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Somerset, Pennsylvania

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This article is about the Pennsylvania borough. For other uses, see Somerset, Pennsylvania (disambiguation). Borough in Pennsylvania, United States
Somerset, Pennsylvania
Borough
Somerset County CourthouseSomerset County Courthouse
Location of Somerset in Somerset County, PennsylvaniaLocation of Somerset in Somerset County, Pennsylvania
Somerset is located in PennsylvaniaSomersetSomersetLocation in PennsylvaniaShow map of PennsylvaniaSomerset is located in the United StatesSomersetSomersetLocation in the United StatesShow map of the United States
Coordinates: 40°00′25″N 79°04′53″W / 40.00694°N 79.08139°W / 40.00694; -79.08139
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountySomerset
Settled1795
Incorporated5 March 1804
Government
 • TypeBorough Council
Area
 • Total2.73 sq mi (7.07 km)
 • Land2.73 sq mi (7.07 km)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km)
Elevation2,190 ft (670 m)
Population
 • Total6,046 Decrease
 • Estimate 5,992
 • Density2,145.47/sq mi (828.52/km)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Zip Code15501
Area code814
FIPS code42-71776
Websitehttp://www.somersetborough.com

Somerset (/ˈsʌmərsɛt/ SUM-ər-set) is a borough in and the county seat of Somerset County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,046 at the 2020 census. The borough is surrounded by Somerset Township and is located off of the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-70 and I-76). Somerset is the principal city of the Somerset micropolitan statistical area, which consists of Somerset County, and is also a principal city of the larger Johnstown-Somerset combined statistical area.

History

West Main Street

Somerset was a central stage for the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794. Several rebellion leaders, including Harmon Husband, lived in Somerset. The federal militia sent to put down the rebellion worked from its headquarters in the nearby town of Berlin.

A major fire on the afternoon of May 9, 1872, destroyed a significant portion of the town within just a few hours.

In July 2002, nine miners were trapped for 77 hours, 240 feet (73 m) underground, by flooding in the Quecreek coal mine, just outside Somerset. All nine miners were rescued. The Quecreek Mine Rescue was chronicled by journalists from around the world and was televised globally.

Somerset Crater on Mars was named after the borough in 2006.

The Somerset County Courthouse and Uptown Somerset Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

Somerset lies at 40°0′25″N 79°4′53″W / 40.00694°N 79.08139°W / 40.00694; -79.08139 (40.006920, -79.081297) on Pennsylvania's southern border.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7.0 km), all land.

Somerset has the ninth-highest elevation of towns in Pennsylvania, at 2,190 feet (670 m) above sea level. Somerset County is in Appalachia.

Climate

Somerset has a humid continental climate that is affected by the high elevation, rendering it colder much of the winter than Altoona, Johnstown, or State College, despite being well south of these locations. Its climate is quite similar to those seen in northern Pennsylvania, although the average winter high temperatures are slightly higher. Somerset holds the June and November record low records for the state of Pennsylvania. Somerset is also the only place in Pennsylvania to receive accumulations of snow in June (other places received a partial dusting at most) when it received three inches of snow from the same polar front that caused it to drop to 20 degrees on 10 June 1913. Because of arctic air, powdery snow fell. It was photographed being swept off porches with brooms. That same cold snap brought snow to many other Pennsylvania communities, especially in the northern counties.

Climate data for Somerset, Pennsylvania
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 75
(24) 		76
(24) 		85
(29) 		90
(32) 		93
(34) 		99
(37) 		100
(38) 		103
(39) 		98
(37) 		92
(33) 		80
(27) 		77
(25) 		103
(39)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 31
(−1) 		34
(1) 		43
(6) 		54
(12) 		63
(17) 		70
(21) 		74
(23) 		73
(23) 		67
(19) 		57
(14) 		46
(8) 		34
(1) 		54
(12)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 14
(−10) 		15
(−9) 		22
(−6) 		32
(0) 		41
(5) 		51
(11) 		56
(13) 		54
(12) 		47
(8) 		37
(3) 		29
(−2) 		20
(−7) 		35
(2)
Record low °F (°C) −33
(−36) 		−29
(−34) 		−20
(−29) 		−3
(−19) 		16
(−9) 		20
(−7) 		33
(1) 		29
(−2) 		22
(−6) 		9
(−13) 		−15
(−26) 		−25
(−32) 		−33
(−36)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.23
(82) 		2.87
(73) 		3.92
(100) 		3.98
(101) 		4.18
(106) 		4.14
(105) 		3.93
(100) 		3.78
(96) 		3.42
(87) 		2.71
(69) 		3.15
(80) 		3.07
(78) 		43.07
(1,094)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 26.8
(68) 		21.2
(54) 		14.2
(36) 		3.5
(8.9) 		0.5
(1.3) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		1.1
(2.8) 		5.5
(14) 		20.1
(51) 		92.9
(236)
Source: PA State Climatologist


Easter Sunset From The Diamond

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1800280—
181048974.6%
1820442−9.6%
183064946.8%
1840638−1.7%
185086635.7%
18601,00115.6%
1870945−5.6%
18801,19726.7%
18901,71343.1%
19001,8347.1%
19102,61242.4%
19203,12119.5%
19304,39540.8%
19405,43023.5%
19505,9369.3%
19606,3476.9%
19706,269−1.2%
19806,4743.3%
19906,454−0.3%
20006,7624.8%
20106,277−7.2%
20206,046−3.7%
2021 (est.)5,992−0.9%
Sources:

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,762 people, 3,035 households, and 1,717 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,466.0 inhabitants per square mile (952.1/km). There were 3,313 housing units at an average density of 1,208.2 per square mile (466.5/km). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.80% White, 0.70% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 0.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.55% of the population.

There were 3,035 households, out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.4% were non-families. 38.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 21.9% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 21.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 82.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.2 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $29,050, and the median income for a family was $41,831. Males had a median income of $28,339 versus $19,492 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $18,310. About 7.8% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.7% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Somerset is headquarters to Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare, which manufactures oxygen concentrators and other medical equipment in a 152,000 square foot facility in Somerset.

Education

The borough is served by the Somerset Area School District. There are three private schools, St. Peter School (K-8), Apostolic Christian Academy (K-12) and Somerset Christian School . Somerset Christian School is located at the Somerset Alliance Church. It offers classes for Pre-K - 12th grades.

Media

Somerset is provided with local coverage from both the Johnstown and Pittsburgh markets. The Daily American newspaper serves the city and county.

Notable people

References

  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  2. ^ "City and Town Population Totals: 2020—2021". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  4. "The Great Fire of May 9, 1872" (PDF). Somerset Herald. 5 June 1872. p. 1. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  5. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 9 July 2010.
  6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 12 February 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
  7. Highest Elevation of Towns in Pennsylvania
  8. "Monthly Averages for Somerset, PA". psu.edu. 2009. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
  9. "Census of Population and Housing". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  10. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
  11. "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 11 June 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  12. Massive Cargo Plane Brings Medical Supplies to PIT

External links

Places adjacent to Somerset, Pennsylvania
Johnstown Shanksville
New Stanton, Pittsburgh Somerset Bedford, Harrisburg
Berlin
Articles relating to Somerset, Pennsylvania
Municipalities and communities of Somerset County, Pennsylvania, United States
County seat: Somerset
Boroughs
Townships
CDPs
Unincorporated
communities
Footnotes‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
County seats of Pennsylvania
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