Salem, Alabama is an unincorporated community in Lee County, Alabama. It is located in east-central Lee County, on U.S. Highway 280 between Opelika and Phenix City.
Salem was first settled in 1835, and grew rapidly for the next two decades. Salem incorporated in 1846 and quickly became one of the area's largest cities. However, a fire which engulfed the town in 1854 and the subsequent Civil War resulted in the collapse of the town's government, and rapid depopulation. Salem lost a bid to be the county seat of the newly-formed Lee County in 1865, and then saw its charter become inactive in the following decades. Today, Salem is a small community of a few hundred.
By the late 20th century Salem was the location of Lee County's only covered bridge, the Salem-Shotwell Bridge. A symbol of the area, the bridge collapsed in a storm in 2005. Attempts are underway to rebuild the bridge.
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Salem, AL
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