Independent city · code 51775
Salem cityVirginia
Salem is an independent city in Virginia, founded in 1802 and named after Salem.
- Founded1802
- Named forSalem, New Jersey
- Land area15 sq mi + 0.1 sq mi water
- Population25,346 2020 Census
- Parcels mapped10,694 checked 15 October 2026
Where it is
Salem on the map of Virginia
Virginia has 133 counties and county equivalents, each with its own records office. Shapes with a page are links.
History
Founded in 1802
An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.
Salem separated from Roanoke in 1968 as a second-class independent city. Its status changed to a first-class independent city on January 2, 1968. Salem gained territory from Roanoke in 1986, 1987, and 1989.
- 1968Independent city separated Salem made an independent city, 2d class, from Roanoke. · Middleton, 2-12
- 1968Changed Independent city of Salem's status changed from 2d class to 1st class. · Middleton, 2-12
- 1986Gained territory Independent city of Salem gained from Roanoke. · Salem City Engineer, correspondence, March 1994
- 1987Gained territory Independent city of Salem gained from Roanoke. · Salem City Engineer, correspondence, March 1994
- 1989Gained territory Independent city of Salem gained from Roanoke. · Salem City Engineer, correspondence, March 1994
Land and parcels
What the maps cover in Salem
Who publishes each layer, how good it is, and when we last checked.
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Parcels Good enough
Lot lines and tax-map numbers for 10,694 parcels from Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN), Virginia Department of Emergency Management. Drawn for tax purposes: usually within a few feet of a survey, but not a survey.
checked 15 October 2026 -
Address points Official
One point per address, 14,181 in all from Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN), Virginia Dept of Emergency Management (VDEM; VGIN moved from VITA to VDEM).
checked 14 October 2026 -
Buildings Reference
Roof outlines traced from aerial imagery from FEMA Response Geospatial Office with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Good for seeing what is on a lot; not accurate enough to set a fence from.
checked 18 October 2026
- Official
- from the office that keeps the record
- Good enough
- a reliable statewide or national copy
- Fallback
- a guide only; check the official record
- Missing
- nothing public found yet
People and land
Salem by the Census
Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Census; US Census Bureau, 2020 Gazetteer Files. Not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Rules and offices
Who to ask before you build, dig or sell
Official county pages only. We link to them; we do not copy them, because they change.
Inside a city or town, permits usually come from that city rather than the county.
Records
Zoning and code
GIS and maps
County government
- County government
The official website of Salem city.
See your own lot on these maps
Open Salem city on Parcel Chart's free map and click your parcel. Save it with a free account; the full record of your place (site map, projects, documents) is Pro, in early access.
Questions
Common questions about Salem city
- When was Salem city founded?
- Salem city was founded in 1802, and named after Salem, New Jersey.
- Is there an online parcel map for Salem city?
- Yes. Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN), Virginia Department of Emergency Management publishes a parcel map of 10,694 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
- Has Salem city's boundary or name changed?
- Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 5 changes for Salem city. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 5 later changes, chiefly involving Roanoke County.
- Who issues building permits in Salem city?
- The county's page on building permits: Permits. Inside a city or town, ask that city first.
- Is my lot in a flood zone?
- We do not have flood maps for Salem city yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.
Nearby