Lower Salem, Ohio

Lower Salem is a village in Washington County, Ohio, United States. The population was 75 at the 2020 census.

History
Lower Salem had its start when a corduroy road (called the Old Plank Road) was built through it to Marietta. It has a post office. The town site was not laid out until 1850, and was settled predominantly by German immigrants. Lower Salem was once home to a hotel, a doctor's office, an armory, Wagner's General Store, and a gas station and auto parts shop. While all of these buildings remain standing, all have gone out of business.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.06 sqmi, all land.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 86 people, 31 households, and 21 families residing in the village. The population density was 1433.3 PD/sqmi. There were 39 housing units at an average density of 650.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 93.0% White and 7.0% African American. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population.

There were 31 households, of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.9% were married couples living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 9.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.3% were non-families. 19.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.19.

The median age in the village was 41 years. 23.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28% were from 25 to 44; 29.1% were from 45 to 64; and 14% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 44.2% male and 55.8% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 109 people, 36 households, and 27 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,373.2 PD/sqmi. There were 38 housing units at an average density of 478.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 93.58% White, 0.92% African American, and 5.50% from two or more races.

There were 36 households, out of which 47.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 22.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 19.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.52.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 33.0% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 7.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 73.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.8 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $36,875, and the median income for a family was $36,875. Males had a median income of $26,875 versus $16,875 for females. The per capita income for the village was $10,209. There were 7.4% of families and 5.0% of the population living below the poverty line, including 3.7% of under eighteens and 10.5% of those over 64.

Education
Salem-Liberty Elementary School sits north of State Route 821 opposite the East Fork of Duck Creek west of the town's corporation limit and serves as the elementary school for more than 100 students of the Fort Frye Local School District.