Somerset, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Somerset, New Jersey
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Somerset at the intersection of Franklin Boulevard (CR 617) and Hamilton Street (CR 514)
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Map of Somerset CDP highlighted within Somerset County. Right: Location of Somerset County in New Jersey.
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 Somerset, New Jersey
Location in Somerset County, New Jersey
Somerset, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Somerset, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | Somerset |
| Township | Franklin |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.46 sq mi (16.74 km2) |
| • Land | 6.33 sq mi (16.39 km2) |
| • Water | 0.13 sq mi (0.35 km2) 1.82% |
| Elevation | 118 ft (36 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 22,968 |
| • Density | 3,629.01/sq mi (1,401.11/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) |
| ZIP Codes |
08873, 08875
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| Area code(s) | 732/848 |
| FIPS code | 34-68370 |
| GNIS feature ID | 02390312 |
Somerset is a community in Franklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey. It's also known as a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's an area identified by the U.S. Census Bureau for statistical purposes. In 2020, about 22,968 people lived here.
Somerset was once home to one of the very first Marconi Wireless Stations in the United States. This was a big deal for early radio communication!
Contents
History of Somerset
The New Brunswick Marconi Station was an important early radio site. It was built in 1913 by the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of America. This station was located near the New Brunswick border. Today, this area is known as Marconi Park.
Somerset's Role in World War I
During World War I, the U.S. Navy took over the Marconi station in 1917. This was to help with communication between the United States and Europe. The station, called NFF, became the main way to send messages across the Atlantic Ocean. A famous moment happened here in 1918. President Woodrow Wilson's important "Fourteen Points" speech was sent from this very site.
After the war, the station was given to RCA, a new radio company. In 1952, the huge antenna masts were taken down. This made space for a shopping area. Some of the original buildings were saved for a while. However, most were later removed to build a storage facility.
How the Marconi Station Worked
The Marconi station used a special machine called an Alexanderson alternator. This machine was invented by a famous engineer from General Electric. It was very powerful, like a big power station generator. It sent out radio waves at a very low frequency.
To send these signals, the station needed a huge antenna. It was about 5,000 feet long! This giant antenna was held up by eight tall steel masts, each about 400 feet high. Imagine how big that must have looked!
Geography and Climate
Somerset covers an area of about 6.44 square miles (16.69 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Somerset's Weather Patterns
The weather in Somerset has hot and humid summers. The winters are usually cool to cold. This type of weather is known as a humid continental climate.
Population Facts
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1980 | 21,731 | — | |
| 1990 | 22,070 | 1.6% | |
| 2000 | 23,040 | 4.4% | |
| 2010 | 22,083 | −4.2% | |
| 2020 | 22,968 | 4.0% | |
| Population sources: 1980 1990–2010 2000 2010 |
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The population of Somerset has changed over the years. In 2010, there were 22,083 people living here. By 2020, the population grew to 22,968.
Who Lives in Somerset?
In 2010, there were 8,594 households in Somerset. About 27.7% of these households had children under 18. Many families lived together, with 51.1% being married couples. The average household had about 2.5 people.
The population was made up of different groups:
- About 47% were White.
- About 28.9% were Black or African American.
- About 17.6% were Asian.
- About 9.5% were Hispanic or Latino.
The median age in Somerset was about 39.8 years old. This means half the people were younger than 39.8, and half were older.
Economy and Jobs
Somerset is home to several important companies.
- SHI International has its main office here. They are a big company that provides technology products and services.
- Catalent is also headquartered in Somerset. This company helps develop and make medicines and health products.
- PIM Brands, which makes popular snacks like Welch's Fruit Snacks, has a factory in Somerset.
- Meda Pharmaceuticals, a medicine company, has its U.S. office here.
Somerset County, where Somerset is located, is known for being a wealthy area. In 2011, it was ranked as one of the counties with the highest average household income in the United States.
Notable People from Somerset
Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Somerset. Here are a few:
- Carlton Agudosi (born 1994), a professional football player.
- Upendra J. Chivukula (born 1950), a politician who served in the New Jersey government. He was also the mayor of Franklin Township.
- Margit Feldman (1929–2020), a public speaker and educator who survived the Holocaust.
- Roy Hinson (born 1961), a former professional basketball player in the NBA.
- Judy Melick (born 1954), a former Olympic swimmer.
- Randal Pinkett (born 1971), who won the reality TV show The Apprentice.
- Jeff Porter (born 1985), an Olympic track and field athlete who competes in hurdles.
See also
In Spanish: Somerset (Nueva Jersey) para niños
