Weather and Land

July 12: The Only Dry Day In Salem

Plan family picnics and outdoor weddings for July 12th in Salem. It’s held its record for over 109 years as the only day it hasn’t rained in Salem.

Since the National Weather Service began keeping records in 1892 for Salem, July 12 has remained and driest day and July its driest month: True, a trace was observed July 1968, 1983, and 1988. But there never has been a measurable amount, which requires at least a hundredth…  Learn More

Land Elevations in Salem

Downtown Salem: 150

Keizer: 135

12th and Madrona SE: 343

Kuebler and Croisan Creek SE, around Sprague High: 550

Salemtowne, off Wallace Road NW: 229

Orchard Heights and Doaks Ferry NW: 780

35th and Glen Creek NW: 560

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Salem’s Physical Setting

Salem is located in the north-central part of the Willamette River Valley basin. It straddles the east and west banks of the Willamette River. Residents on the east side of the river reside in Marion County, of which Salem is the county seat, while those on the west side of the Willamette River reside in Polk County. West Salem, a separate city incorporated in 1913, was annexed to Salem in 1949. Salem is the capital of Oregon. At an elevation of approximately 150 feet above sea level, Salem rests in a natural basin that is formed by the westward Eola Hills rising between 900 and 1,000 feet, the Waldo Hills to the east between 500 and 600 feet, and to the south the volcanic Salem Hills rising between 600 and 700 feet. Learn More

The Soils of Marion County

AIKEN CLAY LOAM (A)

The largest areas of Aiken Clay Loam are just south and southwest of Salem. The relief ranges from rolling to rough and broken. Most of the areas now under cultivation occur on the smooth tops of rolling hills and have good air drainage which is very essential in the production of fruit crops. The soil has excellent surface and subsurface drainage. It is high in colloidal clay, yet is usually friable and can be readily put in good tilth. Learn More

Weather Records In Salem

High Temperatures

83 – October 17, 2002

104 – August 17, 2002

104E – September 2, 1988

104 – August 13, 2002

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This article originally appeared on the original Salem Online History site and has not been updated since 2006.