Climate

Salem has a humid subtropical climate with mild winters and hot summers. November has the highest average precipitation, at 5.17 inches (131 mm).^[5] The average annual rainfall is 47 inches (1,200 mm).^[5] The average annual low temperature is 44 degrees and the average annual high is 67.^[5]

Protected areas

Salem City Park has a walking trail, volleyball court, picnic pavilions, children’s play area, and a lake that is stocked with fish. Preacher Roe Park is located on Highway 9 and offers a baseball/softball field and basketball court for aspiring athletes of all ages.

Mammoth Spring State Park is roughly 16 miles (26 km) northeast of Salem.

Lake Norfork is a short drive away, and it offers water skiing, swimming, fishing, and boating opportunities. The lake offers excellent striped bass fishing, with some of these monster fish weighing over 50 pounds. The lake is also good for largemouth, smallmouth and Kentucky bass fishing, and the bays and ponds are loaded with fast-biting bream and other panfish.

Wildlife abounds and the area is a popular deer and turkey hunting area. Experienced hunters can quickly achieve their bag limit in this area, and novice hunters usually return with some interesting stories.

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,566 people, 818 households, and 451 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the census^[8] of 2000, there were 1,591 people, 679 households, and 412 families residing in the city. The population density was 586.4 inhabitants per square mile (226.4/km²). There were 781 housing units at an average density of 287.9 per square mile (111.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.42% White, 0.31% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.31% Asian, and 1.63% from two or more races. 0.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 679 households, out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were non-families. 37.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.4% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 26.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $20,714, and the median income for a family was $28,359. Males had a median income of $22,368 versus $17,356 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,891. About 17.8% of families and 21.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.7% of those under age 18 and 20.8% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Libraries

Fulton County Library

The Fulton County Library is located at 205 Pickens in Salem. It is part of the White River Regional Library System.

Public health

Fulton County Hospital is an acute hospital certified by CMS and licensed by the state as a 25-bed critical access hospital.^[9] The hospital provides 24-hour emergency service and general diagnostic testing including clinical laboratory testing, general x-ray and CT. Ultrasound and MRI are provided on a scheduled basis. Fulton County Hospital has an active (admitting) staff of six physicians. Four of the physicians specialize in family practice and two are internists. The consulting staff consists of 18 physicians in the specialties of Diagnostic Radiology, Caridology, ENT and Pathology.

Five Family Medical Clinics serve Salem with one clinic in Mammoth Spring in the north east section of Fulton County. Salem also has four Pharmacies. Four agencies offer Home Health Services. The community has one Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and one Assisted Living Facility.

Fulton County Hospital operates a Paramedic Ambulance Service and an Air Ambulance Service is based in an adjoining county.

Annual cultural events

The area has a culture rich in originating the bluegrass music tradition, and each year boasts the Fulton County Homecoming event that allows local and visiting artists to gather and perform on the town square.^[10]

Mammoth Spring State Park hosts an annual Old Soldiers Reunion, which originated as a way to celebrate the reunification of the Confederacy with the Union following the Civil War. Now, the Reunion is a fair-like event that offers entertaining Civil War Re-enactments, rides, games, traditional bluegrass and other varieties of music entertainment for a three- or four-day period annually.^[11]

During the annual Fulton County Fair, there is a public area behind the Salem City Park which hosts rodeos, tractor pulls, livestock shows, concerts, rides and games.^[12]

Major highways

US 62B in Salem

U.S. Routes 62/412 pass through the south side of the city, leading southeast 18 miles (29 km) to Ash Flat and west 36 miles (58 km) to Mountain Home. Arkansas Highway 9 passes through the center of town, leading northeast 19 miles (31 km) to Mammoth Spring and southwest 50 miles (80 km) to Mountain View.

Utilities

Electricity is provided by the North Arkansas Electric Cooperative, which is based in Salem.^[13]