Salem, Kentucky

Salem is a city in Livingston County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 769 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Paducah, KY-IL Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Salem is the largest city in Livingston County, although it is neither the county seat nor the largest community in the county; these distinctions are held by the city of Smithland and the census-designated place of Ledbetter respectively.

Geography
Salem is located at 37.26472°N, -88.24111°W (37.264694, -88.241221).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.8 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 769 people, 322 households, and 202 families residing in the city. The population density was 987.6 people per square mile (380.7/km²). There were 370 housing units at an average density of 475.2 per square mile (183.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.22% White, 0.26% African American, 0.13% from other races, and 0.39% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 0.65% of the population.

There were 322 households out of which 20.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 34.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 23.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.72.

The age distribution was 16.9% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 19.9% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 31.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 51 years. For every 100 females there were 80.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,196, and the median income for a family was $37,857. Males had a median income of $29,375 versus $20,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,156. About 7.1% of families and 10.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.