched 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.

Fires near this place

145 since 1997

Regional 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 burning74
Missing data/not specified/undetermined28
Arson/incendiarism25
Equipment and vehicle use12
Natural3
Recreation and ceremony1
Misuse of fire by a minor1
Railroad operations and maintenance1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
7 September 2004Debris and open burning22 acresArkansas Forestry Commissionnot named
5 September 2011Debris and open burning2.0 acresArkansas Forestry Commissionnot named
4 September 2000Natural2.0 acresArkansas Forestry Commissionnot named
29 September 2009Debris and open burning1.0 acresArkansas Forestry Commissionnot named
20 September 2019Missing data/not specified/undetermined10 acresArkansas Forestry Commissionnot named
15 September 2001Debris and open burning2.0 acresArkansas Forestry Commissionnot named
13 September 2002Arson/incendiarism1.0 acresArkansas Forestry Commissionnot named
13 September 1999Equipment and vehicle use11 acresArkansas Forestry Commissionnot named

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Fulton County

Mines and quarries near this place

9 within 5 miles

Regional 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 SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Rice FarmMagnesium CompoundsUnknown
Crusher No. 1Stone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Joyce Brothers Quarry & PlantStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
HumphrieSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Lafevers Sand & Gravel Co.Sand and Gravel, ConstructionProspect
Pierce Pit & PlantSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Salem QuarrySand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Sturkie PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown

Every working recorded in Fulton County

Storms near this place

59 since 1994

Regional 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.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
May 2016Thunderstorm WindSalem$500,000Airplanes were severely damaged along with structural damage to some airport buildings. Winds estimated at 80 to 100 mph.
January 2007Flash FloodSalem$310,000Heavy rains produced widespread flash flooding across Fulton County. Numerous secondary and county roads were flooded and impassible.
August 2012Thunderstorm WindSalem$100,000Tin roofing was removed from several structures, especially on the west side of Salem. Numerous trees and power lines were blown down.
October 2009Flash FloodSalem$30,000Water rescues were carried out north of Salem on Arkansas Highway 395 along Pine Hill Creek.
December 2015Thunderstorm WindSalem$20,000Several 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 2016Thunderstorm WindSalem$5,000Trees were downed on houses...with some building damage reported. Straight-line winds were estimated at 60 to 80 mph.
April 2013Thunderstorm WindSalem$5,000Tree limbs were blown down, causing minor power outages.
July 2015Thunderstorm WindSalem$2,000Power lines were blown down in Salem.
August 2009Thunderstorm WindSalem$2,000Limbs were blown down on Arkansas Highway 9.
May 2009Thunderstorm WindSalem$2,000A tree was down on U.S. Highway 412.
July 2008LightningSalem$2,000An outbuilding received damage due to lightning.
August 2008LightningSalem$100Lightning 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 2026HailSalem-Quarter-sized hail fell at the 911 dispatch office in Salem.
April 2025Flash FloodSalem-Widespread flooding occurred in Salem. Water even got into some businesses.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindSalem-Numerous trees were blown down across Fulton County.
November 2024Flash FloodSalem-Watered covered AR-Highway 395 in Salem via report from KY3 News out of Springfield, Missouri.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindSalem-Some trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds.
September 2019Flash FloodSalem-Water was over the roadway in Salem.
May 2017HailSalem-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 2016Thunderstorm WindSalem-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 2016Thunderstorm WindSalem-Trees were blown down in Salem across Byron St. and Young St.
November 2015Flash FloodSalem-State Hwy 365 was closed north of Salem due to flooding.
April 2011Heavy RainSalem-The reporting station at Salem recorded its wettest April ever.
October 2009Heavy RainSalem-In Salem, it was the wettest October ever recorded.
July 2008Thunderstorm WindSalem-Trees and power lines were blown down.
July 2008Thunderstorm WindSalem-A few trees were blown down.
April 2007Thunderstorm WindSalem-Power lines were blown down.
August 2007Thunderstorm WindSalem-Three trees were reported down on Arkansas Highway 9 one mile south of Salem.
August 2007Thunderstorm WindSalem-Trees and power lines were downed in the city of Salem.
March 2006Thunderstorm WindSalem-Thunderstorm winds blew down trees and power lines at Salem, with the roof of a building caving in.
November 2006Tornado (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 2003Thunderstorm WindSalem-Thunderstorm winds blew down several large trees on Highway 9N at Salem.
May 2003Thunderstorm WindSalem-Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees and power lines. Several homes also sustained roof damage.
August 2002Thunderstorm WindSalem-Thunderstorm winds knocked down a few trees.
August 2002Thunderstorm WindSalem-Some power lines were knocked down.
April 2001Thunderstorm WindSalem-Thunderstorm winds gusting to 60 mph blew down some large tree limbs in Salem.
April 2022HailSalem-no account filed
July 2016HailSalem-no account filed
March 2015HailSalem-no account filed
May 2011HailSalem-no account filed
May 2011Funnel CloudSalem-no account filed
April 2007Thunderstorm WindSalem-no account filed
March 2006HailSalem-no account filed
June 2004HailSalem-no account filed
May 2001HailSalem-no account filed
January 2000Thunderstorm WindSalem-no account filed
August 1998Thunderstorm WindSalem-no account filed
June 1998HailSalem-no account filed
June 1998Thunderstorm WindSalem-no account filed
June 1998HailSalem-no account filed
April 1998HailSalem-no account filed
May 1997HailSalem-no account filed
July 1996Thunderstorm WindSalem-no account filed
July 1996Thunderstorm WindSalem-no account filed
July 1996HailSalem-no account filed
October 1996HailSalem-no account filed
March 1996HailSalem-no account filed
March 1996Thunderstorm WindSalem-no account filed
June 1994HailSalem-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Fulton County

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 PlaceDistance Sheets
Wheeling4.1 miles11
Fairview4.2 miles11
Shady Grove4.8 miles11
Camp5.5 miles8
Flint Springs6.0 miles11
Mount Pleasant6.4 miles11
Sturkie6.5 miles11
Heart6.6 miles9

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 SalemAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q79646The 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.