Salem, founded in 1823, is located in south central Illinois in Marion County (of which it is the county seat) about 20 miles north of Mt. Vernon along Interstate 57 about 15 miles east of Carlyle Lake. The population estimate for July 1, 1998 was 7,624, an increase of 154 since 1990. As an historical footnote, Salem is the birthplace of famous American statesman William Jennings Bryan.
