Somerset was first settled in 1798 by Thomas Hansford. It got its name from Somerset County, New Jersey. Many of the first settlers came from there. Somerset became the main city of Pulaski County in 1801. It officially became a city in 1887.

Battles and Growth

During the American Civil War, a battle happened near Somerset in January 1862. It was called the Battle of Mill Springs. Today, there is a museum at the battle site. Another smaller battle took place nearby in 1863 at Dutton's Hill.

In 1875, train tracks for the Southern Railway were finished. This helped Somerset grow a lot. More people moved there, and new businesses started. In the late 1930s, library books were delivered by the pack horse library.

Lake Cumberland's Impact

In 1950, Lake Cumberland was completed. This huge lake changed Somerset from a quiet farming town into a fun place for vacations. It became a popular spot for recreation.

Helping the Community Grow

The Center for Rural Development was started in Somerset in 1996. This group helps the area grow and improve. They work on projects for public safety, arts, culture, and technology. Their goal is to make life better for everyone in the region.

Exploring Somerset's Geography

Somerset is located in a special area of Kentucky. It sits at the eastern edge of the Mississippian Plateau. This means the land around Somerset has different types of hills and scenery.

Lake Cumberland and Natural Wonders

Lake Cumberland is one of the biggest man-made lakes in the world. It is 101 miles long and very deep. The lake holds over 2 trillion gallons of water. Somerset is also close to Cumberland Falls and the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. These natural attractions help bring tourists to the city.

The city of Somerset covers about 11.3 square miles of land. Only a very small part is water.

Somerset's Weather Patterns

Somerset has a climate with hot, humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate.

Summer: Temperatures often reach the 80s Fahrenheit (around 27-32°C). July is the warmest month.
Winter: Temperatures are usually in the 30s and 40s Fahrenheit (around 0-10°C). January is the coldest month.

Somerset gets about 53 inches (135 cm) of rain each year. Rain falls fairly evenly throughout the year. July is usually the wettest month. Snow can fall between December and February.

Climate data for Somerset, Kentucky (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1950–2020)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	77 (25)	79 (26)	84 (29)	89 (32)	92 (33)	103 (39)	103 (39)	104 (40)	101 (38)	96 (36)	84 (29)	75 (24)	104 (40)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	64.8 (18.2)	68.2 (20.1)	75.1 (23.9)	82.4 (28.0)	86.6 (30.3)	91.3 (32.9)	93.3 (34.1)	92.6 (33.7)	89.9 (32.2)	83.2 (28.4)	74.5 (23.6)	66.1 (18.9)	94.4 (34.7)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	45.4 (7.4)	49.7 (9.8)	58.5 (14.7)	69.8 (21.0)	76.7 (24.8)	83.7 (28.7)	86.5 (30.3)	86.0 (30.0)	80.7 (27.1)	70.9 (21.6)	58.5 (14.7)	48.8 (9.3)	67.9 (19.9)
Daily mean °F (°C)	37.2 (2.9)	40.6 (4.8)	48.5 (9.2)	58.9 (14.9)	66.7 (19.3)	74.2 (23.4)	77.7 (25.4)	76.5 (24.7)	70.3 (21.3)	59.4 (15.2)	48.4 (9.1)	40.9 (4.9)	58.3 (14.6)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	29.0 (−1.7)	31.6 (−0.2)	38.6 (3.7)	48.1 (8.9)	56.6 (13.7)	64.8 (18.2)	69.0 (20.6)	67.1 (19.5)	60.0 (15.6)	47.9 (8.8)	38.3 (3.5)	33.0 (0.6)	48.7 (9.3)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	4.6 (−15.2)	10.5 (−11.9)	16.2 (−8.8)	27.6 (−2.4)	38.0 (3.3)	49.1 (9.5)	56.7 (13.7)	54.3 (12.4)	42.5 (5.8)	29.8 (−1.2)	19.7 (−6.8)	13.4 (−10.3)	1.3 (−17.1)
Record low °F (°C)	−32 (−36)	−17 (−27)	−4 (−20)	18 (−8)	26 (−3)	34 (1)	44 (7)	41 (5)	30 (−1)	17 (−8)	−2 (−19)	−17 (−27)	−32 (−36)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	4.33 (110)	3.93 (100)	5.11 (130)	4.93 (125)	5.22 (133)	5.00 (127)	5.28 (134)	3.94 (100)	3.71 (94)	3.19 (81)	3.77 (96)	4.87 (124)	53.28 (1,353)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	3.0 (7.6)	1.3 (3.3)	0.8 (2.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.3 (0.76)	5.4 (14)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	12.4	10.8	12.5	12.3	12.4	11.3	11.1	9.4	8.9	8.2	9.5	12.9	131.7
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	1.6	1.5	0.8	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.2	0.6	4.7
Source: NOAA

Who Lives in Somerset?

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%
2020	11,924	6.5%
2022 (est.)	12,218	9.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

The area around Somerset, called the micropolitan area, is a bit different from the city itself. It has newer homes and higher incomes. Most of the school-aged kids live in this wider area. Over the last 20 years, many new homes have been built near Lake Cumberland.

In 2000, about 11,352 people lived in Somerset. Most people lived in neighborhoods east and north of a valley in the city. About 94% of the people were White, and about 4% were Black.

Households and Families

There were 4,831 households in Somerset in 2000. About 27% of these households had children under 18. About 41% were married couples living together. Many households (41%) were made up of people who were not families. This included people living alone.

The average household had 2.13 people. The average family had 2.80 people. About 21% of the people in Somerset were 65 years old or older. The average age was 40 years.

Somerset's Economy

Tourism is very important to Somerset. This is because of its close location to Lake Cumberland. In 2013, Lake Cumberland brought in about $150 million each year. The city also hosts the yearly Master Musicians Festival. The Battle of Mill Springs from the Civil War happened nearby. A museum about the battle opened in 2006.

Somerset also has a popular classic car show called Somernites Cruise. It happens once a month from April to October.

Healthcare and Business

In 2006, a new medical park called MedPark West was built. It is near the Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital (LCRH). LCRH is a large hospital with 304 beds. There is also a special care facility in nearby Rockcastle County.

In 2012, people in Somerset voted to allow the sale of alcoholic drinks. This means stores, restaurants, and bars can now sell them. In 2014, the city opened its own gas station, the Somerset Fuel Center. This was done to help keep gas prices fair for everyone.

The Valley Oak Technology Complex is an industrial area near Somerset. Companies like SafeAuto have offices there.

Major Employers in Somerset

Some of the biggest companies that employ people in the Somerset area include:

Blackboard
Hendrickson
Prairie Farms Dairy
Safe Auto Insurance Company
Texas Roadhouse

Learning in Somerset

Somerset has two main school systems. These are Somerset Independent and Pulaski County. Students who live inside the city usually go to schools in the Somerset Independent district. The Pulaski County School System has two high schools: Pulaski County High School and Southwestern High School. Southwestern High School was built in 1993 to help with crowded classrooms.

There are also smaller schools like Tabernacle Christian Academy and Somerset Christian School. The three main high schools are Southwestern, Pulaski County, and Somerset.

College and Special Programs

Somerset also has a two-year college called Somerset Community College. It is part of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. This college offers a special program to learn about Aviation Maintenance Technology. This program teaches students how to work on airplane engines and parts.

Somerset has a public library. It is a branch of the Pulaski County Public Library.

Famous People from Somerset

Many interesting people have come from Somerset, Kentucky. Here are a few:

James L. Allen – He helped start two big business consulting companies.
Harriette Simpson Arnow – A well-known author.
John Sherman Cooper – A former U.S. Senator.
Jack Daws – A talented artist.
Daniel Dutton – An artist, writer, and music composer.
Bud Foster – A former football coach for Virginia Tech.
Lance Fuller – An actor.
Vermont Garrison – A U.S. Air Force pilot who was an "ace" in two wars.
Reggie Hanson – A former NBA player for the Boston Celtics.
Ted McCarty – An engineer known for his work at Gibson Guitar Corporation.
Edwin P. Morrow – A former Governor of Kentucky.
Venus Ramey – She was crowned Miss America in 1944.
Tommy Lee Wallace – A film producer, director, and writer.

Somerset, Kentucky facts for kids

Contents

A Look at Somerset's Past