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Famous people · Salem

7 famous people were born in Salem from 1861 to 1996

The best known is the American jurist Leander J. Shaw, Jr., with articles in 4 languages. Leander J. Shaw, Jr. was born in 1930. The largest group, 3, was born since 1970. 2 of them are athletes, more than in any other field.

#1 best knownLeander J. Shaw, Jr.Politics & Law · 1930–2015
+5more
Born here
7
notable people
Best known
Leander J. Shaw, Jr.
in 4 Wikipedia languages
First
1861
David Carey Shanks
Youngest
1996
Alex Light
Most common field
Sports
2 people
Also called it home
2
notable residents

What stands out about Salem’s famous people

★ What stands out · Through the years

When Salem’s famous people were born

The 1990s top the chart, with 2 births in the decade.

Mills & railroadsThe American centuryToday1850190019502000David Carey ShanksLeander J. Shaw, Jr.
SportsPolitics & LawMilitaryWriting & ArtsNotableMusic

Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.

The best known

Born in Salem

Leander J. Shaw, Jr. has articles in 4 languages, David Carey Shanks in 3 and Ruth Painter Randall in 3.

Leander J. Shaw, Jr.#1
Politics & Law

Leander J. Shaw, Jr.

1930–2015

American jurist

4 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
David Carey Shanks#2
Military

David Carey Shanks

1861–1940

United States Army general

3 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
RR#3
Writing & Arts

Ruth Painter Randall

1892–1971

American historian

3 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Known for

What Salem is known for

Share of Salem’s famous people in each field.

The usual town: the share across everyone born in the towns gathered so far. Tap a field to see its people.

Everyone

Everyone else born in Salem

Another 4, 2 of them athletes.

SY

Shanna Young

born 1991

American mixed martial arts fighter

Alex Light

Alex Light

born 1996

American football offensive tackle

MB

Mark Byington

born 1976

American basketball player

A chosen home

Also called Salem home

2 notable people born elsewhere made the town home, John McAfee the best known.

John McAfee

John McAfee

1945–2021

British-American programmer and businessman

The town’s pick

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Next door

Famous people from the towns next door

Close by, Roanoke counts 55 famous people, the most of its neighbours.

From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Salem and whose English Wikipedia article agrees, ranked by how many Wikipedia languages cover each person. People known mainly for crimes, and adult performers, aren’t listed. “The usual town” = everyone born in the towns gathered so far.

Photo credits (6)