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» Home » County Profile
Somerset County Quick Profile (.pdf)
County Overview
History
Somerset County is a county located in the Allegheny Mountain section of the Appalachian Plateau within the state of Pennsylvania. As of 2000, the population is 80,023. Its county seat is Somerset. The highest point in Pennsylvania, Mount Davis (elevation 3,213 feet) is located there.
The written history of Somerset County dates back to the French and Indian War. Then in 1769, Somerset County began to attract settlers. On April 17, 1795, Brothersvalley, Turkeyfoot, Quemahoning, Milford, Elk Lick and Stonycreek Townships evolved into Somerset County from Bedford County. The new county had 1,250 residents. Somerset County has continued to grow throughout time. Today it is composed of twenty-five townships and twenty-five boroughs. In 1990, the County's population was 78,218. Somerset County boasts two State Parks, several State Forest areas, two major ski and convention centers. Today, tourism, manufacturing, coal mining, and agriculture are the major economic forces in Somerset County.
Somerset County gained global notice in 2001 when a hijacked airliner, United Airlines Flight 93, crashed near the town of Shanksville during the September 11th Terrorist Attacks. A year later, in July 2002, Somerset County again made worldwide front-page news when nine coal miners where rescued from several hundred feet underground from the Quecreek mine after an intense multi-day
struggle.
In April 2004, the Pentagon credited Joseph Darby of Jenners, Somerset County, as the soldier who came forward to halt and expose the Abu Ghraib prisoner-of-war abuse scandal in Baghdad, Iraq. Somerset County is also the home of several operational wind farms.
Number of Municipal Governments: Fifty
Twenty-five Boroughs & Twenty-five Townships
Local Government Structure
County: Board of Three Commissioners
Townships: Board of Three Supervisors
Boroughs: Council (5 to 7 members) & Mayor
Number of School Districts: Eleven
Location
Somerset County is the heart of the beautiful Laurel Highlands of Southwestern Pennsylvania, providing the tranquility of a rural lifestyle while close to the amenities of a major metropolitan area (Pittsburgh).
Maps
maps here
Click here to Find Somerset, PA on Mapquest
Climate and Geography
Somerset County is a county located in the Allegheny Mountain section of the Appalachian Plateau within the state of Pennsylvania. As of 2000, the population is 80,023. Its county seat is Somerset. The highest point in Pennsylvania, Mount Davis (elevation 3,213 feet) is located there.
The written history of Somerset County dates back to the French and Indian War. Then in 1769, Somerset County began to attract settlers. On April 17, 1795, Brothersvalley, Turkeyfoot, Quemahoning, Milford, Elk Lick and Stonycreek Townships evolved into Somerset County from Bedford County. The new county had 1,250 residents. Somerset County has continued to grow throughout time. Today it is composed of twenty-five townships and twenty-five boroughs. In 1990, the County's population was 78,218. Somerset County boasts two State Parks, several State Forest areas, two major ski and convention centers. Today, tourism, manufacturing, coal mining, and agriculture are the major economic forces in Somerset County.
Somerset County gained global notice in 2001 when a hijacked airliner, United Airlines Flight 93, crashed near the town of Shanksville during the September 11th Terrorist Attacks. A year later, in July 2002, Somerset County again made worldwide front-page news when nine coal miners where rescued from several hundred feet underground from the Quecreek mine after an intense multi-day struggle. In April 2004, the Pentagon credited Joseph Darby of Jenners, Somerset County, as the soldier who came forward to halt and expose the Abu Ghraib prisoner-of-war abuse scandal in Baghdad, Iraq. Somerset County is also the home of several operational wind farms.
Land Area: 1,085 square miles
Average Elevation: 2100 feet above sea level
Average Medium Temperature: 46 degrees Fahrenheit
Average Annual Precipitation: 41.6 inches water
Transportation
Highways
An excellent network of federal (US routes 30, 40, 219), state, and local highways provides easy access to destinations within the county and connections outside.
Somerset County provides access to many different highway systems.
Major systems include:
I-76, the Pennsylvania Turnpike runs through central Somerset County and provides East-West access to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
US Route 219, running north and south, offers access to Johnstown, Central Pennsylvania and Maryland.
Rail Networks
One - hour access by highway to both northern (at Altoona, PA) and southern (at Cumberland, MD) rail networks.
Airport Facilities
The Somerset County Airport is open to the public and can handle turbo-prop commuter and executive aircraft. USAir Express commuter flights to and from the Pittsburgh International Airport are available at the Altoona-Blair County Airport and the Johnstown-Cambria County Airport, both less then one hour away. The county is less than 2 hours from Pittsburgh International, and 3 hours from Baltimore-Washington International, Dulles-International and Reagan National in Washington, D.C.
Shipping Ports
Two shipping ports, The Port of Baltimore and The Port of Philadelphia can be easily accessed within four hours by Interstates 70/76.
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