Salem, Nebraska
village in Nebraska, United States
Salem is a village in Richardson County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 84 at the 2020 census.
History
Salem was laid out in 1855. Salem is derived from the Hebrew word shalom, meaning "peace". It was incorporated as a city in 1856.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.62 square miles (1.61 km2), all land.
Demographics
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 112 people, 52 households, and 28 families residing in the village. The population density was 180.6 inhabitants per square mile (69.7/km2). There were 73 housing units at an average density of 117.7 per square mile (45.4/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 99.1% White and 0.9% Native American.
The public source identifies “Salem, Nebraska” as village in Nebraska, United States. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Salem, Nebraska and village.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Salem, Nebraska”, the useful work is to connect “village in Nebraska, United States” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
The strongest evidence will usually combine a dated visual record with documents produced by the authority responsible for the place. The source revision retrieved here is dated Sep 14, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q2785692. Authority coordinates are 40.077, -95.723. 1 of 1 selected statements include explicit references; 0 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank. The first chronological checks are 2020, 1855, 1856 and 2010.
A single description cannot reconcile every naming convention, rebuilding phase or administrative transfer associated with a place. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Treat names, boundaries and functions as historically changeable. Maps, plans, inventories and administrative records can clarify what the place meant at different dates.
- Historic place names
- Jurisdictional context
- Routes into maps and plans
Contemporary maps, plans, listed-building records, estate papers and the responsible local or national archive.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Salem, Nebraska”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Salem, Nebraska primary sources, Salem, Nebraska archive and Salem research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Salem, Nebraska”?
- What physical evidence or contemporary plan supports the description?
- Which earlier names or jurisdictions may reveal additional records?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Salem, Nebraska” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.