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Somerset County, Maryland

 

 
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Somerset County, Maryland
 
 
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Somerset County is the southernmost county
County

A county is a land area of Local government government within a larger state. A county may have city and towns within its area....
 in the U.S. state
U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 state of the United States that share sovereignty with the federal government of the United States . Because of this shared sovereignty, an United States is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of Domicile ....
 of Maryland
Maryland

Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic States of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia and the Washington, D.C. to the south and west, Pennsylvania to the north, and Delaware to the east....
, located on the state's Eastern Shore. It was named for Mary, Lady Somerset, the wife of Sir John Somerset and daughter of Thomas Arundell, 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour
Thomas Arundell, 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour

Thomas Arundell, 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour was an England nobleman. He was the second son of Sir Mathew Arundell of Wardour Castle in Wiltshire, a member of the ancient family of Arundells in Cornwall, and of Margaret Willoughby, daughter of Sir Henry Willoughby....
. She was the sister of Anne Calvert, Baroness Baltimore, née Anne Arundell, the wife of Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore
Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore

Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore , usually called Cecil, was an England coloniser who was the first proprietor of the Province of Maryland....
, who lent her name to Anne Arundel County
Anne Arundel County, Maryland

Anne Arundel County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is named for Anne Arundell , a member of the ancient family of Arundells in Cornwall, England and the wife of C?cilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore....
. The county seat
County seat

A county seat or parish seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there....
 is Princess Anne
Princess Anne, Maryland

Princess Anne is a town in Somerset County, Maryland, Maryland, United States. The population was 2,313 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Somerset County, Maryland....
. As of 2000, the population was 24,747. It is included in the Salisbury, Maryland
Salisbury, Maryland

Salisbury is a city in southeastern Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Wicomico County, Maryland and the largest city in Eastern Shore of Maryland....
, Metropolitan Statistical Area
Salisbury metropolitan area

The Salisbury Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties on Maryland's Eastern Shore of Maryland, anchored by the city of Salisbury, Maryland....
.

rset County was created in 1666 by an Order in Council. In 1742 Worcester County
Worcester County, Maryland

Worcester County is the easternmost county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. The county contains the entire length of the state's Atlantic coast line....
 was created from Somerset County.






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Somerset County is the southernmost county
County

A county is a land area of Local government government within a larger state. A county may have city and towns within its area....
 in the U.S. state
U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 state of the United States that share sovereignty with the federal government of the United States . Because of this shared sovereignty, an United States is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of Domicile ....
 of Maryland
Maryland

Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic States of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia and the Washington, D.C. to the south and west, Pennsylvania to the north, and Delaware to the east....
, located on the state's Eastern Shore. It was named for Mary, Lady Somerset, the wife of Sir John Somerset and daughter of Thomas Arundell, 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour
Thomas Arundell, 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour

Thomas Arundell, 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour was an England nobleman. He was the second son of Sir Mathew Arundell of Wardour Castle in Wiltshire, a member of the ancient family of Arundells in Cornwall, and of Margaret Willoughby, daughter of Sir Henry Willoughby....
. She was the sister of Anne Calvert, Baroness Baltimore, née Anne Arundell, the wife of Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore
Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore

Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore , usually called Cecil, was an England coloniser who was the first proprietor of the Province of Maryland....
, who lent her name to Anne Arundel County
Anne Arundel County, Maryland

Anne Arundel County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is named for Anne Arundell , a member of the ancient family of Arundells in Cornwall, England and the wife of C?cilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore....
. The county seat
County seat

A county seat or parish seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there....
 is Princess Anne
Princess Anne, Maryland

Princess Anne is a town in Somerset County, Maryland, Maryland, United States. The population was 2,313 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Somerset County, Maryland....
. As of 2000, the population was 24,747. It is included in the Salisbury, Maryland
Salisbury, Maryland

Salisbury is a city in southeastern Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Wicomico County, Maryland and the largest city in Eastern Shore of Maryland....
, Metropolitan Statistical Area
Salisbury metropolitan area

The Salisbury Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties on Maryland's Eastern Shore of Maryland, anchored by the city of Salisbury, Maryland....
.

History

Somerset County was created in 1666 by an Order in Council. In 1742 Worcester County
Worcester County, Maryland

Worcester County is the easternmost county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. The county contains the entire length of the state's Atlantic coast line....
 was created from Somerset County. In 1867 portions of Somerset and Worcester Counties were taken to create Wicomico County
Wicomico County, Maryland

Wicomico County is located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Maryland. It was named for the Wicomico River , which in turn derives from Native American words wicko mekee, meaning "a place where houses are built," apparently referring to an Indian town on the banks....
.

Charlotte's Web
Charlotte's Web

Charlotte's Web is an award-winning children's literature by acclaimed American author E. B. White. First published in 1952, it tells the story of a pig named Wilbur and his friendship with a barn spider named Charlotte, in which Charlotte writes messages praising Wilbur in her web in order to persuade the farmer not to slaughter him....
 by E. B. White takes place in Somerset County.

The county has a number of properties on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places listings in Somerset County, Maryland

File:Map of Maryland highlighting Somerset County.svgThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Somerset County, Maryland....
.

Law and government

Somerset County is governed by county commissioners, the traditional form of county government in Maryland. Commissioners are elected to four-year terms; all commissioners' terms will expire in 2010.

Current Somerset county commissioners:

Boston is the President of the County Commission; Ring is the Vice President.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau

The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data....
, the county has a total area of 611 square mile
Square mile

The square mile is an Imperial system and US customary system of measure for an area equal to the area of a square of one mile. It should not be confused with miles square, which refers to the number of miles on each side squared....
s (1,582 km²), of which, 327 square miles (847 km²) of it is land and 284 square miles (736 km²) of it (46.4%) is water.

Adjacent counties

  • Accomack County, Virginia
    Accomack County, Virginia

    Accomack County, formerley Accomac Shire, is a county located in the Virginia. As of the United States Census, 2000, the population was 38,305....
     (south)
  • Wicomico County
    Wicomico County, Maryland

    Wicomico County is located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Maryland. It was named for the Wicomico River , which in turn derives from Native American words wicko mekee, meaning "a place where houses are built," apparently referring to an Indian town on the banks....
     (north)
  • Worcester County
    Worcester County, Maryland

    Worcester County is the easternmost county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. The county contains the entire length of the state's Atlantic coast line....
     (east)


National protected area
Protected area

Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their environmental, cultural or similar value. The term protected area includes marine protected area, which refers to protected areas whose boundaries include some area of ocean....

  • Martin National Wildlife Refuge


Demographics

As of the census
Census

A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population....
 of 2000, there were 24,747 people, 8,361 households, and 5,444 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density

Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans....
 was 76 people per square mile (29/km²). There were 10,055 housing units at an average density of 31 per square mile (12/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 56.4% White
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 41.1% Black
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
 or African American
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 0.4% Native American
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 0.5% Asian
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 0% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 0.5% from other races
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, and 1.2% from two or more races. 1.3% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
 or Latino
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
 of any race. 17.4% were of American
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
, 15.4% English
English people

The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England who speak English language in England. The English identity as a people is of early medieval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn....
, 7.3% German and 5.4% Irish
Irish people

The Irish people are a Western European ethnic group who originate in Ireland, in north western Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolgs, Tuatha D? Danann and the Milesians ?the last group supposedly representing the "pure" Gaelic a...
 ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 8,361 households out of which 38.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.1% were married couples
Marriage

Marriage is a social, spirituality, or law union of individuals. This union may also be called matrimony, while the ceremony that marks its beginning is usually called a wedding and the married status created is sometimes called wedlock....
 living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 15.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county the population was spread out with 18.5% under the age of 18, 15.7% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.5 years. For every 100 females there were 114.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 119.1 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,903, and the median income for a family was $37,643. Males had a median income of $27,496 versus $23,035 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income

Per capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone....
 for the county was $15,965. About 15.0% of families and 20.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.4% of those under age 18 and 19.1% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

This county contains the following incorporated municipalities:
  • 1 City
    City

    A city is an urban area with a high population density and a particular administrative, legal, or historical status.Large industrialized cities generally have advanced systems for sanitation, utilities, land usage, house, and transportation and more....
    :
    1. Crisfield
      Crisfield, Maryland

      Crisfield is a city in Somerset County, Maryland, Maryland, United States. The population was 2,723 at the United States Census 2000. It is included in the Salisbury, Maryland Salisbury metropolitan area....
       (incorporated 1872)
  • 1 Town
    Town

    A town is a type of human settlement ranging from a few to several thousand inhabitants, although it may be applied loosely even to huge metropolitan areas; the precise meaning varies between countries and is not always a matter of legal definition....
    :
    1. Princess Anne
      Princess Anne, Maryland

      Princess Anne is a town in Somerset County, Maryland, Maryland, United States. The population was 2,313 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Somerset County, Maryland....
       (incorporated 1733)


Unincorporated areas are also considered as towns by many people and listed in many collections of towns, but they lack local government. Various organizations, such as the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau

The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data....
, the United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service

The United States Postal Service is an Independent agencies of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States....
, and local chambers of commerce, define the communities they wish to recognize differently, and since they are not incorporated, their boundaries have no official status outside the organizations in question. The Census Bureau recognizes the following census-designated place
Census-designated place

A census-designated place is a type of Place identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as city, towns and villages....
s in the county:

  1. Chance
    Chance, Maryland

    Chance is a census-designated place in Somerset County, Maryland, Maryland, United States. The population was 377 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Salisbury, Maryland Salisbury metropolitan area....
  2. Dames Quarter
    Dames Quarter, Maryland

    Dames Quarter is a census-designated place in Somerset County, Maryland, Maryland, United States. The population was 188 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Salisbury, Maryland Salisbury metropolitan area....
  3. Deal Island
    Deal Island, Maryland

    Deal Island is a census-designated place in Somerset County, Maryland, Maryland, United States. The population was 578 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Salisbury, Maryland Salisbury metropolitan area....
  4. Eden
    Eden, Maryland

    Eden is a census-designated place in Somerset County, Maryland, Maryland, United States. The population was 793 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Salisbury, Maryland Salisbury metropolitan area....
  5. Fairmount
    Fairmount, Maryland

    Fairmount is a census-designated place in Somerset County, Maryland, Maryland, United States. The population was 537 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Salisbury, Maryland Salisbury metropolitan area....
  6. Frenchtown-Rumbly
    Frenchtown-Rumbly, Maryland

    Frenchtown-Rumbly is a census-designated place in Somerset County, Maryland, Maryland, United States. The population was 96 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Salisbury, Maryland Salisbury metropolitan area....
     (a combination of the communities of Frenchtown and Rumbly recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
  7. Mount Vernon
    Mount Vernon, Maryland

    Mount Vernon is a census-designated place in Somerset County, Maryland, Maryland, United States. The population was 761 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Salisbury, Maryland Salisbury metropolitan area....
  8. Smith Island
    Smith Island, Maryland

    Smith Island is a census-designated place in Somerset County, Maryland, Maryland, United States. It is included in the Salisbury, Maryland Salisbury metropolitan area....
  9. West Pocomoke
    West Pocomoke, Maryland

    West Pocomoke is a census-designated place in Somerset County, Maryland, Maryland, United States. The population was 498 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Salisbury, Maryland Salisbury metropolitan area....


Other unincorporated places not listed as CDP's include:

  1. Ewell
    Ewell, Maryland

    Ewell is an unincorporated area located on Smith Island, Maryland in Somerset County, Maryland, Maryland, United States.References...
  2. Kingston
    Kingston, Maryland

    Kingston is an unincorporated area in Somerset County, Maryland, Maryland, United States.References...
  3. Manokin
    Manokin, Maryland

    Manokin is an unincorporated area in Somerset County, Maryland, Maryland, United States.References...
  4. Marion Station
    Marion Station, Maryland

    Marion Station, or Marion, is an unincorporated area in Somerset County, Maryland, Maryland, United States. It is located at the northern intersection of Maryland Route 413 and Maryland Route 667....
  5. Oriole
    Oriole, Maryland

    Oriole is an unincorporated area in Somerset County, Maryland, Maryland, United States.References...
  6. Rehobeth
    Rehobeth, Maryland

    Rehobeth is an unincorporated area in Somerset County, Maryland, Maryland, United States.References...
  7. Rhodes Point
    Rhodes Point, Maryland

    Rhodes Point is an unincorporated area located on Smith Island, Maryland in Somerset County, Maryland, Maryland, United States.References...
  8. Shelltown
    Shelltown, Maryland

    Shelltown is an unincorporated area in Somerset County, Maryland, Maryland, United States. It is near the mouth of the Pocomoke River and takes its name from the abundant number of oysters and crabs in the area....
  9. Tylerton
    Tylerton, Maryland

    Tylerton is an unincorporated area located on Smith Island, Maryland in Somerset County, Maryland, Maryland, United States.References...
  10. Upper Fairmount
    Upper Fairmount, Maryland

    Upper Fairmount is an unincorporated area in Somerset County, Maryland, Maryland, United States.References...
  11. Upper Falls
  12. Wenona
    Wenona, Maryland

    Wenona is an unincorporated area located on Deal Island, Maryland in Somerset County, Maryland, Maryland, United States.References...
  13. Westover
    Westover, Maryland

    Westover is an unincorporated area in Somerset County, Maryland, Maryland, United States.References...


Colleges and universities

  • University of Maryland Eastern Shore
    University of Maryland Eastern Shore

    University of Maryland Eastern Shore, located on 776 acres in Princess Anne, Maryland, is part of the University System of Maryland.UMES is a historically black college, as well as an Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act....


External links