Somerville, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Somerville, Alabama
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The Somerville Courthouse was built in 1837 in the Federal style. It served as the county courthouse for Morgan County until the county seat was moved from Somerville to Decatur in 1891. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 24, 1972.
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Location in Morgan County, Alabama
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Morgan |
| Incorporated | December 3, 1819 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.47 sq mi (8.98 km2) |
| • Land | 3.46 sq mi (8.97 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 604 ft (184 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 796 |
| • Density | 229.86/sq mi (88.74/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
35670
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| Area code(s) | 256 |
| FIPS code | 01-71496 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2407365 |
Somerville is a small town in Morgan County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the larger Decatur Metropolitan Area. In 2020, about 796 people lived there.
Contents
History of Somerville
Somerville was once the most important town in Morgan County. It was the county seat from 1818 to 1891. Being the county seat meant it was where the main government offices were located. In 1891, the county seat moved to Decatur.
The town got its name from Robert M. Summerville. He was an officer who died in a war called the Creek War in 1814. Somerville officially became a town on December 3, 1819. This was just a few days before Alabama became a state! After losing its role as the county seat, the town's official status ended for a while. But it became an official town again on December 1, 1955.
Where is Somerville Located?
Somerville is in the middle of Morgan County. You can find it along Alabama State Route 67. This road goes northwest about 15 miles to Decatur. It also goes southeast about 18 miles towards Baileyton.
The town covers about 3.5 square miles of land. Only a very small part, about 0.14%, is water. Town Creek flows through Somerville. This creek eventually joins the Tennessee River.
People Living in Somerville
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 217 | — | |
| 1870 | 115 | — | |
| 1880 | 209 | 81.7% | |
| 1960 | 166 | — | |
| 1970 | 185 | 11.4% | |
| 1980 | 140 | −24.3% | |
| 1990 | 211 | 50.7% | |
| 2000 | 347 | 64.5% | |
| 2010 | 724 | 108.6% | |
| 2020 | 796 | 9.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2013 Estimate |
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According to the census from 2000, 347 people lived in Somerville. The population has grown quite a bit since then. By 2020, it had reached 796 people.
Most people living in Somerville are White. There are also Black or African American, Native American, and people of other backgrounds. A small number of people are Hispanic or Latino.
In 2000, the average age of people in Somerville was 36 years old. About 22.5% of the population was under 18. Another 10.7% were 65 years or older.
Local Government
Somerville has a mayor and a town council. These people help run the town and make decisions for everyone who lives there.
Mayor
- Darren Tucker
Town Council
- Place 1: Rodger McClure
- Place 2: Ron Jones
- Place 3: Michael Rea
- Place 4: Carl Flemons
- Place 5: Jackie Teague
Famous People from Somerville
Some notable people have come from Somerville:
- Josiah Patterson was a congressman from 1891 to 1897.
- Malcolm R. Patterson served as the governor of Tennessee from 1907 to 1911.
- Joseph Humphrey Sloss was also a congressman, serving from 1871 to 1875.
- Ryan Williams is a well-known computer scientist.
- Gary Winton was a basketball player for the United States Military Academy.
See also
In Spanish: Somerville (Alabama) para niños
