Community of Salem

    Salem is the capital of Oregon. It sits between the coastal hills and Cascade Mountains in the middle of the Willamette valley. There is a lot of agricultural land in the surrounding areas. Between both Polk and Marion counties, there is about 47 square miles of Salem. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population for 2010 was 154,637. The Metro population is at 383,100, according to the city of Salem. The ethnicity breakdown is as follows: 70.7% white (non-Hispanic), 20.3 % Hispanic or Latino origin, 1.5% American Indian and Alaska Native persons, 2.7% Asian, 0.9% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, 4.3% persons reporting 2 or more races. According to city data, the estimated median household income was 42,035, compared to Oregon’s over all average 48,457. It’s also interesting to compare the foreign born percentages: Oregon is at 8.5% and Salem is at 11.7%, not a huge difference, but something to consider. Salem is also known as the Cherry City. The residents of Salem get involved in high school athletics creating a nice sense of community and encouragement to the youth. Having a strong sense of community support could help me to create a sense of community within my classroom since the students are already used to it.