Salem Real Estate
Salem is a historic coastal city located 15 miles northeast of Boston along the Massachusetts Bay. Salem’s many waterways and significance as a seaport are sometimes overshadowed by its identification with the Salem witch trials of 1692. The town incorporates the witch imagery in a number of daily reminders ranging from police cars to downtown shops to the name of local athletic teams. Halloween is a mecca for Salem, attracting crowds with a number of events as the holiday draws near.
Salem occupies 18.1 square miles with its 41,000 residents concentrated in several neighborhoods: Salem Neck lying northeast of downtown; North Salem on the other side of the North River; and South Salem along the banks of Salem Harbor. Downtown Salem scores high on the walkability index with stately homes interspersed with a variety of shops and eateries lining the cobblestone streets. Read more about Salem.
Salem Homes & Condos For Sale
More About Salem
Salem Location
Salem’s natural geography helped create its various neighborhoods as well as several parks and conservation land. Salem Harbor divides the city from much of neighboring Marblehead to the southeast. Salem borders Beverly to the north; Danvers to the northwest; Lynn to the South; Swampscott and Marblehead to the southeast; and Peabody to the west.
Salem maintains a station on the Newburyport/Rockport Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail into Boston’s North Station. From May to October, a daily ferry travels from Salem to Boston in 50 minutes.
Salem Recreation
Salem’s many conservation areas offer a number of options to residents. Forest River Park features two beaches, a swimming pool and an assortment of picnic areas. The Park also houses Salem Pioneer Village, a living history museum of Puritan life. Salem Willows Park is a 25-acre oceanfront park, also ideal for picnicking and hiking with an arcade and several eateries.
In addition to its waterfront, Salem is home to many historic and tourist attractions, including the House of Seven Gables and the Peabody Essex Museum, a leading museum of Asian art and culture. The Salem Common celebrates Salem’s role as the birthplace of the National Guard. For history and architecture buffs, Federal Street and Charter Street Historic Districts are effective showcases for many period houses.
Salem History
Salem derives its name from the Hebrew word for peace. Colonists settled the area in 1626 but a graceful change in government several years later prompted the change in name to acknowledge the peaceful transition. Salem is best known for its history of witchcraft allegations starting with several young teenage girls. The infamous witch trials were held in 1692 with 19 people executed as a result of the false accusations. Years later during the Revolutionary War, Salem gained notoriety as a center for privateering. Salem is also credited as the birthplace of some of the most popular board games in history – including Monopoly, Clue, Risk, and Sorry. Local resident George Parker formed Parker Brothers in the late 1880s, inventing the iconic games. Salem also claims the distinction of serving the first ice cream cone at E.W. Hobbs in the early 1900s.
