| Location: Salem, the
capital city of Oregon and the seat of Marion County is
located on the 45th parallel just 50 minutes south of
Portland on Interstate Highway 5 (I-5). It is in the heart
of the fertile Willamette Valley, 57 miles west to the
spectacular Oregon Coast and 92 miles east to the Cascade
mountain summit following the Santiam Pass.
Time Zone: Pacific Standard
Elevation: The elevation is 171
feet at the State Capitol on downtown Salem. Some
residential areas have an elevation ranging up to
800 feet.
Size: Salem contains 46.57 sq.
miles within its corporate limits. Marion County
covers an area of 1,175 sq. miles and Polk County
contains 739 sq. miles.
Population: Salem, the third largest
city in Oregon, has a population estimated at 142,940.
Marion County has a population estimated at 295,900
and Polk County has a population estimated at 64,000. *
Form of Government: Salem has
a charter government, appointed manager and eight
council members with an elected mayor presiding.
Taxes: The State of Oregon does
not have a sales tax. It has state income taxes.
Climate: The climate is mild:
however, annual seasons of fall, winter and summer
are discernible. On the average, 70% of the total
rainfall occurs from November through March. Only
6% occurs during June, July and August.
- Yearly average temperature: Maximum - 63.2 degrees,
Minimum- 41.0 degrees
- Average annual rainfall: 39.1 inches
- Average annual clear days: 76.7
- Average annual rainless days: 219.3
- Average annual snow, ice, hail: 32.8
- Average growing season is 204 days.
- Average annual wind velocity is 7.0 mph from
a prevailing southerly direction.
Yearly
Average Temperature (Fahrenheit) By Month |
Month |
Maximum Degrees |
Minimum
Degrees |
| January |
46.4 |
32.7 |
| February |
51.5 |
34.1 |
| March |
55.7 |
35.6 |
| April |
60.4 |
37.7 |
| May |
67 |
42.2 |
| June |
74.5 |
48.3 |
| July |
81.6 |
50.9 |
| August |
82 |
51.4 |
| September |
76 |
47.1 |
| October |
64.2 |
41.1 |
| November |
52.4 |
37.5 |
| December |
46.4 |
33.6 |
- State Designations State Capital :Salem
- State Flower: Oregon Grape
- State Tree: Douglas Fir
- State Bird: Western Meadowlark
- State Fish: Chinook Salmon
- State Rock: Thunderegg
- State Gem: Sunstone
- State Insect: Swallowtail Butterfly
- State Dance: Square Dance
- State Beverage: Milk
- State Mushroom: Pacific Golden Chanterelle
Salem History: Trappers and farmers
established some of the earliest permanent settlements
in the Willamette Valley region, nestled between
the Cascades and Coast mountain ranges. The trappers
arrived in the early 1800's and some remained and
turned to farming. Methodist missionaries who came
to minister to the Native Americans in 1834, encouraged
further settlement and were the founders of Salem.
Missionary leader Jason Lee and his group built a
mill on the Mill Creek. In 1842 they founded the
first institution of learning west of the Rockies
- the Oregon Institute, which is now known as Willamette
University. Salem was originally referred to as Chemeketa,
a Kalapuya Indian name meaning, "place of rest".
The missionaries, however, preferred the name "Salem",
an anglicized form of the Hebrew word Shalom, meaning "peace".
In 1843, an overland migration arrived over the Oregon Trail
to settle in the Willamette Valley. The influx of settlers traveling the
Oregon Trail increased and agitation for US control of Oregon resulted in
the 1848 settlement between the US and Great Britain. This action established
the 49th parallel as the dividing line between Britain territory and the
United State.
The Territory of Oregon, with its capital at Oregon City was
recognized in 1849. When Oregon gained statehood in 1859, Salem was sanctioned
as the official capital.
*Oregon Blue Book - almanac & fact book, 2005-2006 |
