Salem, Massachusetts, is a town that was settled in 1623-1624, and named Salem in 1629. It was developed into a fishing, and shipbuilding center through the 1700s, and by 1790 was the sixth largest city in the country. Although Salem continued to grow and prosper through the decades, in 1914, The Great Salem Fire swept through Salem, destroying 1,376 buildings, and leaving 18,000 families homeless. Today, Salem is a working class city, with attractions steeped in the mystical as Salem was home to the Salem Witch Trials and people visit the city to see the history behind these trials.
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Salem, Massachusetts has a parks and recreation department that offers programming throughout the year for both children and adults. Whether you want to play co-ed softball, or you want to have your child play soccer, there are opportunities for outdoor activities through the recreation department. Residents enjoy going to Salem Willows, a vintage style amusement park that has kiddie rides, skeeball, a vintage merry go round and a modern arcade. You can take a picnic to Salem Willows and enjoy a day with the family outdoors. You can also head over to Forest River Park, which has beaches, areas to have a picnic and a playground for children. Salem also offers a dog park, where you can take your dog to run around safely with other dogs.
Just a short trip into Boston, and you can spend the day watching the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, take a trip to Quincy Market for some outdoor shopping, or spend the day walking the Freedom Trail that meanders through the city.
The school system in Salem, Massachusetts could use some improvements. Average test scores are low, and students in Salem are currently scoring 29% lower than the national average. There are nine public schools in Salem, and the student to teacher ratio is 16:1. 37.9% of the adult population in Salem has a bachelors level degree, while 86% have completed high school.
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Some of the restaurants in Salem favored by the locals include Firenze Trattoria, serving traditional Italian dishes, Turners Seafood, an excellent seafood restaurant, The Red Line Cafe which serves breakfast and lunch, the Bambolina Restaurant, another Italian favorite in Salem, and New England Soup Factory, which is famous for their New England clam chowder. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from in Salem, that cater to most tastes and budgets.
There are a number of shopping opportunities in Salem, but they tend to cater to tourists who are visiting to learn more about the history of the Salem Witch Trials, or those with interest in the mystical or occult. Some of the more popular stores in downtown Salem include Roost & Company, a home decor and gift shop, HEX, a favorite place to shop for psychics and those that study astrology, Artemisia Botanicals, selling all types of medicinal herbs, and Modern Millie, which sells used and vintage clothing. The shops are eclectic, and many people love shopping in Salem because of the odd variety of stores that make up the downtown area.
Is it safe to live in Salem?
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The crime rate in Salem is a bit higher than that of other area suburbs, and the overall crime rate in Salem is over the national average by 3%. Salem is considered safer than 27% of the rest of the cities in the United States. Although the crime rate in Salem is not favorable, the crime rate has decreased 5% in the past year. The level of crime will also depend on which area of Salem that you live in, and it's important to talk to your Realtor about which neighborhoods are safer.
Salem, Massachusetts was the site of the Salem Witch Trials that started in 1692. Bridget Bishop was hanged in June 1692 after being convicted of witchcraft, and 18 more people were hanged, while over 150 men, women and children were also accused but not convicted. The hysteria died down by September of that year, but the interest in the Salem Witch Trials has only grown over the years.
If you are looking to buy a home in Salem, it's important to know that the real estate market is considered cold right now. There are 106 homes on the market at this time, and homes are remaining on the market for several months or more. This means that buyers have more bargaining power when they are looking at properties, and it is a good time to buy a home if you are a qualified buyer. With low mortgage rates, you can find a decent home for the price you are willing to pay if you look hard enough.
