Somers, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Somers, Wisconsin
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![]() Location of Somers in Kenosha County, Wisconsin
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Country | United States |
State | Wisconsin |
County | Kenosha |
Area | |
• Total | 25.30 sq mi (65.53 km2) |
• Land | 25.28 sq mi (65.48 km2) |
• Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.04 km2) |
Elevation | 679 ft (207 m) |
Population
(2020)
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• Total | 8,402 |
• Density | 331.09/sq mi (127.83/km2) |
Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
ZIP Code |
53171
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Area code(s) | 262 |
FIPS code | 55-74650 |
GNIS feature ID | 1584173 |
Somers is a small community called a village in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, United States. In 2020, about 8,402 people lived there. Somers has its own post office with the ZIP code 53171. Some smaller areas that used to be separate, like Berryville, Central Park, and Kellogg's Corners, are now part of the village.
Somers officially became a village on April 24, 2015. This happened after people in the area voted to become an incorporated village. At first, the village only covered the eastern part of what used to be the town of Somers. Now, it includes almost all of the original town's area. The small part that is still a town is planned to join Kenosha by the year 2035.
Contents
History of Somers
The area now known as Somers was first named Pike on April 15, 1843. This name was given by the Wisconsin territorial government. Later, in 1851, the community's name was changed to Somers.
Geography and Location
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village of Somers covers about 25.274 square miles. Most of this area, about 25.257 square miles, is land. Only a very small part, about 0.017 square miles, is water.
People Living in Somers
Somers was counted in the 2020 U.S. Census for the first time after it became a village in 2015. The table below shows the different groups of people living in Somers.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2020 | % 2020 |
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White alone (NH) | 6,636 | 78.98% |
Black or African American alone (NH) | 462 | 5.50% |
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 26 | 0.31% |
Asian alone (NH) | 237 | 2.82% |
Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 3 | 0.04% |
Other race alone (NH) | 33 | 0.39% |
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 277 | 3.30% |
Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 728 | 8.66% |
Total | 8,402 | 100.00% |
Neighborhoods in Somers
Somers is made up of several unique neighborhoods, each with its own history.
Berryville: A Historic Spot
Berryville is a neighborhood with homes and businesses in the eastern part of Somers. It is located where Kenosha County Highway A (7th Street) meets Highway 32 (Sheridan Road). The area was named Berryville because many strawberry farms used to be there.
The Berryville School was an important building in the community until the 1980s. It was taken down to make way for new houses. Next to the school, there was once the Mid-City Outdoor Theatre, a drive-in movie theater that operated from 1948 to 1984. It was one of the first drive-in theaters in Wisconsin.
Central Park: A Former Recreation Area
Central Park is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of Somers, with both homes and businesses. It is centered around the intersection of Sheridan Road (Highway 32) and Twelfth Street (Kenosha County Highway E).
This area was once home to a large private park called Central Park. It had a baseball field and picnic grounds. A special train line, the Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company (TMER&L) interurban line, even had a stop there. This allowed people to easily visit the park for picnics. Many companies, including Nash Motors from Kenosha, held their annual picnics at Central Park. The picnic grounds were later sold and renamed "Minkowski's Grove," but this area has since been divided into smaller properties and is no longer a public park.
Kellogg's Corners: A Farming Community
Kellogg's Corners, sometimes just called Kellogg, is a neighborhood in the northwestern part of Somers. It has both homes and farms. It is located where Interstate 94/U.S. Route 41 meets Highway 195, right on the border with Racine County. Kellogg's Corners was first settled in 1837 by three brothers named Seth, Chauncey, and Thaddeus Kellogg.
A very famous landmark in Kellogg's Corners was the Kellogg's Corners School. This school was built in the mid-1800s in the Greek Revival style. It was an early one-room school made of wood. The school later became privately owned and was torn down by its owner in 1990. However, its old stone foundation still remains, showing where it once stood.
Education in Somers
Somers is home to a private high school:
- Shoreland Lutheran High School is a private Christian high school. It is part of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) church group.
Notable People from Somers
Many interesting people have connections to Somers, Wisconsin:
- William H. Flett was a politician who served in the Wisconsin state government.
- Margaret Landon was an author, famous for writing the book Anna and the King of Siam.
- Drue Leyton was an actress and writer. She was also a member of the French Resistance during World War II.
- Conrad Shearer was another politician who served in the Wisconsin state government.
See also
In Spanish: Somers (Wisconsin) para niños