Somerset County, Maine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Somerset County
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Somerset County Courthouse
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Location within the U.S. state of Maine
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 Maine's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Maine |
| Founded | 1809 |
| Named for | Somerset County, England |
| Seat | Skowhegan |
| Largest town | Skowhegan |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4,094 sq mi (10,600 km2) |
| • Land | 3,924 sq mi (10,160 km2) |
| • Water | 169 sq mi (440 km2) 4.1%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 50,477 |
| • Density | 12.3295/sq mi (4.7604/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
Somerset County is a county in the U.S. state of Maine, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 50,477. Its county seat is Skowhegan.
Contents
History
Somerset County was established on March 1, 1809 from portions of Kennebec County and was named after Somerset County in England.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,094 square miles (10,600 km2), of which 3,924 square miles (10,160 km2) is land and 169 square miles (440 km2) (4.1%) is water. It is the third-largest county in Maine by area.
Mountains
Bodies of water
- Carrabassett River
- Flagstaff Lake
- Kennebec River
- Moose River
- Moxie Falls
Major highways
- Interstate 95
- Maine State Route 6
- Maine State Route 8
- Maine State Route 11
- Maine State Route 15
- Maine State Route 16
- Maine State Route 27
- Maine State Route 100
- Maine State Route 104
- Maine State Route 137
- Maine State Route 139
- U.S. Route 2
- U.S. Route 201
- Armstrong–Jackman Border Crossing
- U.S. Route 201A
Adjacent counties and municipalities
- Aroostook County – north
- Penobscot County – east
- Piscataquis County – east
- Waldo County – southeast
- Kennebec County – south
- Franklin County – southwest
- Le Granit Regional County Municipality, Quebec – west
- Beauce-Sartigan Regional County Municipality, Quebec – west
- Les Etchemins Regional County Municipality, Quebec – northwest
- Montmagny Regional County Municipality, Quebec – northwest
Somerset County is one of few counties in the United States to border ten counties and county equivalents.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1810 | 12,910 | — | |
| 1820 | 21,787 | 68.8% | |
| 1830 | 35,787 | 64.3% | |
| 1840 | 33,912 | −5.2% | |
| 1850 | 35,581 | 4.9% | |
| 1860 | 36,753 | 3.3% | |
| 1870 | 34,611 | −5.8% | |
| 1880 | 32,333 | −6.6% | |
| 1890 | 32,627 | 0.9% | |
| 1900 | 33,849 | 3.7% | |
| 1910 | 36,301 | 7.2% | |
| 1920 | 37,171 | 2.4% | |
| 1930 | 39,111 | 5.2% | |
| 1940 | 38,245 | −2.2% | |
| 1950 | 39,785 | 4.0% | |
| 1960 | 39,749 | −0.1% | |
| 1970 | 40,597 | 2.1% | |
| 1980 | 45,028 | 10.9% | |
| 1990 | 49,767 | 10.5% | |
| 2000 | 50,888 | 2.3% | |
| 2010 | 52,228 | 2.6% | |
| 2020 | 50,477 | −3.4% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 51,302 | −1.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2016 |
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2010 census
As of 2010[update], there were 52,228 people, 21,927 households, and 14,353 families living in the county. The population density was 13.3 inhabitants per square mile (5.1 inhabitants/km2). There were 30,569 housing units at an average density of 7.8 units per square mile (3.0 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.1% white, 0.6% Asian, 0.5% American Indian, 0.4% black or African American, 0.1% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 25.1% were French, 24.2% were English, 15.8% were Irish, 8.0% were German, 7.9% were American, and 6.1% were French Canadian.
Of the 21,927 households, 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.5% were non-families, and 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.80. The median age was 43.6 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,647 and the median income for a family was $47,177. Males had a median income of $41,235 versus $30,029 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,709. About 14.0% of families and 18.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.0% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Towns
Census-designated places
Plantations
Unorganized territories
Villages
Education
School administrative districts
The following school districts are located at least partly in Somerset County:
- MSAD 4
- MSAD 12
- MSAD 13
- MSAD 49
- MSAD 53
- MSAD 54
- MSAD 59
- MSAD 74
Secondary schools
- Carrabec High School – North Anson
- Faith Baptist Christian School – Skowhegan (serves multiple grades)
- Forest Hills Consolidated School (K-12) – Jackman
- Lawrence High School – Fairfield
- Madison Area Memorial High School – Madison
- Maine Academy of Natural Sciences – Hinckley
- Maine Central Institute – Pittsfield
- Skowhegan Area High School – Skowhegan
- Upper Kennebec Valley Memorial High School – Bingham
Higher education
- Kennebec Valley Community College
Miscellaneous
- Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture
- L.C. Bates Museum
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Somerset (Maine) para niños
