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Somerset County, Pennsylvania

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Somerset County, Pennsylvania
Company typeCounty
IndustryLocal government
FoundedApril 17, 1795; 231 years ago (1795-04-17)
Headquarters
Somerset
,
United States
Area served
Somerset micropolitan area, Johnstown–Somerset combined statistical area
Websitewww.co.somerset.pa.us

Somerset County is located within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 74,129 residents. The county’s administrative center and most populous borough is Somerset. Created on April 17, 1795, from a portion of Bedford County, it was named after Somerset County in England. Situated in Southwest Pennsylvania, Somerset County encompasses the Somerset micropolitan area, which forms part of the larger Johnstown–Somerset combined statistical region.

The county is historically significant as the site where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed during the September 11 attacks near Shanksville. Passengers on board prevented terrorists from reaching their intended targets, which were believed to be either the U.S. Capitol or the White House.

Additionally, Somerset County is home to the world’s second oldest Amish community, established in 1772. This community is located in the southern part of the county near Meyersdale and Springs.

Formation

Initially, the southwestern region of Pennsylvania was encompassed by a vast Cumberland County. As settlement expanded, Cumberland was divided: Bedford County was created in 1771 from Cumberland, covering an area that now includes 20 smaller counties. Westmoreland County separated from Bedford in 1773. By 1787, Bedford itself was subdivided again, resulting in Huntingdon County to the north and a reduced Bedford County to the south. On April 17, 1795, Somerset County was formed from the western segment of Bedford County and named after Somerset, England. In 1804, Cambria County emerged from northern Somerset. Since then, no additional county divisions have taken place.

Colonial period

In late 1753, George Washington traveled through what is now Somerset County during a reconnaissance mission preceding the French and Indian War. The Forbes Road, built in 1758 under Brigadier General John Forbes as part of a British campaign to seize Fort Duquesne, passed through this area. Stretching roughly 200 miles from Carlisle to modern-day Pittsburgh, this route became an essential supply line and pioneer trail leading westward.

The earliest inhabitants were fur trappers and hunters, with permanent white settlements first established in the Turkeyfoot region. Around 1770, settlers known as "The Jersey Settlement" arrived from Essex and Morris Counties in New Jersey.

United Airlines Flight 93

Somerset County drew international attention in 2001 when United Airlines Flight 93 crashed within Stonycreek Township, near Shanksville, during the September 11 attacks. The initial confirmation of the crash originated from Somerset County Airport and was broadcast on NBC's The Today Show. It is believed that the hijacked flight aimed to strike the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Recordings from the cockpit's voice recorder revealed that passengers and crew attempted to regain control after learning about other hijacked planes hitting targets. When passengers appeared close to succeeding, hijackers deliberately crashed the aircraft. The crash location is preserved as the Flight 93 National Memorial managed by the National Park Service. The U.S. Navy vessel USS Somerset honors this event.

In July 2002, Somerset County again captured national attention when nine coal miners were successfully rescued after being trapped underground at the Quecreek mine following an extensive multi-day rescue effort.

Geography

Per data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Somerset County encompasses a total area of , consisting of of land and (0.6%) water. Positioned along Pennsylvania’s southern boundary, it borders Garrett and Allegany Counties in Maryland, as well as Fayette, Westmoreland, Cambria, and Bedford Counties in Pennsylvania. Somerset is among the 423 counties supported by the Appalachian Regional Commission, and is recognized within Colin Woodard’s American Nations as part of "Greater Appalachia."

Climate

Together with Garrett County in Maryland, Somerset County ranks as one of the snowiest populated regions in the United States, with average winter snowfall exceeding 150 inches due to its elevation. Its altitude combined with proximity to the Great Lakes and Atlantic Ocean results in significant snow from Nor'easters and lake-effect upslope storms occurring between late October and early April. Snowfall has been documented in every month except July, with historical accounts citing snow even during July 1816, known as the "year without a summer." The county contains Mount Davis, Pennsylvania’s highest natural elevation at 3,213 feet.

The climate is classified as warm-summer humid continental (Dfb), with average monthly temperatures in Somerset borough ranging from 24.5 °F in January to 67.1 °F in July.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

  • Cambria County (north)
  • Bedford County (east)
  • Allegany County, Maryland (southeast)
  • Garrett County, Maryland (southwest)
  • Fayette County (west)
  • Westmoreland County (northwest)

National protected area

  • Flight 93 National Memorial

State protected areas

  • Kooser State Park
  • Laurel Hill State Park
  • Laurel Mountain State Park
  • Laurel Ridge State Park

Geology

Situated along the eastern edge of the Allegheny Plateau physiographic region, Somerset County features sedimentary rock formations from the middle to late Paleozoic era that range from gently folded to nearly flat layers. The eastern boundary coincides with the Allegheny Front, which separates the Allegheny Plateau from the Ridge and Valley Province characterized by folded and faulted sedimentary rocks dating to the early to middle Paleozoic.

The stratigraphic sequence within the county extends from the Devonian Scherr Formation through to the Pennsylvanian Monongahela Formation, predominantly composed of clastic sediments such as conglomerate, sandstone, and shale, with only limited limestone presence. There are no igneous or metamorphic rock types found here.

From a structural geology perspective, several broad folds trending north-northeast are present, including synclines like Youghiogheny and Berlin Synclines and anticlines such as Laurel Hill Anticline and Boswell Dome. Prominent northeast-trending mountains include Laurel Hill—which forms part of the county’s western border—Negro Mountain (site of Mount Davis), Meadow Mountain, Savage Mountain, and Allegheny Mountain.

Although not glaciated during the Pleistocene epoch, Somerset experienced periglacial conditions; remnants of tundra-like patterned ground remain observable at Mount Davis.

In southwestern Somerset, principal drainage systems such as Casselman River and Laurel Hill Creek flow into the Youghiogheny River. Tributaries in the northwest feed into the Conemaugh River watershed, while southeastern streams drain toward the Potomac and Juniata Rivers within the Chesapeake Bay basin.

Somerset contains bituminous coal deposits mainly within the Main Bituminous Field and Georges Creek Field. Extensive surface mining has occurred historically, resulting in numerous abandoned mines that contribute to acid mine drainage affecting waterways including Casselman River and Shade Creek.

Moreover, small natural gas reserves are present in the county’s northwestern sector.

Demographics

According to the 2000 census, Somerset County had a population of 80,023 individuals residing in 31,222 households, with 22,042 identified as families. The population density was recorded alongside 37,163 housing units, averaging a certain density per square mile. The racial makeup was largely 97.39% White, with 1.59% Black or African American and smaller proportions representing other racial groups. Those identifying as Hispanic or Latino constituted 0.66% of the total population. Prominent ancestral backgrounds included 41.5% German, 10.4% American, 7.4% Italian, both Irish and Polish at 6.4%, and 5.8% English.

Household composition revealed that 29.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, while married couples accounted for 58.30%. Female householders without a husband present made up 8.50%, and non-family households represented 29.40%. Individuals living alone comprised 26.10% of households, with 13.60% of these being persons aged 65 or older. The average household size was calculated at 2.45 members, and the average family size was slightly larger at 2.95.

Age distribution showed that 22.30% were under the age of 18, 7.60% fell between ages 18 and 24, 27.80% were from 25 to 44 years old, 24.30% ranged from 45 to 64, and those aged 65 or above made up 18.00%. The median age stood at 40 years, with gender ratios nearly balanced: approximately 99 males for every 100 females overall and within the adult population aged 18 and older.

2020 census

Somerset County Racial Composition
Race Number Percentage
White (Non-Hispanic) 69,044 93.1%
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) 1,860 2.51%
Native American (Non-Hispanic) 50 0.1%
Asian (Non-Hispanic) 194 0.26%
Pacific Islander (Non-Hispanic) 7 0.01%
Other/Mixed (Non-Hispanic) 1,934 2.61%
Hispanic or Latino 1,037 1.4%

Micropolitan statistical area

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget classifies Somerset County as the Somerset, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). Based on the data from the 2010 U.S. Census, it ranked seventh within Pennsylvania and seventy-seventh in the United States by population size, totaling 77,742 residents at that time. Additionally, Somerset County is included in the Johnstown-Somerset, PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA), which also comprises Cambria County; this CSA held the tenth position in Pennsylvania and was ranked one hundred thirtieth nationally with a combined population of 221,421.

Government and politics

As recorded on September 25, 2023, there were a total of 47,835 registered voters in Somerset County:

County commissioners

Commissioners Affiliation Year First Elected
Brian Fochtman, Chairman Republican 2023
Irvin Kimmel, Vice-Chairman Republican 2023
Pamela Tokar-Ickes, Secretary Democratic 2019

Additional County Offices

Position Incumbent Affiliation Year First Elected
Clerk of Courts Rose Svonavec Republican 2011
Prothonotary C. Jeannie Custer Republican 2023 (interim)
Coroner Cullen Swank Republican 2021
District Attorney Molly Metzgar Republican 2023
Recorder of Deeds Patricia Peifer Republican 2013 (appointed)
Register of Wills Sharon Ackerman Republican 2003
Sheriff Dustin Weir
Treasurer Tony DeLuca Republican 2021
Auditor Jerry Lyons Republican 2003 (appointed)
Auditor JoAnne Walls Republican 2015
Auditor Shelley Glessner Democratic 2015

Members of the State House

State Senate

U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. Senate

Pennsylvania State Police

  • Station Commander: Sergeant Stephen Adamczyk

Public School Districts

The following school districts serve the area:

Culture

Located in Jennerstown, Pennsylvania, the Mountain Playhouse has been a prominent summer-stock theater for more than six decades, presenting live performances every evening from May through October.

Laurel Arts, headquartered in Somerset borough, operates as a comprehensive arts facility serving the entirety of Somerset County through two venues: the Philip Dressler Center for the Arts and the Education and Dance Center situated at Georgian Place. Established in 1976 as a 501(c)(3) organization, it offers instruction in art, music, and dance, as well as curates exhibitions showcasing artists from local and regional communities.

The Rockwood Opera House, a historic structure dating back to 1890 in Rockwood, Pennsylvania, has been revitalized and functioning as a dinner theater venue since 2000. It features Tribute Artist shows alongside productions by community theater groups.

Communities

In accordance with Pennsylvania legislation, municipalities are classified into cities, boroughs, townships, or occasionally towns. Somerset County consists of multiple boroughs and townships:

Boroughs

Townships

Census-designated places

Census-designated places (CDPs), as identified by the U.S. Census Bureau for population studies, do not constitute formal legal entities within Pennsylvania. This classification also encompasses other unincorporated areas such as villages.

Unincorporated communities

Population ranking

Presented below is a table that orders the communities of Somerset County by population size according to data from the 2010 census.

† denotes county seat

Rank Community Municipal classification Population (2010 Census)
1 Somerset Township 12,122
2 Conemaugh Township 7,452
3 † Somerset Borough 6,277
4 Windber Borough 4,683
5 Brothersvalley Township 4,184
6 Jenner Township 4,054
7 Paint Township 3,300
8 Shade Township 2,886
9 Summit Township 2,368
10 Elk Lick Township 2,293
11 Stonycreek Township 2,237
12 Meyersdale Borough 2,184
13 Quemahoning Township 2,180
14 Berlin Borough 2,104
15 Lincoln Township 1,669
"16" "Milford Twp "Township" "1,561"
"17" "Friedens "CDP" "1,523"
"18" "Jefferson "Township" "1,375"
"19" "Boswell "Borough" "1,277"
"20" "Lower Turkeyfoot "Township" "1,232"
"21" "Davidsville "CDP" "1,130"
"22" "Central City "Borough" "1,124"
"23" "Paint "Borough" "1,023"
"24" "Addison "Township" "1,019"
"25" "Jerome "CDP" "1,017"
"26" "Black "Township" "980"
"27" "Rockwood "Borough" "890"
"28" "Middlecreek "Township" "797"
"29" "Confluence "Borough" "780"
"30" "Salisbury "Borough" "727"


Noteworthy Individuals

Related Topics

References

Community Events

External Links

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