Somerville, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Somerville, New Jersey
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Borough
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Somerset County Courthouse
Daniel Robert House – Borough Hall and Public Library
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Location of Somerville in Somerset County highlighted in yellow (right). Inset map: Location of Somerset County in New Jersey highlighted in black (left).
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Census Bureau map of Somerville, New Jersey
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 Somerville, New Jersey
Location in Somerset County, New Jersey
Somerville, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Somerville, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | Somerset |
| Incorporated | March 25, 1863 (as town) |
| Reincorporated | April 16, 1909 (as borough) |
| Named for | Somerset, England |
| Government | |
| • Type | Borough |
| • Body | Borough Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.37 sq mi (6.13 km2) |
| • Land | 2.34 sq mi (6.05 km2) |
| • Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2) 1.18% |
| Area rank | 384th of 565 in state 16th of 21 in county |
| Elevation | 62 ft (19 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 12,346 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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14,112 |
| • Rank | 207th of 565 in state 9th of 21 in county |
| • Density | 5,280.6/sq mi (2,038.9/km2) |
| • Density rank | 106th of 565 in state 4th of 21 in county |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) |
| ZIP Codes |
08876
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| Area code(s) | 908 |
| FIPS code | 3403568460 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885398 |
| Website | |
Somerville is a town in New Jersey. It is the main town, or county seat, of Somerset County. Somerville is in the Raritan Valley region. It is part of the larger New York Metropolitan Area.
The town is about 33 miles (53 km) from Manhattan. It is also about 20 miles (32 km) from Staten Island. Somerville has become a busy place for shopping and business in central New Jersey. Many people who live here also travel to work in New York City.
In 2020, about 12,346 people lived in Somerville. The town was first formed on March 25, 1863. It became a borough on April 16, 1909. Somerville is home to the oldest bicycle race in the United States. The town is named after Somerset, England.
Contents
History of Somerville
How Somerville Started
People from the Netherlands first settled Somerville a long time ago. They bought land from the English owners of the colony. The Dutch built their church near where Somerville is today. A Dutch minister lived at the Old Dutch Parsonage starting around 1754.
The town grew around a church, a courthouse, and a tavern. These were built at a crossroads after the American Revolution. The name "Somerville" came from four brothers of the Somerville family. They were Edward, John, and James from Ireland. They helped found the town in the 1750s.
At first, Somerville was a quiet farming area. It grew quickly after a railroad was built in the 1840s. Water power from the Raritan River also helped it grow in the 1850s. Early businesses included making bricks from the red clay found here.
Many buildings in Somerville have a special Victorian architecture style. You can see this in different neighborhoods and on Main Street. Other old styles are also present.
Famous Historic Places
Some important places in Somerville are listed on the National Register. These include:
- The white marble Somerville Court House, built in 1909.
- The Wallace House, a wooden and stone colonial home. George Washington stayed here for a winter during the American Revolutionary War. It is now a museum.
- The Old Dutch Parsonage, near the Wallace House. Reverend Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh lived here. He helped start and was the first president of Rutgers University.
- Other Victorian buildings like the J. Harper Smith Mansion (private home).
- St. John's Episcopal Church and its rectory.
- The Fire Museum, which is an old fire house.
Somerville used to be the main place for local business. Now, it is known for unique shops and restaurants. Major highways like U.S. Route 22, U.S. Route 202, and U.S. Route 206 are near Somerville. This makes it an important center in central New Jersey.
The Tour of Somerville Bicycle Race
In 1940, the first bicycle race was held in Somerville. It was called the Tour of Somerville. Fred Kugler, a bike shop owner, started it. He wanted to show off his son, Furman, who was a national cycling champion. Furman won the first men's race. His daughter, Mildred, won the women's race.
This 50-mile (80 km) race happens every year. It is now the oldest competitive bicycle race in the U.S. Winners of the men's and women's races get $10,000 each.
Downtown Somerville Today
Main Street Somerville still has most of its old buildings. Many are now special shops or second-hand stores. Somerville has many different restaurants. These bring people from all around the area.
Somerville is still like the downtown area for Somerset County. It is a key part of the region. Some old factories in Somerville have been changed into modern offices or apartments.
Somerville has always had an important African American community. A famous member was Paul Robeson. Another well-known person from Somerville was the actor Lee Van Cleef. Ruth St. Denis, who helped create modern American Dance, performed for the first time at Somerset Hall. This was once a theater and is now a restaurant.
The mix of new things and an interesting past makes Main Street, Somerville, a special place to visit.
Future Plans for Somerville
The shopping center on the west side of downtown was taken down. A new shopping center, homes, and other things will be built there. This will also use land from the old town landfill. A new "world class" ShopRite supermarket opened in 2011. Town planners want to build a "transit village" around the Somerville train station. This means more homes and shops near public transport.
Hurricane Floyd's Impact
Hurricane Floyd hit Somerville hard in September 1999. Even though it was a weaker storm by then, it brought a lot of rain. Somerville got a record 13.34 inches (339 mm) of rain in three days. This caused a lot of flooding and damage.
Geography and Climate
Somerville covers about 2.37 square miles (6.13 km2). Most of this is land, and a small part is water. The land in the town is mostly flat. The Raritan River is to the south of Somerville. Peters Brook, a smaller stream, also runs through the town.
Somerville shares borders with Bridgewater Township, Hillsborough Township, and Raritan.
Somerville's Weather
Somerville has warm summers and cold winters. In summer, temperatures are usually in the 80s and 90s Fahrenheit (around 27-35°C). In winter, temperatures are usually in the 20s and 30s Fahrenheit (around -7 to 4°C).
July is the warmest month. January is the coldest month. The temperature changes between day and night are moderate in summer. They are smaller in winter.
Somerville gets about 45.93 inches (1,167 mm) of rain each year. Rain falls fairly evenly throughout the year. July is the wettest month.
| Climate data for Somerville, New Jersey | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 39.6 (4.2) |
42.1 (5.6) |
49.2 (9.6) |
60.4 (15.8) |
71.0 (21.7) |
81.2 (27.3) |
86.2 (30.1) |
84.3 (29.1) |
74.9 (23.8) |
63.9 (17.7) |
52.9 (11.6) |
44.5 (6.9) |
61.4 (16.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 21.9 (−5.6) |
23.1 (−4.9) |
28.3 (−2.1) |
37.3 (2.9) |
47.2 (8.4) |
59.3 (15.2) |
64.5 (18.1) |
63.0 (17.2) |
52.8 (11.6) |
40.7 (4.8) |
32.8 (0.4) |
27.4 (−2.6) |
40.2 (4.6) |
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 2,236 | — | |
| 1880 | 3,105 | 38.9% | |
| 1890 | 3,861 | 24.3% | |
| 1900 | 4,843 | 25.4% | |
| 1910 | 5,060 | 4.5% | |
| 1920 | 6,718 | 32.8% | |
| 1930 | 8,255 | 22.9% | |
| 1940 | 8,720 | 5.6% | |
| 1950 | 11,571 | 32.7% | |
| 1960 | 12,458 | 7.7% | |
| 1970 | 13,652 | 9.6% | |
| 1980 | 11,973 | −12.3% | |
| 1990 | 11,632 | −2.8% | |
| 2000 | 12,423 | 6.8% | |
| 2010 | 12,098 | −2.6% | |
| 2020 | 12,346 | 2.0% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 14,112 | 16.6% | |
| Population sources: 1870–1920 1870 1880–1890 1890–1910 1910–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 |
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Population in 2010
In 2010, Somerville had 12,098 people. There were 4,591 homes and 2,778 families. The town had about 5,190 people per square mile (2,004 per km2).
Most people (65.6%) were White. About 12.2% were Black or African American. About 11.4% were Asian. About 23.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino.
About 21.3% of the people were under 18 years old. About 11.0% were 65 years or older. The average age was 35.5 years.
The average income for a household was about $69,836. For families, it was about $80,461. About 6.9% of the people lived below the poverty line.
Education in Somerville
The Somerville Public Schools teach students from pre-kindergarten up to twelfth grade. In the 2021–22 school year, the district had 2,198 students. There were 212.5 teachers. This means about 10 students per teacher.
The schools in the district are:
- Van Derveer Elementary School (PreK-5, 712 students)
- Somerville Middle School (grades 6-8, 314 students)
- Somerville High School (grades 9-12, 1,142 students)
Students from Branchburg Township also attend Somerville High School. They make up a large part of the high school's students.
There are also private schools in Somerville:
- Immaculata High School is a private Catholic high school. It was founded in 1962. About 850 students attend grades 9-12.
- Immaculate Conception School is a private Catholic school. It was founded in 1957. It teaches students from Pre-K through 8th grade.
Both Catholic schools are part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen.
Getting Around Somerville
Roads and Highways
In 2010, Somerville had about 36.16 miles (58.19 km) of roads. Most roads are kept up by the town.
- U.S. Route 22 runs along the north side of Somerville. It connects to other state roads.
- U.S. Route 202 and U.S. Route 206 run along the west side of Somerville. They meet at the Somerville Circle. These roads help people travel north and south to nearby towns.
- Interstate 287 is in nearby Bridgewater Township. You can get to it from Routes 22 and 202/206.
Public Transportation
The Somerville train station has service from New Jersey Transit. The Raritan Valley Line offers frequent trains. You can go to Newark Penn Station. From there, you can connect to Penn Station New York in Midtown Manhattan.
The closest airport with flights is Newark Liberty International Airport. It is about 26 miles (42 km) north of Somerville. It takes about 35 minutes to drive there.
Healthcare in Somerville
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset is in Somerville. It provides healthcare for the greater Somerset County area. The hospital started as Somerset Hospital in 1901. It has grown into a major medical center. Since 2014, it has been connected with Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. This is the largest healthcare network in New Jersey.
Places to Visit in Somerville
Here are some interesting places in Somerville that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:
- Wallace House: This is a New Jersey State Historic House Museum. It was George Washington's headquarters during the winter of 1778–79.
- Old Dutch Parsonage: This is a New Jersey State Historic Site. It was the first parsonage (minister's home) for the Dutch Reformed Church in Somerset County. Reverend Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh lived here. He helped start and was the first president of Queens College (now Rutgers University).
- Daniel Robert House: This building is Somerville Borough Hall. It is a great example of American Gothic architecture.
- J. Harper Smith Mansion: This private home has a library designed by Horace Trumbauer.
- St. John's Episcopal Church: This church was built in 1895 and designed by Horace Trumbauer.
- West End Hose Company Number 3: This is the Somerville Fire Department Museum.
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J. Harper Smith Mansion
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St. John's Episcopal Church
Famous People from Somerville
- Alicia Albe (born 1977), a rhythmic gymnast.
- Nicole Arendt (born 1969), a professional tennis player.
- Frank Asch (born 1946), a writer of children's literature.
- Christopher "Kip" Bateman (born 1957), a politician who served in the New Jersey Senate.
- Raymond Bateman (1927–2016), a politician who ran for Governor of New Jersey in 1977.
- George H. Brown (1810–1865), who represented New Jersey in the United States House of Representatives.
- Tony Camillo (1928–2018), a record producer.
- Clarence E. Case (1877–1961), who was acting Republican Governor of New Jersey in 1920.
- Jack M. Ciattarelli (born 1961), a politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly.
- Alvah A. Clark (1840–1912), who represented New Jersey in the United States House of Representatives.
- Kate Claxton (1848–1924), a stage actress.
- Christine Danelson (born 1987), an actress.
- Don Elliott (1926–1984), a jazz musician.
- Kevin Foley (born 1987), a professional golfer.
- Frederick Frelinghuysen (1753–1804), a lawyer, soldier, and senator.
- Mary Exton Gaston (1855–1956), the first female doctor in Somerville.
- Frederick Wilson Hall (1908–1984), a Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court.
- Reggie Harrison (born 1951), a former professional American football player.
- Mort Herbert (1925–1983), a jazz bassist.
- Joyce Kozloff (born 1942), an artist.
- Joe Lis (1946–2010), a Major League Baseball player.
- John Mack (1926–2006), a principal oboist with the Cleveland Orchestra.
- Eric Murdock (born 1968), an NBA player.
- Steven J. Ostro (1946–2008), a scientist who studied radar astronomy.
- Paul Robeson (1898–1976), a famous actor, singer, and civil rights activist.
- Brian E. Rumpf (born 1964), a politician who serves in the New Jersey General Assembly.
- Theodore Runyon (1822–1896), a politician and general during the American Civil War.
- Skinnyfromthe9 (born 1995), a rapper and singer.
- Frank Snook (born 1949), a former baseball player.
- Ruth St. Denis (1879–1968), a pioneer of modern dance.
- William Gaston Steele (1820–1892), who represented New Jersey in the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Douglas Urbanski, a film producer.
- Lee Van Cleef (1925–1989), a famous actor known for western movies.
- Fred Van Eps (1878–1960), a banjo player and early recording artist.
- Jeffrey Vanderbeek, former owner of the New Jersey Devils hockey team.
- Mauricio Vargas (born 1992), a soccer goalkeeper.
- Frederica von Stade (born 1945), a mezzo-soprano singer.
- Jon Williams (born 1961), an NFL player.
- Elvira Woodruff (born 1951), a children's writer.
- Elinor Wylie (1885–1928), a poet and novelist.
See also
In Spanish: Somerville (Nueva Jersey) para niños
