Salem: Recreation

Sightseeing

The State Capitol building in downtown Salem is constructed of white marble and features a 22-foot bronze and gold leaf statue, "The Oregon Pioneer." Willson Park, next to the Capitol, contains the Waite Fountain, a replica of the Liberty Bell, and a gazebo for open-air concerts. Bush's Pasture Park is a large park near the Willamette River and downtown Salem that features the Bush House, a Victorian mansion; historic Deepwood House and Gardens, a 5.5-acre estate built in the Queen Anne style; Bush Barn Art Center; and Bush Conservatory. The Salem Municipal Rose Garden is also located in the park. Riverfront Park on the Willamette River has an amphitheatre, a playground and picnic areas, is home to Salem's Riverfront Carousel, featuring hand-carved horses. The A.C. Gilbert Discovery Village, a children's museum, is also in Riverfront Park. Salem Saturday Market brings local farmers and artisans to the corner of Marion and Summers Streets May through October. The Reed Opera House, built in 1869, has been renovated and now contains a number of shops and restaurants.

Attractions at Enchanted Forest, a family-run amusement park, include Storybook Lane in a woodland setting, a Western mining town, summer comedy theater, a haunted house, the Ice Mountain roller coaster, and bobsled and log flume rides. The Salem area features more than 20 wineries within an hour's drive.

Arts and Culture

Theatrical performances are held year-round by the Pentacle Theatre, a community theater group. The Elsinore Theatre presents international and national tours of musicians and theatrical performances, hosts a children's play series, and presents films on Wednesdays. The Willamette Playhouse is where theatre majors from the Willamette University perform, along with the university's Distinguished Artists Series that brings speakers, concerts, and plays to the venue. Musical performances by local groups include classical and pops concerts backed by the Oregon Symphony Association of Salem. The Willamette Falls Symphony presents three concerts a year. Salem is also home to concert and jazz bands, a chamber music group, and men's and women's barbershop choirs. The Hallie Ford Museum of Art, the state's largest art museum, opened in 1998. It houses Willamette University's collection of Indian baskets, Northwest paintings, prints, photographs, sculpture, and European, Asian, and American art. The A.C. Gilbert Discovery Village is the largest children's museum in the Northwest and includes the National Toy Hall of Fame. Half of the museum is housed in a Victorian home once occupied by Gilbert's uncle and the other half is in a Victorian building separated from the first by a charming outdoor activity center.

Mission Mill Museum is a 5-acre site that is home to the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill, the historic buildings of the Jason Lee House, the Parsonage, the John D. Boon House, and Pleasant Grove Church. The modern PGE Waterpower Interpretive Center showcases the importance of waterpower to Salem's textile industry.

Arts and Culture Information: Mid-Valley Arts Council, 189 Liberty Street NE, Ste 208, PO Box 149, Salem OR 97308-0149; telephone (503)364-7474

Festivals and Holidays

The Oregon Wine and Food Festival, billed as "The first taste of the wine season" is held at the Oregon State Fair-grounds in February. In April, the Oregon Ag Fest at the State Fairgrounds brings over 20,000 visitors a year to enjoy the Trade, Garden and Craft Show, live entertainment, food, and petting zoo. In June, Riverfront Park hosts the Salem World Beat Festival, with music, dance, crafts, and food from around the world. The Salem Art Fair and Festival occurs annually in the third weekend in July and exhibits the works of artists from throughout the Northwest. Also in July is Salem Hoopla, an all-ages 3-on-3 basketball tournament held right on Court Street, and the Marion County Fair takes place at the State Fairgrounds. The Oregon State Fair is a 12-day celebration each August that features floral and art exhibits, agricultural displays, a midway, and live entertainment. The nearby Bavarian-style community of Mt. Angel holds a popular Oktoberfest each fall. The Festival of Lights Parade in December features floats and marching bands on a route through downtown at night.

Sports for the Participant

More than 1,800 acres, 29 miles of trails, 42 developed parks, and 26 undeveloped parks in Salem offer a variety of outdoor recreational activities. Water sports include fishing, swimming, and boating. Twenty-eight parks maintain ball fields, and there are also 23 public tennis courts and 7 public golf courses; some provide accommodations for the handicapped. Minto Brown Island Park, the largest park at 900 acres, is located along the river about a mile from Salem's center city and contains picnic grounds, jogging and bike paths, and a wildlife refuge. Within 50 miles of Salem are coastal beaches and state and federal recreational areas and parks.

Shopping and Dining

The downtown Salem Center Mall, Lancaster Mall, and Woodburn Company Stores Outlet Mall are the three main shopping areas in Salem. A system of skywalks connects the four major department stores downtown. A number of other specialty stores and smaller shops, such as Mission Mill Village, featuring antiques and crafts in a historic village setting, are scattered throughout the area.

Salem restaurants specialize in fresh, grown-in-Oregon foods and famous Pacific seafood along with cuisine from around the world. The Willamette Valley's vineyards produce a variety of fine wines that area restaurants proudly feature.

Visitor Information: Salem Convention and Visitors Association, 1313 Mill Street SE, Salem, OR 97301; telephone (503)581-4325; toll-free (800)874-7012; fax (503)581-4540

Salem: Population Profile

Metropolitan Area Residents

1980: 250,000

1990: 278,024

2000: 347,214

2003 estimate: 363,000

Percent change, 1990–1998: 24.9%

U.S. rank in 1980: 126th

U.S. rank in 1990: 122nd

U.S. rank in 2000: 129th (CMSA)

City Residents

1980: 89,091

1990: 107,793

2000: 136,924

2003 estimate: 142,914

Percent change, 1990–2000: 25.8%

U.S. rank in 1980: 195th

U.S. rank in 1990: 178th (State rank: 3rd)

U.S. rank in 2000: 162nd (State rank: 3rd)

Density: 2,994.0 people per square mile (2000)

Racial and ethnic characteristics (2000)

White: 132,327

Black or African American: 1,750

American Indian and Alaskan Native: 2,064

Asian: 3,304

Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 643

Hispanic or Latino (may be of any race): 19,973

Other: 10,820

Percent of residents born in state: 45.0% (2000)

Age characteristics (2000)

Population under 5 years old: 10,190

Population 5 to 9 years old: 9,620

Population 10 to 14 years old: 9,244

Population 15 to 19 years old: 10,159

Population 20 to 24 years old: 11,252

Population 25 to 34 years old: 20,659

Population 35 to 44 years old: 20,539

Population 45 to 54 years old: 18,252

Population 55 to 59 years old: 5,679

Population 60 to 64 years old: 4,291

Population 65 to 74 years old: 7,541

Population 75 to 84 years old: 6,653

Population 85 years and over: 2,845

Median age: 33.6 years

Births, Marion County (2003)

Total number: 5,094

Deaths (2003)

Total number: 2,622 (of which, 4 were infants under the age of 1 year)

Money income (1999)

Per capita income: $19,141

Median household income: $38,881

Total households: 50,585

Number of households with income of . . .

less than $10,000: 4,497

$10,000 to $14,999: 3,490

$15,000 to $24,999: 6,903

$25,000 to $34,999: 7,530

$35,000 to $49,999: 9,309

$50,000 to $74,999: 10,231

$75,000 to $99,999: 4,580

$100,000 to $149,999: 2,771

$150,000 to $199,999: 595

$200,000 or more: 679

Percent of families below poverty level: 10.5% (27.6% of which were female householder families with related children under 5 years)

2002 FBI Crime Index Total: 12,077

Salem

The City in Brief

Founded: 1848 (incorporated, 1860)

Head Officials: Mayor Janet Taylor (since 2003); City Manager Robert Wells

City Population

1980: 89,091

1990: 107,793

2000: 136,924

2003 estimate:

142,914 Percent change, 1990–2000: 25.8%

U.S. rank in 1980: 195th

U.S. rank in 1990: 178th

U.S. rank in 2000: 162nd

Metropolitan Area Population

1980: 250,000

1990: 278,024

2000: 347,214

Percent change, 1990–2000: 24.9%

U.S. rank in 1980: 126th

U.S. rank in 1990:

122nd U.S. rank in 2000: 129th

Area: 46.37 square miles (2000)

Elevation: 171 feet above sea level at State Capitol

Average Annual Temperature: 52.6° F

Average Annual Precipitation: 39.2 inches of rain, 6.4 inches of snow

Major Economic Sectors: Agriculture, lumber, government, services, trade, high technology

Unemployment Rate: 7.7% (February 2005)

Per Capita Income: $19,141 (1999)

2004 ACCRA Average House Price: Not reported

2004 ACCRA Cost of Living Index: Not reported

1999 FBI Crime Index Total: 12,077

Major Colleges and Universities: Willamette University, Chemeketa Community College, Western Baptist Bible College; Tokyo International University (branch)

Daily Newspaper: Statesman Journal

Salem: Geography and Climate

Salem is located about 60 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean in the Willamette Valley and about halfway between Portland and Eugene. The Willamette River flows on the western edge of the central city. The city is bounded by the Coast Range of mountains on the west and the Cascade Range on the east. Moist Pacific air is the dominant weather feature, moderating temperatures year round. The city and especially the nearby mountains receive a large amount of rainfall; more than 70 percent occurs between November and March and only about 6 percent during the summer. Severe storms and extreme temperatures are uncommon.

Area: 46.37 square miles (2000)

Elevation: 171 feet above sea level at State Capitol

Average Temperatures: January, 40.3° F; August, 67.0° F; annual average, 52.6° F

Average Annual Precipitation: 39.2 inches of rain, 6.4 inches of snow

Salem: Transportation

Approaching the City

Airport shuttles make round trips from Portland International Airport, 61 miles from Salem. Interstate 5, the major West Coast interstate highway, and Interstate 84, for destinations to the east, run through Salem. Passenger rail service is available from Amtrak with two trains daily. The city is also served by Greyhound bus line.

Traveling in the City

The downtown area and much of the rest of Salem is laid out in a grid pattern. Major thoroughfares include State Street, Center Street, Commercial Street, and River Road. Salem-Keizer Transit, also known as Cherriots, operates 25 bus lines with a fleet of more than 50 buses throughout the metropolitan area.

Salem: Municipal Government

Salem operates under a council-manager form of government with eight council members elected to four-year terms by wards; the mayor serves for two years and is elected at-large. The council hires the city manager. Salem is the seat of Marion County.

Head Officials: Mayor Janet Taylor (since 2003; current term expires 2007); City Manager Robert Wells

Total Number of City Employees: 1,190 (2000)

City Information: City of Salem, 555 Liberty Street SE, Salem, OR 97301; telephone (503)588-6255; email Manager@open.org

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