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Somerset County, Pennsylvania facts for kids

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Somerset County
U.S. county
Somerset County Courthouse
Somerset County Courthouse
Flag of Somerset County
Flag
 Official seal of Somerset County
Seal
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Somerset County
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Map of the United States highlighting Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Pennsylvania
Founded April 17, 1795
Named for Somerset
Seat Somerset
Largest borough Somerset
Area
 • Total 1,081 sq mi (2,800 km2)
 • Land 1,074 sq mi (2,780 km2)
 • Water 6.6 sq mi (17 km2)  0.6%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 74,129
 • Density 69/sq mi (27/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 14th

Somerset County is a special area in Pennsylvania, a state in the United States. It's like a big neighborhood with its own local government. In 2020, about 74,129 people lived here. The main town, or "county seat," where the government offices are, is called Somerset.

Somerset County was created a long time ago, on April 17, 1795. It was formed from a part of Bedford County. The county got its name from Somerset in England. It's located in the southwestern part of Pennsylvania.

This county is part of a larger area called the Somerset, PA micropolitan statistical area. This just means it's a smaller city area that is connected to the bigger Johnstown area.

Somerset County is well-known for a very important event. It was the crash site of United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001. This plane was one of four involved in the September 11 attacks. The passengers bravely fought against hijackers, stopping the plane from hitting a major building in Washington, D.C.

The Amish community in Somerset County is also very old. It started in 1772 and is the second oldest Amish community that still exists today. You can find it in the southern part of the county, near towns like Meyersdale and Springs.

History of Somerset County

How Somerset County Was Formed

Somerset County Courthouse
Somerset County Courthouse

Long ago, southwestern Pennsylvania was a huge area called Cumberland County. As more people moved in, this large area was divided into smaller counties. Bedford County was created from Cumberland in 1771. It was so big that people called it "Old Bedford County."

Over time, Old Bedford County was split into many smaller counties. In 1773, Westmoreland County was formed. Then, in 1787, Bedford County was split in half, creating Huntingdon County to the north.

Somerset County was officially created on April 17, 1795. It was made from the western part of Bedford County. The name "Somerset" came from a county in England. A few years later, in 1804, the northern part of Somerset County became Cambria County. Since then, Somerset County has stayed the same size.

Early Days and Important Roads

Before the French and Indian War, George Washington explored the Somerset County area in 1753. A few years later, the Forbes Road was built through the county. This was a very important 200-mile road from Carlisle to what is now Pittsburgh.

British General John Forbes created this road in 1758. It helped the British bring supplies to capture the French Fort Duquesne. The Forbes Road was one of the main paths for pioneers traveling west to the Ohio Country.

The first people to live permanently in what is now Somerset County were fur trappers and hunters. Around 1770, families from New Jersey moved to a region called Turkeyfoot.

United Airlines Flight 93: A Story of Courage

Main article: United Airlines Flight 93

Somerset County became known worldwide in 2001 because of United Airlines Flight 93. This hijacked plane crashed in Stonycreek Township, near Shanksville. This was part of the terrible September 11 attacks.

The plane's voice recorder showed that the passengers and crew fought the hijackers. They learned that other planes had crashed into buildings that morning. When the hijackers realized they might lose control, they crashed the plane on purpose.

The brave actions of those on Flight 93 saved many lives. The crash site is now a special place called the Flight 93 National Memorial. It is cared for by the National Park System. A U.S. Navy ship, the USS Somerset, was named to remember this tragedy.

In July 2002, Somerset County was in the news again. Nine coal miners were trapped deep underground in the Quecreek mine. After a difficult multi-day effort, all nine miners were safely rescued.

Geography and Climate

Somerset County covers about 1,081 square miles. Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water. It's located in the southern part of Pennsylvania, right along the border with Maryland.

The county shares borders with Garrett County and Allegany County in Maryland. In Pennsylvania, it borders Fayette County, Westmoreland County, Cambria County, and Bedford County.

Weather in Somerset County

Somerset County gets a lot of snow, especially in its higher areas. It's one of the snowiest places where people live in the United States. Some parts get over 150 inches of snow each winter! This is because of its elevation and its location near both the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. Snow can fall from late October through early April. It has even snowed in every month except July.

Mount Davis, the highest point in Pennsylvania, is in the southern part of Somerset County. It stands at 3,213 feet high.

Major Roads

  • I-70 / I-76 / Penna Turnpike
  • US 30
  • US 40
  • US 219

  • US 219 Bus.
  • PA 31
  • PA 56
  • PA 160
  • PA 271
  • PA 281
  • PA 403
  • PA 523
  • PA 601
  • PA 653
  • PA 669
  • PA 985

Neighboring Counties

Special Protected Areas

Geology: The Rocks and Rivers of Somerset County

Somerset County is located where the Allegheny Plateau meets the Ridge and Valley mountains. This means the area has gently folded layers of rock that are very old. These rocks are mostly made of sand, mud, and pebbles. There are no volcanic rocks or rocks changed by heat and pressure here.

The mountains in the county include Laurel Hill, Negro Mountain, Meadow Mountain, Savage Mountain, and Allegheny Mountain. Mount Davis, the highest point in Pennsylvania, is part of Negro Mountain.

During the Ice Age, Somerset County was not covered by glaciers. However, the cold weather made the area look like a tundra, a treeless plain. You can still see signs of this old landscape at Mount Davis.

Many rivers and streams flow through Somerset County. In the southwest, the Casselman River and Laurel Hill Creek flow into the Youghiogheny River. In the northwest, the Stonycreek River, Shade Creek, and Quemahoning Creek flow into the Conemaugh River. All these rivers eventually lead to the Mississippi River.

In the southeast, Wills Creek flows into the Potomac River. The Raystown Branch of the Juniata River also starts here. Both the Potomac and Juniata rivers flow into the Chesapeake Bay.

Somerset County has many coal deposits, especially a type called bituminous coal. Much of this coal has been mined. Unfortunately, many old mines cause a problem called acid mine drainage. This polluted water can harm streams and make them unable to support fish.

Population and People

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1800 10,188 —
1810 11,284 10.8%
1820 13,974 23.8%
1830 17,762 27.1%
1840 19,650 10.6%
1850 24,416 24.3%
1860 26,778 9.7%
1870 28,226 5.4%
1880 33,110 17.3%
1890 37,317 12.7%
1900 49,461 32.5%
1910 67,717 36.9%
1920 82,112 21.3%
1930 80,764 −1.6%
1940 84,957 5.2%
1950 81,813 −3.7%
1960 77,450 −5.3%
1970 76,037 −1.8%
1980 81,243 6.8%
1990 78,218 −3.7%
2000 80,023 2.3%
2010 77,742 −2.9%
2020 74,129 −4.6%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010–2017 2010-2020

In 2000, there were about 80,023 people living in Somerset County. Most people (about 97%) were White. About 1.5% were Black or African American. A small number of people were Native American, Asian, or from other backgrounds. About 0.66% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Many families in the county had children under 18 living at home. The average age of people in the county was 40 years old.

Population in 2020

Somerset County Racial Composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 69,044 93.1%
Black or African American (NH) 1,860 2.51%
Native American (NH) 50 0.1%
Asian (NH) 194 0.26%
Pacific Islander (NH) 7 0.01%
Other/Mixed (NH) 1,934 2.61%
Hispanic or Latino 1,037 1.4%

Education in Somerset County

Public Schools

Map of Somerset County Pennsylvania School Districts
Map of Somerset County, Pennsylvania School Districts

Here are the public school districts in Somerset County:

  • Berlin Brothersvalley School District
  • Conemaugh Township Area School District
  • Meyersdale Area School District
  • North Star School District
  • Rockwood Area School District
  • Salisbury-Elk Lick School District
  • Shade-Central City School District
  • Shanksville-Stonycreek School District
  • Somerset Area School District
  • Turkeyfoot Valley Area School District
  • Windber Area School District (also in Cambria County)

Culture and Arts

Somerset County has a lively arts scene. The Mountain Playhouse in Jennerstown, Pennsylvania, is one of the oldest "summer-stock" theaters in the country. It has been putting on live plays from May through October for over sixty years.

Laurel Arts is an important arts center in rural Pennsylvania. It offers art classes, music lessons, and dance classes. It also hosts art shows by local artists.

The Rockwood Opera House in Rockwood, Pennsylvania, is a historic building. It was restored to look like it did in 1890. Since reopening in 2000, it has hosted dinner theater shows. These include tribute artists and community plays.

Communities in Somerset County

Map of Somerset County Pennsylvania With Municipal and Township Labels
Map of Somerset County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing Boroughs (red), Townships (white), and Census-designated places (blue).

In Pennsylvania, there are different types of towns and areas. These include cities, boroughs, and townships. Here are the boroughs and townships in Somerset County:

Boroughs (Towns)

Townships (Larger Rural Areas)

  • Addison
  • Allegheny
  • Black
  • Brothersvalley
  • Conemaugh
  • Elk Lick
  • Fairhope
  • Greenville
  • Jefferson
  • Jenner
  • Larimer
  • Lincoln
  • Lower Turkeyfoot
  • Middlecreek
  • Milford
  • Northampton
  • Ogle
  • Paint
  • Quemahoning
  • Shade
  • Somerset
  • Southampton
  • Stonycreek
  • Summit
  • Upper Turkeyfoot

Census-Designated Places (CDPs)

These are areas the U.S. Census Bureau uses for collecting data. They are not official towns or cities.

Other Small Communities

Largest Communities by Population (2010 Census)

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census)
1 Somerset Township 12,122
2 Conemaugh Township 7,452
3 † Somerset Borough 6,277
4 Windber Borough 4,683
5 Brothersvalley Township 4,184
6 Jenner Township 4,054
7 Paint Township 3,300
8 Shade Township 2,886
9 Summit Township 2,368
10 Elk Lick Township 2,293
11 Stonycreek Township 2,237
12 Meyersdale Borough 2,184
13 Quemahoning Township 2,180
14 Berlin Borough 2,104
15 Lincoln Township 1,669
16 Milford Twp Township 1,561
17 Friedens CDP 1,523
18 Jefferson Township 1,375
19 Boswell Borough 1,277
20 Lower Turkeyfoot Township 1,232
21 Davidsville CDP 1,130
22 Central City Borough 1,124
23 Paint Borough 1,023
24 Addison Township 1,019
25 Jerome CDP 1,017
26 Black Township 980
27 Rockwood Borough 890
28 Middlecreek Township 797
29 Confluence Borough 780
30 Salisbury Borough 727
31 Greenville Township 718
32 Jennerstown Borough 695
33 Lower Turkeyfoot Township 672
34 Southampton Township 655
35 Allegheny Township 654
36 Hooversville Borough 645
37 Larimer Township 590
38 Ogle Township 588
39 Cairnbrook CDP 520
40 Garrett Borough 456
41 Indian Lake Borough 394
42 Northampton Township 366
43 Stoystown Borough 355
44 Shanksville Borough 237
45 Ursina Borough 225
46 Addison Borough 207
47 Benson Borough 191
48 Wellersburg Borough 181
49 New Baltimore Borough 180
50 Fairhope Township 137
51 New Centerville Borough 133
52 Casselman Borough 94
53 Edie CDP 83
54 Callimont Borough 41
55 Seven Springs (partially in Fayette County) Borough 26

Famous People from Somerset County

  • Jeremiah S. Black: He was a very important lawyer who worked for the U.S. government in the 1850s and 1860s. He was the Attorney General and Secretary of State for President James Buchanan.
  • George Chorpenning: A pioneer in transportation.
  • Alexander Hamilton Coffroth: A U.S. Representative in the 1800s. He was also the last person to die who had been a pallbearer at Abraham Lincoln's funeral.
  • Larry Critchfield: An NFL football player.
  • Joseph Darby: A former U.S. Army sergeant. He was the first soldier to report the mistreatment of prisoners at Abu Ghraib.
  • Joseph F. Loy: A lawyer and state senator in Wisconsin.
  • Howard Shultz Miller: A U.S. Representative from Kansas.
  • Keith Malley: A comedian and co-host of the "Keith and The Girl" podcast.
  • Edwin S. Porter: A silent movie director, famous for The Great Train Robbery.
  • Joseph C. Pringey: A U.S. Representative from Oklahoma.
  • Rip Engle: A successful college football coach for Brown University and Penn State University.

Images for kids

  • Somerset County Courthouse Pa 2012

    Somerset County Courthouse

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Somerset (Pensilvania) para niños

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