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Somerset, Kentucky Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.
Somerset, Kentucky facts for kids
| Somerset, Kentucky | |
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| City | |
Corner of Main Street and West Columbia Street, featuring the historic Goldenburg Furniture building, now fronted by The Square Restaurant and Lounge
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| Motto: Welcome Home | |
 Location of Somerset, Kentucky |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Pulaski |
| Area | |
| • Total | 11.3 sq mi (29.2 km2) |
| • Land | 11.3 sq mi (29.2 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 971 ft (296 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 11,196 |
| • Density | 990.8/sq mi (383.4/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 42500-42599 |
| Area code(s) | 606 |
| FIPS code | 21-71688 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0503873 |
| Website | http://www.cityofsomerset.com/ |
Somerset is a home rule-class city in Pulaski County, Kentucky, United States. The city population was 11,196 according to the 2010 census.
Contents
History
Somerset was first settled in 1798 by Thomas Hansford and received its name from Somerset County, New Jersey, where some of the early settlers had formerly lived. Somerset became the Pulaski County seat in 1802, and it was incorporated as a city in 1887. A significant Civil War battle was fought in January 1862, at Mill Springs (now "Nancy") about 8 miles (13 km) west of Somerset, and a museum is at the site. A smaller battle was fought nearby at Dutton's Hill in 1863. The completion of Lake Cumberland in 1950 transformed Somerset from a sleepy rural community into one of the largest recreation centers in Kentucky, drawing more than 1.7 million visitors annually, especially between the Memorial and Labor Day holidays.
Geography
Somerset is located at 37°4′59″N 84°36′34″W / 37.08306°N 84.60944°W (37.082966, -84.609387), and the downtown (central) part of the city is at an elevation of around 750–800 feet above sea level. The city is located at the eastern end of Kentucky's Mississippian Plateau (or Pennyroyal Plateau); however, the micropolitan area extends eastward into the Appalachian Plateau (or Eastern Kentucky Coalfield), and northward to Kentucky's Outer Bluegrass region. Thus, the area shows significant variations in landforms and scenery.
Nearby Lake Cumberland is one of the largest man-made lakes in the world (101 miles in length, with an average depth of 85 feet (26 m) and a normal pool containing more than 2 trillion gallons of water). Somerset is also near Cumberland Falls and the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area; its tourism industries are, in part, due to its scenic and varied landscape.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.3 square miles (29 km2), of which 11.3 square miles (29 km2) is land and 0.09% is water.
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Somerset has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.
Somerset's climate is warm during summer when temperatures tend to be in the 80s and mild during winter when temperatures tend to be in the 30s and 40s. The warmest month of the year is July with an average daily maximum temperature of 86 °F (30 °C). The coldest month of the year is January with an average minimum temperature of 25.10 °F (−3.83 °C).
The annual average precipitation at Somerset is 51.08 inches (1,297 mm). Rainfall is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is May with an average rainfall of 5.17 inches (131 mm). Snowfall typically occurs between the months of December and February, though on record as early as November and as late as April.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1830 | 231 | — | |
| 1850 | 412 | — | |
| 1860 | 662 | 60.7% | |
| 1870 | 587 | −11.3% | |
| 1880 | 805 | 37.1% | |
| 1890 | 2,625 | 226.1% | |
| 1900 | 3,384 | 28.9% | |
| 1910 | 4,491 | 32.7% | |
| 1920 | 4,072 | −9.3% | |
| 1930 | 5,508 | 35.3% | |
| 1940 | 6,154 | 11.7% | |
| 1950 | 7,097 | 15.3% | |
| 1960 | 7,112 | 0.2% | |
| 1970 | 10,436 | 46.7% | |
| 1980 | 10,649 | 2.0% | |
| 1990 | 10,733 | 0.8% | |
| 2000 | 11,352 | 5.8% | |
| 2010 | 11,196 | −1.4% | |
| Est. 2015 | 11,439 | 2.2% | |
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The major demographic differences between the city and the micropolitan area relate to income, housing composition and age. The micropolitan area, as compared to the incorporated city, is more suburban in flavor and has a significantly younger housing stock, a higher income, and contains most of the area's school age population. Over the last 20 years, significant housing growth has occurred along the Fishing Creek tributary of Lake Cumberland, which lies just to the west of the City of Somerset, and along the main body of Lake Cumberland between the City of Burnside and Fishing Creek. Much of the Somerset area housing growth in the last 20 years is decidedly lake-oriented.
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,352 people, 4,831 households, and 2,845 families residing within the City of Somerset (proper). The population density for the city proper was 1,007.1 persons per square mile (388.9/km²). A large karst valley occupies the south-central portion of the city, taking up about 25% of the land area; this valley is quasi-industrialized and also contains parks and recreational facilities; most of the population lies to the east and north of this valley in fairly compact and well-kept residential neighborhoods that have a real population density of about 1,800 persons per square mile. There were 5,428 housing units at an average density of 481.5 per square mile (186.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.16% White, 3.66% Black, 0.18% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.26% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.99% of the population.
There were 4,831 households out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.3% were married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.1% were non-families. 37.8% of all households were made up of individuals, 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the city proper, 20.6% were under the age of 18, 8.5% were in the age cohort from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 21.7% 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 82.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,362, and the median income for a family was $31,226. Males had a median income of $28,536 versus $20,194 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,048. About 16.4% of families and 22.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.3% of those under age 18 and 18.9% of those age 65 or over.
Popular culture
- In 2004, Somerset was featured on the television series City Confidential. The episode was described as "A drug dealer plots to murder a small-town sheriff."
- The FX drama Justified mentions Somerset frequently in Seasons 1, 2, 3, and 5. A bank robbery scene was filmed in downtown Somerset during Season 1.
- Somerset has also been featured on television many times as a result of the Somernites Cruise event. Somernites Cruise has been featured on My Classic Car on the Speed Channel, "Horsepower TV" multiple times on the Spike TV network, Car Crazy on the Speed Channel, "Mothers Car Show Series" on ESPN2 and the "Lokar Car Show Series" on Fox Sports.