Location of Salem in Lee County.

Salem is an unincorporated community east-centrally located in Lee County, Alabama, United States. It lies along U.S. Highway 280 between Opelika and Phenix City. It is part of the Auburn Metropolitan Area.

History

Salem was first settled in 1835, and grew rapidly for the next two decades. Salem incorporated in 1846 and quickly became one of the area's largest cities. However, a fire which engulfed the town in 1854 and the subsequent Civil War resulted in the collapse of the town's government, and rapid depopulation. Salem lost a bid to be the county seat of the newly-formed Lee County in 1865, and then saw its charter become inactive in the following decades. Today, Salem is a small community of a few hundred.

By the late 20th century Salem was the location of Lee County's only covered bridge, the Salem-Shotwell Covered Bridge. A symbol of the area, the bridge collapsed during a storm in 2005. It was rebuilt in 2007 at Opelika Municipal Park in nearby Opelika.

References

• Nunn, Alexander (Ed.) (1983). Lee County and Her Forebears. Montgomery, Ala., Herff Jones. LCCCN 83-081693

External links

• Salem-Shotwell Covered Bridge Photos

v â€¢ d â€¢ e Municipalities and communities of Lee County, Alabama
County seat: Opelika
Cities	Auburn | Opelika | Phenix City | Smiths Station
Towns	Loachapoka | Notasulga | Waverly
Unincorporated communities	Beauregard | Beulah | Gold Hill | Marvyn | Roxana | Salem