Salem, IA
- Elevation
- 719 ft USGS GNIS community points and 3DEP elevation · GNIS 2026-07-06; USGS 3DEP sampled 2026-07-23
- General Quality Overall rating out of 100
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About Salem
Founded in the 1830s as Iowa's first Quaker settlement, Salem carries a deep and fascinating history. The town quickly became an active hub for the abolitionist movement and the Underground Railroad, helping freedom seekers traveling north from Missouri. It is also famous as the launching point for the Traveling Orchard, when local nurseryman Henderson Lewelling hauled hundreds of young fruit trees west along the Oregon Trail in 1847.
Today, Salem is a quiet, close-knit rural community in southern Henry County. The Lewelling Quaker Museum preserves the town's early roots, while Salem Elementary allows younger kids to go to school right in town through the Mount Pleasant Community School District. It is an appealing spot for anyone looking for peaceful small-town living, with the conveniences and jobs of Mount Pleasant just a quick 15-minute drive up the road.
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