Biohazard Cleanup Near Oak Park Salem, OR

Salem is the capital city of Oregon and the county seat of Marion County, founded in 1842 and incorporated as a city in 1857.

The 2020 census counted 175,535 residents in Salem, making it the second-most populous city in Oregon after Portland and before Eugene.

Salem spans two counties, Marion and Polk: the Willamette River forms the boundary between them, and the city's West Salem neighborhood lies in Polk County, while the dataset record lists Marion County only.

The Kalapuya people called the area Chim-i-ki-ti, thought to mean meeting or resting place, and the Methodist mission that settled it called it Chemeketa before it became Salem, a name possibly taken from the Hebrew word Shalom, meaning peace.

Salem became the capital of the Oregon Territory in 1851, the capital moved briefly to Corvallis in 1855, and it returned to Salem permanently that same year, becoming the state capital when Oregon achieved statehood in 1859.

Oregon has had three capitol buildings in Salem, and the current Oregon State Capitol was completed in 1938, topped by the gold-leaf Oregon Pioneer statue on its dome.

The 45th parallel, roughly the halfway point between the North Pole and the Equator, passes through Salem's city limits.

Salem is nicknamed the Cherry City because of the past importance of the local cherry-growing industry, and its first cherry festival was held in 1903.

Salem has been the permanent site of the Oregon State Fair since 1861, when it was chosen by the Oregon State Agricultural Association.

The city is home to Willamette University, whose forerunner the Oregon Institute was established in 1842, along with Corban University and Chemeketa Community College.