Salem, New Hampshire
The busy town of Salem, New Hampshire lies just north of the Massachusetts border in the southernmost part of NH’s Rockingham County. With a population nearing 30,000 people, Salem has been on a path of steady growth for the past sixty years. Growing from a small town of only 5000 in 1950, Salem’s forward-thinking town administrators’ plan for expansion and growth included opening the town to commercial and retail interests. By easing residential tax burdens through the taxation of commercial business, Salem enjoyed a well-planned population explosion and the accompanying boon in building trades. Salem remains a southern NH nexus for retailers, offering no sales tax to shoppers; many of whom travel from neighboring Massachusetts to take advantage of tax-free shopping in New Hampshire.
As far back as 1736, Salem was known as North Parish of Methuen or Methuen District. This changed in 1741 when the Massachusetts/New Hampshire boundary line was established and the North Parish, as well as part of Dracut, MA, became a part of New Hampshire. Residents named their new town Salem, after nearby Salem, Massachusetts. The town was not incorporated until 1750 when, after four failed attempts, Governor Benning Wentworth finally granted the charter and Salem became an official New Hampshire town. The town plodded along in relative obscurity until railroad tracks were laid in the late 1800’s. With this came the development of Canobie Lake Park, a destination for the trolley service that was offered at the time. Canobie Lake Park, with its scenic lakeside picnicking and stunning botanical gardens, became a huge attraction for workers of the day. The parks history is a tumultuous one with fires, closings and ownership changes throughout the years, but remains today as one of New England’s premier amusement parks.
In addition to roller coasts and Ferris wheels, Salem boasts some of the best shopping north of Boston, MA. Retailers of every kind imaginable line Route 28, from the Methuen border in the south to the Salem/Derry border further north. Residential areas remain quiet and tranquil, yet very convenient to all the big city trappings. Salem lays claim to the Rockingham Park Race Track, one of the few New England tracks that races horses. Salem is also home to “America’s Stonehenge”, a geographical anomaly once known as “Mystery Hill”. Route 93 gives residents easy northern access to New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest, and the state’s lakes region, as well as historic Boston to the south. The sprawling metropolis of Manchester, NH lies only a few short minutes north of Salem giving residents the ability to enjoy city outings without needing to travel very far at all.
Salem, NH is a part of SAU#57 and operates it’s own school system. Salem has six elementary schools (William T. Barron Elementary, Dr. L F Soule School, William E Lancaster School, Mary A Fisk Elementary, North Salem Elementary and Walter F Haigh School), one middle school (The Woodbury School) and one high school (Salem High).
Salem, NH is one of the Granite State’s bright spots. Plenty to do and see, close to everything and always entertaining. If Salem sounds like the perfect place to put down roots and raise a family, it is. For more information on this wonderful New England town, call Jim Miller Bean Group at (603) 801-3987. We have the most current, up-to-date NH MLS and we’d love to talk to you. Call today.
Elementary Schools
William T Barron Elementary (1-5)
(603) 893-7067
Dr. L F Soule School (1-5)
(603) 893-7053
William E Lancaster School (1-5)
(603) 893-7059
Mary A Fisk Elementary (1-5)
(603) 893-7051
North Salem Elementary (1-5)
(603) 893-7062
Walter F Haigh School (1-5)
(603) 893-7064
Middle School
The Woodbury School (6-8)
(603) 893-7055
High School
Salem High School
(603) 893-7069
