Somerset, Maryland

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Somerset is a town in Montgomery County, Maryland, near the District of Columbia border. The population was 1,124 at the 2000 census.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History
4 Education
5 External links

[edit] Geography

Somerset is located at 38°58′2″N, 77°5′41″W (38.967110, -77.094824)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.7 km² (0.3 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 1,124 people, 406 households, and 326 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,549.9/km² (4,001.0/mi²). There were 419 housing units at an average density of 577.8/km² (1,491.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.04% White, 0.89% African American, 3.38% Asian, 0.89% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.94% of the population.

There were 406 households out of which 38.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.1% were married couples living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.7% were non-families. 16.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the town the population was spread out with 28.1% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 16.5% from 25 to 44, 32.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $144,523, and the median income for a family was $149,057. Males had a median income of $100,000 versus $80,762 for females. The per capita income for the town was $82,368. None of the families and 2.7% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.

[edit] History

Although Somerset was originally incorporated as a town in 1906, its history dates back to 1890 when five government scientists purchased a 50 acre parcel of tobacco farmland from the government for the purpose of setting up a residential community. This land was originally part of the Friendship Tract, a 1713 gift of 3,000 acres (12 km²) to a couple of early Maryland colonists which is now the basis for the nearby Friendship Heights area. Five early streets were arranged and remain to this day: Dorset, Warwick, Surrey, Cumberland, and Essex after the English counties. The first home in Somerset was occupied by Dr. Charles A. Crampton in 1893 and by 1905 there were 35 residences. Despite being promoted as an area of "tranquility and refinement", the original Town was plagued by inadequate water drainage, a makeshift sewage system, and no local fire protection or schools. These problems prompted the local citizens to petition the State of Maryland for incorporation into a township so that taxes could be levied to provide these basic services. The Charter was issued in 1906, forming the community of Somerset Heights and the surrounding areas into the Town of Somerset. The first Town Council was elected on May 7, 1906, and Dr. Crampton was elected as the first mayor.