Somerset, Pennsylvania

Infobox Settlement
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settlement_type = Borough
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Pennsylvania
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Somerset
government_footnotes =
government_type = Borough Council
leader_title = Mayor
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established_title = Settled
established_date = 1795
established_title1 = Incorporated
established_date1 = March 5, 1804
area_magnitude =
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unit_pref = Imperial
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area_total_sq_mi = 2.7
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population_as_of = 2000
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population_total = 6762
population_density_km2 =
population_density_sq_mi = 2466.0
timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 40
latm = 00
lats = 25
latNS = N
longd = 79
longm = 04
longs = 53
longEW = W
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m =
elevation_ft = 2190
postal_code_type = Zip code
postal_code = 15501
area_code = 814
website = http://www.somersetborough.com
footnotes =

Somerset (pronEng|ˈsʌmɚsɛt) is a borough in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,762 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Somerset County.GR|6 The Somerset Wind Farm is convert|3|mi|0 to the east. Somerset is just off Exit 110 of the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-70 and I-76) and boasts number of budget accommodation options, which makes it popular stopover place for travellers between Soutwestern Ontario and American Midwest and Northeast Corridor.

Geography

Somerset is located at coor dms|40|0|25|N|79|4|53|W|city (40.006920, -79.081297)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of convert|2.7|sqmi|lk=on, all of it land.

Somerset has the ninth-highest elevation of towns in Pennsylvania, at convert|2190|ft above sea level. [ [http://www.maps-n-stats.com/us_pa_elevation.html Highest Elevation of Towns in Pennsylvania] ]

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 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 people per square mile (952.9/km²). There were 3,313 housing units at an average density of 1,208.2/sq mi (466.8/km²). 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

* 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 People

* Notable Somersetians include Comedian and host of the Keith and The Girl Show Keith Malley, Jeremiah S. Black, Attorney General of the United States (1857-1860) and U.S. Secretary of State (1860-1861), under President James Buchanan; transportation pioneer George Chorpenning, and independent filmmaker Tony Urban.

References

External links

* [http://www.co.somerset.pa.us/ Somerset County Government]
* [http://www.somersetborough.com/ Somerset Borough]
* [http://www.somersetcountychamber.com/ Somerset County Chamber Of Commerce]

Nearby Attractions

* [http://www.7springs.com Seven Springs Mountain Resorts]
* [http://www.hiddenvalleyski.com Hidden Valley Golf and Skiing]
* [http://www.theinnatgeorgianplace.com Inn at Georgian Place]

Maps