Somerset County, Maine

Somerset County, Maine
Somerset County is a county in the state of Maine, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 50,477. Its county seat is Skowhegan.
History
Somerset County was established on March 1, 1809 from portions of Kennebec County and was named after Somerset County in England.
Government and politics
Somerset County is part of Maine's 2nd congressional district and represented by Democrat Jared Golden since 2019.
A 'swing' or 'pivot' county, despite voting for Barack Obama in the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections, Somerset County voted for Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020, most recently by a margin of victory of 23.37%.
Voter registration
|}
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (4.1%) is water. It is the third-largest county in Maine by area.
Mountains
Boundary Bald Mountain
Coburn Mountain
Mount Bigelow
Moxie Mountain
Sandy Bay Mountain
Bodies of water
Carrabassett River
Flagstaff Lake
Kennebec River
Moose River
Moxie Falls
Major highways
Maine State Route 6
Maine State Route 8
Maine State Route 11
Maine State Route 15
Maine State Route 16
Maine State Route 27
Maine State Route 100
Maine State Route 137
U.S. Route 201
Armstrong-Jackman Border Crossing
U.S. Route 201A
Adjacent counties and municipalities
Aroostook County – north
Penobscot County – east
Piscataquis County – east
Waldo County – southeast
Kennebec County – south
Franklin County – southwest
Le Granit Regional County Municipality, Quebec – west
Beauce-Sartigan Regional County Municipality, Quebec – west
Les Etchemins Regional County Municipality, Quebec – northwest
Montmagny Regional County Municipality, Quebec – northwest
Somerset County is one of few counties in the United States to border ten counties and county equivalents.
Demographics
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 50,888 people, 20,496 households, and 14,121 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 28,222 housing units at an average density of . 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 living in the county. The population density was . There were 30,569 housing units at an average density of . 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. 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.
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.
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.
Education
School administrative districts
The following school districts are located at least partly in Somerset County:
MSAD 4
MSAD 12
MSAD 13
MSAD 49
MSAD 53
MSAD 54
MSAD 59
MSAD 74
Secondary schools
Carrabec High School – North Anson
Faith Baptist Christian School – Skowhegan (serves multiple grades)
Forest Hills Consolidated School (K-12) – Jackman
Lawrence High School – Fairfield
Madison Area Memorial High School – Madison
Maine Academy of Natural Sciences – Hinckley
Maine Central Institute – Pittsfield
Skowhegan Area High School – Skowhegan
Upper Kennebec Valley Memorial High School – Bingham
Higher education
Kennebec Valley Community College
Miscellaneous
Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture
L.C. Bates Museum
Communities
Towns
Anson
Athens
Bingham
Cambridge
Canaan
Caratunk
Cornville
Detroit
Embden
Fairfield
Harmony
Hartland
Jackman
Madison
Mercer
Moose River
Moscow
New Portland
Norridgewock
Palmyra
Pittsfield
Ripley
St. Albans
Skowhegan
Smithfield
Solon
Starks
Census-designated places
Anson
Bingham
Fairfield
Hartland
Madison
Norridgewock
Pittsfield
Skowhegan
Plantations
Brighton Plantation
Dennistown
Highland Plantation
Pleasant Ridge Plantation
The Forks
West Forks
Unorganized territories
Central Somerset
Northeast Somerset
Northwest Somerset
Seboomook Lake
Villages
Flagstaff
North Anson
Rockwood
See also
Historical U.S. Census Totals for Somerset County, Maine
List of counties in Maine
List of Maine county name etymologies
List of towns in Somerset County
:Category:People from Somerset County, Maine
National Register of Historic Places listings in Somerset County, Maine
References
External links
County politics
Maine counties
1809 establishments in Massachusetts
Populated places established in 1809
19th-century establishments in Maine