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"Salem" is derived from the Hebrew word "Shalom", which means peace. Historically, Salem has been nicknamed the "Cherry City," because of the cherry festivals that were held periodically during the Twentieth Century [1].
The city's focus is primarily governmental, but it serves as a hub for the farming communities and is one of the largest centers of food processing in the nation. It lies along the I-5 corridor and is within an hour's drive of Portland.
In a bid to diversify its economic base, Salem attracted a number of computer-related manufacturing plants in the 1990s. In November, 2003, the Sumitomo Mitsubishi Silicon Group, one of these arrivals, announced that they will close their two silicon wafer plants at the end of 2004, eliminating 620 jobs, and moving the production to other plants.
The Native American name for the area was Chemeketa, which means "meeting or resting place." The name "Chemeketa" is preserved as the name of the local community college, Chemeketa Community College .
The first white settlement in the area was the Jason LeeJason Lee ( NSHC statue Jason Lee ( June 28, 1803 March 12, 1845) an American missionary and pioneer, was born on a farm near Stanstead, Quebec. He was the first of the Oregon missionaries and helped establish the early foundation of civil government in t mission in 18401840 is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). Events January 3 One of the predecessor papers to the Herald Sun of Melbourne, Australia, The Port Phillip Herald is founded by George Cavanaugh. January 10 Uniform penny postage. In 1842Events February 21 John J. Greenough patents the sewing machine. March 5 Over 500 Mexican troops led by Rafael Vasquez invade Texas briefly occupy San Antonio and then head back to the Rio Grande. This is the first such invasion since the Texas Revolution, the missionaries established the Oregon Institute (the forerunner of Willamette UniversityWillamette University is a private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the western United States. The university current has 136 full time professors and enrolls approximately 2,500 stud) in the area that was to become the first townsite of Salem. In 1844Events January 15 University of Notre Dame receives its charter from Indiana. February 27 The Dominican Republic gains independence from Haiti. February 28 A gun on the USS Princeton explodes while the boat is on a Potomac River cruise, killing two United the mission was dissolved and the townsite established. It is uncertain who chose the name for the town, but it is believed to be one of two people: Trustee David Leslie from Salem, MassachusettsSalem is a city located in Essex County, Massachusetts. Many people associate the city with the Salem witch trials of 1692, which the city utilizes as a tourist attraction. The city is also commonly confused with the Salem on the soap opera Days of Our Li, or W. H. Willson who in 1850Events January 4 The first American ice-skating club is formed ( Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). January 29 Henry Clay introduces the Compromise of 1850 to the United States Congress February 28 University of Utah opens in Salt Lake City, Utah March 7 United - 1851Events January 23 The flip of a coin determines whether a new city in Oregon is named after Boston, Massachusetts, or Portland, Maine, with Portland winning. March 1 Victor Hugo gives speech at the French national assembly and uses the phrase United State filed the plans for the main part of the city.
In 1851Events January 23 The flip of a coin determines whether a new city in Oregon is named after Boston, Massachusetts, or Portland, Maine, with Portland winning. March 1 Victor Hugo gives speech at the French national assembly and uses the phrase United State, Salem became the state capital after it was move from Oregon City. The capital was moved briefly to Corvallis in 1855, but was permanently moved back to Salem that same year. Salem was incorporated as a city in 1857.
The first cherry festival in Salem was held in 1903. In the following decades, the event briefly became an annual event, with parades and the election of a cherry queen, but was disbanded after World War I. It was revived briefly as the Salem Cherryland Festival for several years in the late 1940's [2]