Salem is an independent city located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. According to the 2020 census, the city has a population of 25,346 residents.
The city serves as the county seat for Roanoke County, although it remains a separate jurisdiction from the county itself. For statistical purposes, the Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Salem with the surrounding Roanoke County and the neighboring City of Roanoke.
While Salem maintains its own courthouse and sheriff's office, it shares a jail facility with Roanoke County located within the Roanoke County Courthouse complex in Salem. Additionally, the Roanoke County Sheriff's Office and the Department of Social Services are situated within the city limits, while the county's administrative offices are located in unincorporated Cave Spring.