The Resume

(1626- )
Founded by Roger Conant
Population of 40,407 (2000 census)
Associated with the Salem Witch Trials (1692)
Home of the House of the Seven Gables
Known as ‘Witch City’

Why Salem, Massachusetts might be annoying:

It is associated with the infamous Salem Witch Trials, but most of those events actually happened in a nearby village.
Nineteen people were executed (some by torture), and others were left to die in jail.
Historians say there was no evidence whatsoever of witchcraft being practiced.
Despite being the site of a historical atrocity, it markets itself as ‘Witch City,’ a spooky, fun tourist attraction (what's next, the Holocaust Jamboree?).
It upset people by putting up a statue of TV witch Elizabeth Montgomery.
It became a magnet for Wiccans, Goths and assorted weirdos.
Many think it is the setting for ‘Days of Our Lives,’ but that’s actually a different (fictional) Salem.

Why Salem, Massachusetts might not be annoying:

Ironically, its name comes from the Hebrew word ‘shalom’ (‘peace’).
Nathaniel Hawthorne (of ‘Scarlet Letter’ fame) was born there.
Arthur Miller wrote a good play, ‘The Crucible,’ about the Witch Trials.
It is an example of the dangers of paranoia and intolerance.

Credit: Wieland Kalligaro

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Cities
• Cities in Massachusetts
• Cities in United States
• CNBC.com's 10 Most Haunted Cities in America (Ranked: 3)
• Haunted America Tour's Top 10 Most Haunted Cities (Ranked: 10)
• I Portrayed a Witch
• Look at Me, I'm Using a Cane or Crutches
• Look at Me, Yes You! - Finger Pointers
• Magicians
• People who Have Similar Names on Am I Annoying (Ranked: 324)
• Profiles 16251-16500 (Ranked: 16294)
• Salem Witch Trials
• Satirized on Animaniacs
• Stars of Horror Films
• Suburbs
• Wiccas, Witches, Warlocks and Pagans
• Wieland Kalligaro's Profiles [Series 7]

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 12 Votes: 58.33% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 11 Votes: 63.64% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 16 Votes: 56.25% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 60 Votes: 78.33% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 21 Votes: 47.62% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 58 Votes: 65.52% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 29 Votes: 48.28% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 31 Votes: 54.84% Annoying
In 2007, Out of 95 Votes: 61.05% Annoying
In 2006, Out of 129 Votes: 52.71% Annoying
In 2005, Out of 115 Votes: 56.52% Annoying