The Native Americans who originally inhabited Salem, the Kalapuyans called
the area Chemeketa, which means "meeting or resting place" in the
Central Kalapuya language (Santiam). The original Kalapuya pronunciation of the
word is Chim-i-ki-ti. When the Methodist Mission moved to the Chemeketa plain,
the new establishment was called Chemeketa, but was more widely known as the
Mill because of its situation on Mill Creek. When the Oregon Institute was
established, the community was known as the Institute.
When the Institute was dissolved, the trustees decided to lay out a townsite
on the Institute lands. It is
