Salem is a town in eastern Washington County, New York, United States.

[3] Salem was first settled in 1761 by Joshua Conkey and James Turner, who as soldiers in the French and Indian War, passed through the territory.

In 1764, Alexander and James Turner acquired a patent which was soon divided up between the New Englanders from Pelham, Massachusetts and a group of Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, led by Dr Thomas Clark[7] from Ballybay, County Monaghan, Ireland.

The Charlotte County and White Creek militia used Salem as its base in 1776.

The eastern town line is the border of Vermont, and the beginning of New England proper.

Part of the western and southern town boundaries are defined by the Batten Kill, a tributary of the Hudson River that has its beginnings in Vermont.