Many of the thoroughfares used by Salem County settlers were taken from the Lenape Indians, these trails were used as trade routes. Fort Elfsborg was established on the Delaware River just below Salem Creek utilizing established Indian trails for travel toward the interior of South Jersey.
Early colonial settlers primarily used waterways creeks and rivers for travel; most trials were only 2 or 3 feet wide and kept clear by frequent travel. The need for wider, maintained roads that were passable for wagons soon 
became apparent. The colonial government authorized a survey for the King’s Highway from Burlington to Salem in 1681. In 1685 the West Jersey Assembly prepared a plan for a highway system connecting Salem with the upper parts of West Jersey. Highways and roads were built to transport agriculture products and timber out of the interior to the coast; other roads were built to serve Salem’s glassworks. Bridges were constructed of timber and planks for flooring. The earliest bridges were built in Lower Alloways Creek Township and in Quinton Township; both were sites of Revolutionary War battles. The Old Penn’s Neck Road ran from Market Street in Salem across the Salem Creek to Penn’s Neck this was used for a century until the New Street Bridge was constructed. By the early 1800’s most of the main roads in Salem County were in operation.
The first railroad in Salem County was 16 miles long and ran from Salem to Elmer. Completed in 1870 it included a spur line that ran to Bridgeton. In 1888 the Salem depot was built, located on Grant Street the station was active until the 1920’s and torn down in 1944. There was also a freight-train station on Grant Street which is still in use today. A trolley line began service in 1917 that ran from Salem through Pennsville then on to Carney’s Point and continued to operate until 1932.
