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Salem in Fulton County
Once known as Pilot Hill, continues to grow with people and commerce
Written by: Tracy Crain
Arkansas Democrat Gazette
Sunday, September 17, 2000

It's known as the town with a knob. Salem, located in Fulton County, received that reputation because of the knob of land located on the north side of town that offers visitors a spectacular view of the Ozark Mountains.

The area comprising the knob is known as Pilot Hill or the Salem Knob. For its first 30 years, it was listed on city maps as either Salem, Pilot Hill or Salem Pilot Hill.

Roxanne Crow, 40, of Salem, said, "Several battles were fought in the Ozark Foothills during the Civil War. Of those battles, one of the most famous occurred on Pilot Hill when Union forces from Missouri collided with Confederates, fighting for control of the little knob because it was ideally positioned as a lookout point."

There are three theories about the way Salem earned its name, which was officially adopted in 1872.

One theory, Crow said, is that is was named after a dog who came through during the Civil War.

A second theory is that the town received its name because the word Salem is supposed to mean "peace."

A third is that it was named after the knob on Pilot Hill that the forestry service used to refer to as the "Salem Knob."

Mayor Gary Clayton said, "Salem was originally incorporated in July 1900 and is currently celebrating its centennial year."

He describes Salem as a quiet, peaceful community, with little crime and very few problems. Crow, who has lived here in Salem her entire life, agrees. "It is a quiet home-place and the type of community you'd visit to find peace and relaxation," she said.

"There are also several job opportunities here," Clayton said. "Agriculture and service-related industries have always played a key role in our community and continue to do so."

Farming beef and dairy cattle has been the mainstay for many of the area's residents for years on end.

To visitors, Salem, with a population of 1,474, doesn't appear to be the rural farming community that it is. From the outside looking in, it seems like a very modernized, scenic area with evidence of a good economic base and plenty of commerce.

There are also plenty of activities for community members. Street posters and banners announcing upcoming community events decorate Salem's historical downtown area.

"There are two banks, four factories, and a fire department. New restaurants are always moving to Salem," Crow said. "There's also a free musical on U.S. 62 East every Tuesday and Saturday at the Salem Civic Center and another dance at the Senior Citizen Center on Tuesday night. And, every year in May, during Memorial Day weekend, the Fulton County Homecoming Festival takes place, where residents participate in 5k races, horseshoe contests and a street dance."

Salem residents have also worked hard to improve their school system. "Our community members have always supported bond issues that are good for the school systems. I think that reflects on the nature of the people and the interest they have at heart," Clayton said.

"For a small town, it's a good place to live," Crow said. "It's also a good place to raise a family. There are not a lot of crime problems in Salem like there are in the city. If something happens around here, everyone is in shock."

Fulton County Judge Jim Short said he is proud of the community and the low crime rate. "I don't think I could say enough about the wonderful, kind people who live in this town. It really is a great community. The people are very nice," he said.

Salem, a town that is experiencing both commerce and population expansion, has served as the Fulton County seat since 1843.

(Salem is an excerpt from Road Trips; a weekly feature of small towns in Arkansas written by Tracy Crain and published by the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.)