Salem, Oregon

Salem is the capital of Oregon, the county seat of Marion County, and the principal city of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area. Salem is located 47 miles from Portland in the center of the Willamette Valley an hour from the Cascade Mountains to the east and an hour from the ocean beaches to the west. With an estimated population of more than 155,000, Salem is one of Oregon's largest cities. Salem is home to five institutions of higher education including Willamette University, the oldest university in the American west; and four state correctional facilities including the Oregon State Penitentiary, Oregon's only maximum security prison. In addition to the Oregon State Capitol and Willson Park, Salem's downtown contains the Mission Mill Museum, Hallie Ford Museum of Art, the Elsinore Theatre, Riverfront Park, and some of the oldest buildings in Oregon, as well as shopping and restaurants.

Incorporated in 1857, Salem's initial industry was dominated by cherry growing which earned the city the nickname "Cherry City". Eventually, lumber and textile industries impacted Salem's economy. In 1920, the Oregon Pulp and Paper Company began operations near Pringle Creek. During the 1950s, Salem improved and extended crucial utilities needed in a growing city like the sewage treatment system and natural gas connections. The Marion County Courthouse, still in use today, was built in the mid-1950s. Although many inner cities deteriorated during the 1960s and 1970s, Salem has since revitalized downtown, uncovered streams once hidden beneath streets and behind factories, and constructed new parks, plazas, footpaths, and bicycle lanes. In the 1990s, Salem made efforts to diversify its economic base attracting a number of computer-related manufacturing plants and high technology companies. Today, Salem Hospital is the city's largest private employer.

Salem, Oregon's ongoing industrial and construction activities make asbestos exposure an ongoing concern for workers and others. Workers exposed to asbestos may be at risk for mesothelioma, a cancer of the lungs. Mesothelioma information including cancer centers in and around Salem are listed at the bottom of this page. If you were exposed to asbestos in Salem, you may benefit from seeking the advice of an asbestos attorney.

Jobsites in Salem where Asbestos Exposure Occurred

A number of jobsites in Salem, OR have been identified as harboring asbestos containing materials. These sites, at one point in their history, were known to have exposed a variety of tradesmen to asbestos. We will be documenting in more detail how asbestos exposure occurred at these sites in the future on this web site.

Mesothelioma Cancer Centers Near Salem, OR

For your convenience we have compiled a list of mesothelioma cancer centers that are located within a 100 mile radius of Salem, OR. Please click on a cancer center link to obtain more information about the clinical programs offered, professional designations, areas of expertise and how to contact the center.