Somerset County, Maine

Somerset County, Maine

Somerset County Courthouse
Map of Maine highlighting Somerset County
Location in the U.S. state of Maine
Map of the United States highlighting Maine
Maine's location in the U.S.
Founded 1809
Named for Somerset County, England
Seat Skowhegan
Largest town Skowhegan
Area
 • Total 4,094 sq mi (10,603 km2)
 • Land 3,924 sq mi (10,163 km2)
 • Water 169 sq mi (438 km2), 4.1%
Population (est.)
 • (2016) 50,915
 • Density 13/sq mi (5/km²)
Congressional district 2nd
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website somersetcounty-me.org

Somerset County is a county located in the state of Maine, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 52,228.[1] Its county seat is Skowhegan.[2]

History

Somerset County was established on March 1, 1809[3][4] from portions of Kennebec County and was named after Somerset County in England.[5]

Government and politics

Presidential Elections Results[6]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 57.6% 15,001 34.9% 9,092 7.6% 1,971
2012 47.6% 11,800 49.3% 12,216 3.1% 771
2008 46.1% 11,867 51.8% 13,335 2.2% 556
2004 47.8% 12,953 50.0% 13,555 2.2% 600
2000 44.6% 10,684 48.2% 11,538 7.2% 1,729
1996 27.0% 6,247 50.9% 11,773 22.0% 5,091
1992 25.7% 6,780 35.1% 9,274 39.2% 10,370
1988 56.6% 11,430 42.6% 8,603 0.8% 168
1984 62.6% 13,010 36.9% 7,657 0.5% 104
1980 47.6% 9,286 41.6% 8,115 10.8% 2,112
1976 46.8% 8,868 49.9% 9,465 3.3% 633
1972 63.0% 10,079 37.0% 5,921 0.0% 5
1968 43.8% 6,720 54.1% 8,312 2.1% 324
1964 29.8% 4,541 70.1% 10,694 0.1% 18
1960 59.3% 10,142 40.7% 6,956 0.0% 0
1956 71.8% 10,471 28.2% 4,119 0.0% 0
1952 66.9% 9,805 32.9% 4,815 0.2% 29
1948 60.5% 6,301 38.7% 4,034 0.8% 83
1944 57.2% 7,167 42.6% 5,331 0.2% 25
1940 53.4% 7,526 46.4% 6,534 0.2% 28
1936 56.9% 7,558 39.8% 5,282 3.3% 441
1932 53.1% 7,144 44.9% 6,040 2.1% 277
1928 70.6% 8,055 28.5% 3,251 0.9% 100
1924 73.8% 6,855 19.6% 1,822 6.6% 608
1920 68.1% 6,533 28.9% 2,770 3.0% 289
1916 51.2% 3,567 45.0% 3,134 3.7% 260
1912 19.4% 1,235 36.5% 2,317 44.1% 2,804
1908 65.3% 3,688 29.7% 1,676 5.0% 284

Somerset County is part of Maine's 2nd congressional district.

In 1992 Somerset County was one of three counties in the state (the others being Knox and Piscataquis) where Ross Perot received over 38% of the vote and won.[7] In 2008 Barack Obama received 51.9% of the vote.[8]

Voter registration

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of March 2014[9]
Unenrolled (Independent) 13,080 37.12%
Republican 10,574 30.01%
Democratic 10,288 29.19%
Green Independent 1,292 3.66%
Total 35,234 100%

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.[10] It is the third-largest county in Maine by area.

Mountains

Bodies of water

Major highways

Adjacent counties and municipalities

Somerset County is one of few counties in the United States to border ten counties and county equivalents.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
181012,910—
182021,78768.8%
183035,78764.3%
184033,912−5.2%
185035,5814.9%
186036,7533.3%
187034,611−5.8%
188032,333−6.6%
189032,6270.9%
190033,8493.7%
191036,3017.2%
192037,1712.4%
193039,1115.2%
194038,245−2.2%
195039,7854.0%
196039,749−0.1%
197040,5972.1%
198045,02810.9%
199049,76710.5%
200050,8882.3%
201052,2282.6%
Est. 201650,915[11]−2.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790–1960[13] 1900–1990[14]
1990–2000[15] 2010–2016[1]

2000 census

As of the census[16] of 2000, there were 50,888 people, 20,496 households, and 14,121 families residing in the county. The population density was 13 people per square mile (5/km²). There were 28,222 housing units at an average density of 7 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.00% White, 0.24% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.11% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. 0.46% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 20.9% were of English, 17.7% French, 15.1% United States or American, 11.5% Irish and 8.8% French Canadian ancestry. 96.2% spoke English and 2.9% French as their first language.

There were 20,496 households out of which 31.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.20% were married couples living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.10% were non-families. 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the county, the population was spread out with 24.70% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 25.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,731, and the median income for a family was $36,464. Males had a median income of $29,032 versus $20,745 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,474. About 11.10% of families and 14.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.40% of those under age 18 and 12.50% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 52,228 people, 21,927 households, and 14,353 families residing in the county.[17] The population density was 13.3 inhabitants per square mile (5.1/km2). There were 30,569 housing units at an average density of 7.8 per square mile (3.0/km2).[18] 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.[17] 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.[19]

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.[17]

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.[20]

Education

School administrative districts

The following school districts are located at least partly in Somerset County:[21]

Secondary schools

Higher education

Miscellaneous

Communities

Towns

Census-designated places

Plantations

Unorganized territories

Villages

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Columbia-Lippincott Gazetteer (New York City: Columbia University Press, 1952) p. 1794
  4. ↑ Geo. J. Varney. (1886). History of Somerset County, Maine. From A Gazetteer of the State of Maine. Transcribed by Betsey S. Webber
  5. ↑ Yates, Edgar A.P. (Jun 13, 1928). "Some Maine town names". The Lewiston Daily Sun. p. 4. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  6. ↑ http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS
  7. ↑ 1992 Presidential Election statistics at David Leip's Presidential Election Atlas
  8. ↑ The New York Times Electoral Map (Zoom in on Maine)
  9. ↑ "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of March 2014" (PDF). Maine Bureau of Corporations.
  10. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  12. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  16. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  17. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
  18. ↑ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
  19. ↑ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
  20. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
  21. ↑ http://www.maine.gov/education/eddir/pdffiles/sadslist.pdf
  22. ↑ Carrabec High School website
  23. ↑ http://local.yahoo.com/info-35173120-faith-baptist-christian-school-skowhegan
  24. ↑ Forest Hills Consolidated School website
  25. ↑ Lawrence High School homepage
  26. ↑ Madison Area Memorial High School website
  27. ↑ Maine Academy of Natural Sciences website
  28. ↑ Maine Central Institute website
  29. ↑ Skowhegan Area High School homepage
  30. ↑ MSAD 13 homepage

County politics

Coordinates: 45°31′N 69°57′W / 45.51°N 69.95°W / 45.51; -69.95

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