Somers, Connecticut facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Somers, Connecticut
|
||
|---|---|---|
| Town of Somers | ||
Free Public Library
|
||
|
||
 Tolland County and Connecticut Capitol Planning Region and Connecticut |
||
| Country |  United States |
|
| U.S. state |  Connecticut |
|
| County | Tolland | |
| Region | Capitol Region | |
| Settled | 1689 | |
| Named | 1734 | |
| Annexed by Connecticut | 1749 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Selectman-town meeting | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 28.5 sq mi (73.8 km2) | |
| • Land | 28.3 sq mi (73.4 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2) | |
| Elevation | 240 ft (73 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
|
||
| • Total | 10,255 | |
| • Density | 359.8/sq mi (138.96/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) | |
| ZIP Code |
06071
|
|
| Area code(s) | 860/959 | |
| FIPS code | 09-69220 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0212346 | |
Somers is a town located in Tolland County, Connecticut, in the United States. It is part of the Capitol Planning Region. In 2020, about 10,255 people lived there.
Somers is close to the border of Massachusetts. It is considered part of the Springfield area. Somers is about 13 miles (21 km) southeast of Springfield. It is often seen as more connected to Springfield than to Hartford, which is about 22 miles (35 km) to the southwest. In 2007, Money Magazine ranked Somers 53rd on its list of "100 Best Places to Live." This ranking was based on things like job opportunities, good schools, safe streets, fun activities, and a strong community feeling.
Contents
History of Somers
Somers was first part of the Agawam Plantation in the 1600s. This plantation later became Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1641. In 1682, the Enfield Parish separated from Springfield.
The first settler, Benjamin Jones, arrived in Somers in 1689. This area was then called East Enfield. He built a summer house about half a mile from where the town center is today. He and his family would return to Enfield for the winter.
In 1711, more families, including the Kibbe, Pease, Root, and Megregory families, settled in the Somers area. They helped start a new village. The village was first named Wallop, but it was soon changed to East Enfield. In 1734, East Enfield officially became a town and was renamed Somers. It was named after John Somers, 1st Baron Somers. Later, in 1749, Somers joined the Connecticut Colony.
The Four Town Fair is a popular event in Somers. It is usually held after the third weekend in September. This fair is one of the oldest fairs in the entire country.
An interesting historical fact is that Little Sorrel, the favorite horse of Confederate general Stonewall Jackson, was born on a farm in Somers.
Geography of Somers
Somers is located at coordinates 41°59′N 72°27′W.
The town covers a total area of about 28.5 square miles (73.8 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 28.3 square miles (73.4 square kilometers), is land. Only a small part, about 0.1 square miles (0.3 square kilometers), is water.
The highest point in Somers is Bald Mountain. It stands at 1,121 feet (342 meters) tall. This makes it the highest point along the Connecticut River Valley in Connecticut. The town recently bought the top of this rounded hill. You can see Bald Mountain from many miles away.
Somers Neighborhoods
Somers has several distinct neighborhoods, including:
- Somers Center, where you can find the Somers Historic District
- Somersville
- North Somers
- Hall Hill
- Gulf Road
- Billings Rd
- Woodcrest Village
- Osborn Place
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 1,306 | — | |
| 1850 | 1,508 | — | |
| 1860 | 1,517 | 0.6% | |
| 1870 | 1,247 | −17.8% | |
| 1880 | 1,242 | −0.4% | |
| 1890 | 1,407 | 13.3% | |
| 1900 | 1,593 | 13.2% | |
| 1910 | 1,653 | 3.8% | |
| 1920 | 1,673 | 1.2% | |
| 1930 | 1,917 | 14.6% | |
| 1940 | 2,114 | 10.3% | |
| 1950 | 2,631 | 24.5% | |
| 1960 | 3,702 | 40.7% | |
| 1970 | 6,893 | 86.2% | |
| 1980 | 8,473 | 22.9% | |
| 1990 | 9,108 | 7.5% | |
| 2000 | 10,417 | 14.4% | |
| 2010 | 11,444 | 9.9% | |
| 2020 | 10,255 | −10.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The population of Somers has changed over the years. In 1820, there were 1,306 people living in the town. By 2020, the population had grown to 10,255 people. This shows how Somers has developed and grown over nearly two centuries.
In 2000, there were 10,417 people living in Somers. The average household had about 2.78 people. The average family had about 3.11 people. The median age in the town was 37 years old. This means half the people were younger than 37 and half were older.
Notable People from Somers
Many interesting people have connections to Somers, Connecticut. Here are a few:
- George Abbe (1911–1989), a poet who won the Shelley Memorial Award.
- S. Prestley Blake (1914–2021), who lived in Somers for a long time. He was a co-founder of the Friendly's restaurant chain.
- William O. Collins (1809–1881), an American Attorney General and a Civil War general.
- Christopher Houlihan (born 1987), a professional organist.
- Claire Labine (1934–2016), a writer and producer.
- Gene Pitney (1940–2006), a famous singer and composer. He was a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and lived in Somers for many years.
- William Strong (1808–1895), who was born in Somers. He served as a U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania. He also became an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
- Loren P. Waldo (1802–1881), another U.S. Representative.
- Hannah Soar (born 1999), an American freestyle skier.
See also
In Spanish: Somers (Connecticut) para niños
