Salem, Mississippi Explained

Official Name:	Salem, Mississippi
Pushpin Map:	Mississippi#USA
Subdivision Type:	Country
Subdivision Name:	United States
Subdivision Type1:	State
Subdivision Name1:	Mississippi
Subdivision Type2:	County
Subdivision Name2:	Benton
Timezone:	Central (CST)
Utc Offset:	-6
Timezone Dst:	CDT
Utc Offset Dst:	-5
Elevation Ft:	541
Coordinates:	34.8517°N -89.2111°W
Postal Code Type:	ZIP code
Area Code:	662
Blank Name:	GNIS feature ID
Blank Info:	705897

Salem is an extinct town in Benton County, Mississippi, United States.

History

Salem was settled in 1836 and incorporated in May 1837. At one point, Salem was home to twelve businesses, two hotels, and a female school.^[1]

Salem was destroyed by the Union Army during the Civil War, leading many residents to resettle in nearby Ashland.^{[2] [3]}

A post office operated under the name Salem from 1837 to 1909.^[4]

Notable people

• Nathan Bedford Forrest, Confederate Army officer; Moved when he was 12 and spent his childhood in Salem.^[3]
• Joseph W. Matthews, 15th Governor of Mississippi from 1848 to 1850.^[5]
• Norris C. Williamson, member of the Louisiana State Senate from 1924 to 1932^[6]
• Daniel B. Wright, U.S. Representative for Mississippi's 1st congressional district from 1853 to 1857.^[7]

Notes and References

1. Book: Rowland, Dunbar . Mississippi: Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form . Southern Historical Publishing Association . 1907 . 2 . 591.
2. Web site: Knect . Phillip . Ashland (1871) . Hill County History . March 4, 2016 .
3. News: Elkins . Ashley . June 4, 2000 . HED:Surprisingly scenic . djournal.com.
4. Web site: Benton County . Jim Forte Postal History . 4 May 2020.
5. Book: Cecil L. Sumners. The Governors of Mississippi. 1998. Pelican Publishing. 978-1-4556-0521-7. 62.
6. Web site: East Carroll Parish, Louisiana Genealogy . 22 May 2021.
7. Book: Mississippi Historical Society. Publications of the Mississippi Historical Society. 1902. 320.