In June 1837, John Dodge became the first settler in Salem proper.

General Bullen and David Bullen settled on the east bank of the Fox River and surveyed and platted a village, hoping to make Salem a main head of Fox River navigation.

As of the 2000 United States Census,[4] there were 9,871 people, 3,529 households, and 2,653 families residing in the town.

This census occurred before the merger of the village of Silver Lake, and does not include the data from that area.

18.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

Paddock Lake and Salem are served by Westosha Central High School (located in Paddock Lake) and Wilmot High School (located in Wilmot), and Salem Consolidated Grade School and Trevor-Wilmot Elementary in Trevor.