Salem, Mississippi

Salem is an extinct town in Benton County, Mississippi, United States.^[1]

Salem, Mississippi
Extinct town
Salem, Mississippi Show map of Mississippi Salem, Mississippi Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 34°51′06″N 89°12′40″W
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
County	Benton
Elevation	541 ft (165 m)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code	662
GNIS feature ID	705897[1]

History

Salem was settled in 1836 and incorporated in May 1837. At one point, Salem was home to twelve businesses, two hotels, and a female school.^[2]

Salem was destroyed by the Union Army during the Civil War, leading many residents to resettle in nearby Ashland.^{[3][better source needed][4]}

A post office operated under the name Salem from 1837 to 1909.^[5]

Notable people

• Nathan Bedford Forrest, Confederate Army officer; Moved when he was 12 and spent his childhood in Salem.^[4]
• Joseph W. Matthews, 15th Governor of Mississippi from 1848 to 1850.^[6]
• Norris C. Williamson, member of the Louisiana State Senate from 1924 to 1932^[7]
• Daniel B. Wright, U.S. Representative for Mississippi's 1st congressional district from 1853 to 1857.^[8]