Salem County is named for a Hebrew word meaning “peace”.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Delaware County, Pennsylvania and Gloucester County
S – New Castle County, Delaware
W – New Castle County, Delaware
Created: May 17, 1794 
County Seat:
Salem 1794 – present
Old County Courthouse – Salem
Location: NE - Market Street / Broadway
Built: 1735 – 1736
Style: Colonial
Architect: Unknown
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The building faces south and is a two story dark red colored brick and wood structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Salem to the south of the courthouse. The south front has a one story portico supported by four Doric columns. At the roof line is a gable with fanlight. The first story windows are arched. The roof rises to an octagonal wood cupola with steep roof. The building was expanded in 1817 and in 1908 the south portico was constructed. In 2010, the building was renovated. The contractor was Aliano Construction.
Note: The courthouse is the second oldest courthouse still in use in the United States. The first oldest courthouse is located in King William County, Virginia (1725). The third oldest is in Hanover County, Virginia (1737). The fourth oldest is in Charles City County, Virginia (1740). The fifth oldest is in Richmond County, Virginia (1748).
County Courthouse – Salem
Location: 92 Market Street / Broadway
Built: 1967 – 1968
Style: Modern Colonial
Architect: Edwards & Green
Contractor: Joseph W Remedio, Inc.
Description: The building faces west and is a two story orange-red colored brick and concrete Colonial style structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Salem. The west front of the rectangular building has a large portico with four white colored columns rising to a pediment at the roof line. The recessed entrance is framed with white colored wood. On the east side of the building is a large square section. On the center of the roof is a white colored octagonal cupola with red colored dome. The roof is hipped with gable ends.
History: The county was created in 1794 and Salem was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was a log structure built in 1692. The second courthouse was built in 1735 to 1736 and is one of the oldest courthouses in the United States. The cost to expand the courthouse in 1817 was $7,725.82. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1967 to 1968.
County Administration – Salem
Location: 98 Market Street / Broadway
Built: 1957 – 1958
Style: Modern
Architect: Edwards & Green
Contractor: S Levy Construction of Camden
Description: The building faces west and is a three story dark red colored brick, stone and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Salem to the south of the courthouse and was originally constructed as a jail. The west front has a stone framed central entrance with stone framed window on the second story. The third story is shorter in length and there are dormers on the north and south roof sections. The building was remodeled in 1997. The architect was Radey & Fuller Architects and the contractor was Colubriale & Son.
Old County Courthouse – Salem
County Courthouse – Salem
County Administration – Salem
Photos taken 2013 and 2017