Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood of West Salem is in Polk County. Salem was founded in 1842, became the capital of the Oregon Territory in 1851, and was incorporated in 1857.
Salem had a population of 154,637 at the 2010 census, making it the third largest city in the state after Portland and Eugene. Salem is less than an hour driving distance away from Portland. Salem is the principal city of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area, a metropolitan area that covers Marion and Polk counties and had a combined population of 390,738 at the 2010 census. A 2013 estimate placed the metropolitan population at 400,408, the state’s second largest.
The city is home to Willamette University, Corban University, and Chemeketa Community College. The State of Oregon is the largest public employer in the city, and Salem Health is the largest private employer. Transportation includes public transit from Salem-Keizer Transit, Amtrak service, and non-commercial air travel at McNary Field. Major roads include Interstate 5, Oregon Route 99E, and Oregon Route 22 which connects West Salem across the Willamette River via the Marion Street and Center Street bridges.
- There were 317 deaths in 292 fatal accidents (11.78% decline in crashes, and 15.92% decline in deaths from 2009).
- There were 30,493 people injured in 20,879 accidents (increase of 9.58% in accidents, and 8.31% in injuries over 2009)
- There were 22,923 property-only accidents (increase of 4.73% over 2009).
- There were 210 accidents involving bicycles, tricycles, unicycles, and pedal cars.
- There 792 pedestrians injured (20% increase over 2010).
- 148 school buses were involved in collisions.
- There were 1,711 accidents involved trucks.
- There were 849 accidents involving motorcycles.
- 8,165 traffic accidents in 2010 involved a driver between 15-20.
- In car accidents, 171 drivers died and 77 passengers died.
- 62 pedestrians died
- 7 cyclists died
- Almost 25% of those injured in accidents were children between 0 and 14.
- 36% of non-fatal traffic accidents were rear-end collisions.
- The most dangerous time to be driving in Oregon is between 5pm and 6pm on Fridays in December.
Unfortunately, many people in Salem are injured in accidents that they have not caused and this means they are eligible to receive compensation for their injuries. If you have been injured in an Salem, Oregon accident, call the Portland car accident attorneys to make sure that the at-fault driver’s insurance covers your medical bills, lost wages, and property damages.