Salem At a Glance
| Established | 1626 |
|---|---|
| Town Incorporated | 1630 |
| City Incorporated | 1836 |
| Land Area: | 8.10 square miles |
| Water Area: | 9.95 square miles |
| Population: | 40,407 (U.S. Census 2000) |
| Density: | 4,986 per sq. mile |
| Area Code: | 978 |
| Zip Code: | 01970 |
| Historical profile on the city web site | |
| Community Profile from Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development | |
48 Lafayette Street
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 744-6990 (non-emergency number)
Chief David W. Cody
95 Margin Street
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 744-1212 (non-emergency number)
Chief Paul F. Tucker
Our non-pdf alternative to the city publications.
The City Seal
"TO THE FARTHEST PORT OF THE RICH EAST"
In 1654, Elihu Yale sent two of his employees to Atjeh, the greatest independent kingdom on Sumatra, to establish the pepper trade. The last bulk cargo of pepper entered Salem, Massachusetts from Sumatra on November 6, 1846, on the brig Lucilla. Ever since the RAJAH of Salem had loaded the first Susu pepper, Salem had held a predominant position in that trade. So important had its position been that, a hundred years later, in Australia, whole peppercorns were still known as "Salem Pepper".
In fact the seal of Salem, when reproduced correctly, still bears the picture of an Atjehnese. At the peak of the pepper trade, the city council ordered a seal showing "A ship under full sail, approaching a coast, designated by the costume of the person standing upon it and by the trees near him, as a portion of the East Indies, .... motto 'Divitis Indiae usque ad ultimum sinum'... signifying ' To the farthest port of the rich east...".
George Peabody, son of the patriarch of the pepper merchants, and himself a pepper ship owner, drew a design of a man wearing a flat red turban, red trousers and belt, a yellow knee length robe and blue jacket. There is no people in the East Indies whose costume is closer to this than the Atjehnese, and that was probably his intention.
Only official documents of the the City of Salem may contain the seal of the City. It is a violation of State law, and Local Ordinances, to use the City Seal in any capacity not related to official City of Salem business. The City Clerk is the custodian of the City Seal.
City Government
| Type: | (Form: B - Mayor & City Council) |
|---|---|
| Web Site: | www.salem.com |
| Offices: |
Salem City Hall 93 Washington Street , Salem, MA 01970 City Hall Annex 120 Washington Street, Salem, MA 01970 (978)745-9595 |
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Mayor
(salem.com) -
City Council
(salem.com) -
City Departments
(salem.com) -
School Committee
(salem.com) -
Property Assessments (FY 2007 Assessments)
(patriotproperties.com)
Elected Representatives
- Statewide
- U.S. SenatorsEdward M. Kennedy (deceased)<www.senate.gov/~kennedy/>
John F. Kerry <www.senate.gov/~kerry> - District
- U.S. CongressmanJohn F. Tierney <www.house.gov/tierney/>
- State SenatorFrederick E. Berry <www.magnet.state.ma.us:80/legis/member/feb0.htm>
- State RepresentativeJohn Keenan <www.johnkeenan.org>
