Salem Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
Salem Township is a rural area in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. It covers about 30 square miles, with roughly 29 square miles of land and about 1 square mile of water along the Susquehanna River. The river forms the township’s eastern and southern borders, and U.S. Route 11 runs along the river there. The northern part lies in the wooded Wyoming Valley, while the central and southern areas are mostly farms. In the south you’ll find farming communities such as East Berwick and Beach Haven. The Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, a nuclear power plant, is located in the southeastern part of the township.
Salem Township was formed in 1786 as one of Luzerne County’s original townships and was named after Salem, Connecticut, because early settlers came from there. Nathan Beach and his son Josiah were among the first white settlers, and the village of Beach Haven is named for them. In its early years mills and farms were important.
As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,019, with an estimated 4,023 in 2021. The area has a population density of about 145 people per square mile. The township is in the Eastern time zone and observes daylight saving time. Its official website is salemtwp.org.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 12:43 (CET).