Somerset, Pennsylvania

Somerset (pronounced [ˈsʌ.mɚ.sɛt]) is a borough in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 6,762 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Somerset CountyTemplate:GR and the home of Somerset Wind Farm.

Geography

Somerset is located at 40°0′25″N 79°4′53″W (40.006920, -79.081297)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 7.1 km² (2.7 mi²), all land.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 6,762 people, 3,035 households, and 1,717 families residing in the borough. The population density was 952.9/km² (2,466.0/mi²). There were 3,313 housing units at an average density of 466.8/km² (1,208.2/mi²). 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.

History / Notable events / People

• Somerset was a central stage for the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794. Several rebellion leaders, including Harmon Husbund, lived in Somerset. The federal militia sent to put down the rebellion worked from its headquarters in the nearby town of Berlin. The Whiskey Rebellion was the first severe test of the federal authority under the newly adopted U.S. Constitution and under President George Washington.
• On September 11, 2001, United Airlines Flight 93, bound from Newark, New Jersey, to San Francisco and one of the four planes hijacked that day by al-Qaeda operatives, crashed near Somerset in Shanksville, killing all 45 persons on board. It is believed that hijackers intended to fly this plane into the White House or the U.S. Capitol.
• In July 2002, nine miners were trapped for 77 hours, 240 feet underground, by flooding in the Quecreek coal mine, just outside of 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 is named after Somerset.
• Notable Somersetians include Jeremiah S. Black, Attorney General of the United States (1857-1860) and U.S. Secretary of State (1860-1861), under President James Buchanan; comedian Keith Malley, transportation pioneer George Chorpenning, and independent filmmaker Tony Urban.

External links

• Somerset County Government
• Somerset Borough
• Somerset County Chamber Of Commerce

Nearby Attractions

• Seven Springs Mountain Resorts
• Hidden Valley Golf and Skiing