Salem County, New Jersey

Salem County is a located in the  of. As of the, the population was 64,285. Its is. This county is considered part of the area.

The Old Salem County Courthouse, situated on the same block as the Salem County Courthouse, serves as the court for Salem City and is tied for being the second oldest courthouse in continuous use in the United States, the others being King William County Courthouse (1725) and Hanover County Courthouse (1735) in Virginia. It replaced an earlier wooden courthouse built in 1692, making the property the oldest courthouse site in continuous use in the nation. The present courthouse was built in 1735 during the reign of King George II using locally manufactured bricks. The building was enlarged in 1817 and enlarged and remodeled in 1908. Its distinctive bell tower is essentially unchanged and the original bell sits in the courtroom. The courthouse was the scene of the "treason trials" of 1778, wherein suspected Loyalists were put on trial for having allegedly aided the British during the Salem Raid in February and March of that same year. Four men were convicted and sentenced to death for treason; however, they were pardoned by Governor and exiled from New Jersey. The courthouse is also the site of the legend of Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson proving the edibility of the tomato. Before 1820, Americans often assumed tomatoes were poisonous. In 1820, Colonel Johnson, according to legend, stood upon the courthouse steps and ate tomatoes in front of a large amazed crowd assembled to watch him do so.

Geography
According to the, the county has a total area of 965 (373 ). 875 km² (338 sq mi) of it is land and 90 km² (35 sq mi) of it (9.31%) is water.

The terrain is almost uniformly flat coastal plain, with minimal relief. The highest elevation in the county has never been determined with any specificity, but is likely one of seven low rises in that exceed 160 feet (48.7 m) in elevation. Sea level is the lowest point.

Adjacent Counties

 * - northeast
 * - southeast
 * - southwest1
 * - west

1across ; no land border

Demographics
As of the of 2000, there were 64,285 people, 24,295 households, and 17,370 families residing in the county. The was 73/km² (190/sq mi). There were 26,158 housing units at an average density of 30/km² (77/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 81.19%, 14.77% or , 0.35% , 0.62% , 0.03% , 1.57% from , and 1.46% from two or more races. 3.89% of the population were or  of any race. 16.0% were of, 13.2% , 12.8% , 11.1% and 7.7%  ancestry according to.

There were 24,295 households out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.80% were living together, 13.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.50% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.60% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $45,573, and the median income for a family was $54,890. Males had a median income of $41,860 versus $27,209 for females. The for the county was $20,874. About 7.20% of families and 9.50% of the population were below the, including 13.30% of those under age 18 and 6.60% of those age 65 or over.

Government
Salem County is governed by a consisting of seven members. Freeholders are elected at large by the voters of Salem County in partisan elections and serve staggered three-year terms. As of 2007, Salem County's Freeholders are:
 * Lee R. Ware - Freeholder Director (term ends 2007)
 * Bruce L. Bobbitt - Freeholder Deputy Director (2008)
 * Julie Acton (2007)
 * Jeffrey J. Hogan (2009)
 * David Lindenmuth (2008)
 * Chuck Sullivan (2008)
 * Beth Timberman (2009)

Municipalities
The following municipalities are located in Salem County. The municipality type is listed in parentheses after the name, except where the type is included as part of the name. Other, s in the county are listed below their parent municipality (or municipalities, as the case may be). Most of these areas are s that have been created by the for enumeration purposes within a. Other communities and enclaves that exist within a municipality are marked as non-CDP next to the name.
 * (borough)
 * (borough)
 * (city)
 * (borough)
 * (borough)
 * (borough)
 * (city)
 * (borough)
 * (borough)
 * (city)
 * (borough)
 * (city)
 * (borough)
 * (city)
 * (borough)
 * (city)
 * (borough)
 * (borough)
 * (borough)

External link

 * Salem County official website