Somerset, New York
Encyclopedia
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in Niagara County
Niagara County, New York
Niagara County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 216,469. The county seat is Lockport. The county name is from the Iroquois word Onguiaahra; meaning the strait or thunder of waters. It is the location of Niagara Falls and Fort Niagara, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 2,662 at the 2010 census. The town is believed to be named after Somerset
Somerset, New Jersey
Somerset is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located at the easternmost section within Franklin Township, in Somerset County, New Jersey. At the 2000 United States Census, the CDP population was 23,040...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, the source of some early settlers.
The Town of Somerset is in the northeast corner of the county and is northeast of the City of Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 50,193, down from the 55,593 recorded in the 2000 census. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario , both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they...
.
History
The Town of Somerset was established in 1823 from a section of the Town of HartlandHartland, New York
Hartland is a town in Niagara County, New York, USA.The population was 4,117 at the 2010 census.The town is named after Hartland, Vermont, the homeplace of some early settlers.The Town of Hartland is on the eastern border of the county.- History :...
. Part of Somerset was used later to form the Town of Newfane
Newfane, New York
Newfane is a town in Niagara County, New York, USA. The population was 9,666 at the 2010 census. The name was suggested by an early settler.The Town of Newfane is in the north-central part of the county, north of the City of Lockport.- History :...
.
The Thirty Mile Point Light
Thirty Mile Point Light
The Thirty Mile Point Light is currently part of the Golden Hill State Park, a New York State Park.. The lighthouse is open to the public. It gets its name because it is the point 30 miles east of the Niagara River. Lake Ontario can bee seen from the top...
is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 town has a total area of 37.2 square miles (96.3 km²), of which, 37.2 square miles (96.3 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.19%) is water.
Somerset borders Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
on the north and Orleans County
Orleans County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 44,171 people, 15,363 households, and 10,846 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile . There were 17,347 housing units at an average density of 44 per square mile...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
on the east.
Adjacent Cities & Towns
- Town of HartlandHartland, New YorkHartland is a town in Niagara County, New York, USA.The population was 4,117 at the 2010 census.The town is named after Hartland, Vermont, the homeplace of some early settlers.The Town of Hartland is on the eastern border of the county.- History :...
- south - Town of NewfaneNewfane, New YorkNewfane is a town in Niagara County, New York, USA. The population was 9,666 at the 2010 census. The name was suggested by an early settler.The Town of Newfane is in the north-central part of the county, north of the City of Lockport.- History :...
- west - Orleans CountyOrleans County, New YorkAs of the census of 2000, there were 44,171 people, 15,363 households, and 10,846 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile . There were 17,347 housing units at an average density of 44 per square mile...
, Town of RidgewayRidgeway, New YorkRidgeway, New York is a town in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 6,886 at the 2000 census. The name of the town is derived from "Ridge Road," an important highway in the 19th century....
- east - Lake OntarioLake OntarioLake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
- north
Major Highways in the Town of Somerset
New York State Route 18New York State Route 18New York State Route 18 is an east–west state highway in western New York in the United States. It runs parallel to the south shore of Lake Ontario for most of its length between Niagara County and Monroe County...
(Lake Rd.), East-West Highway across the north part of town paralleling Lake Ontario from a distance.
New York State Route 148New York State Route 148New York State Route 148 is a state highway in Niagara County, New York, United States. It runs north–south between a junction with NY 104 in the town of Hartland and NY 18 north of the village of Barker. The entire length of NY 148 is maintained by Niagara County as County...
(Quaker Rd.), North-South roadway through the town from the Hartland town line to its northern terminus at Lake Rd. (NY 18) just north of Barker.
New York State Route 269New York State Route 269New York State Route 269 is a north–south state highway in located in western New York in the United States. The highway runs for along the Niagara–Orleans county line and is named County Line Road. The southern terminus of NY 269 is at an intersection with NY 104 in the hamlet of...
(County Line Rd.), North-South roadway that makes up the eastern town line, as well as the Niagara-Orleans County Line. This roadway runs from its northern end at Lake Rd. (NY 18) south to the Hartland town line.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
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. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,865 people, 1,000 households, and 786 families residing in the town. 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 77.1 people per square mile (29.8/km²). There were 1,132 housing units at an average density of 30.5 per square mile (11.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.07% White, 0.73% African American, 0.66% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.45% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.29% of the population.
There were 1,000 households out of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.3% were non-families. 17.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 106.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $44,216, and the median income for a family was $49,583. Males had a median income of $39,583 versus $20,508 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $17,792. About 8.2% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.4% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Somerset
- BarkerBarker, Niagara County, New YorkBarker is a village in Niagara County, New York, USA. The population was 577 at the 2000 census. The mail ZIP code is 14012. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area....
– The Village of Barker, centrally located in the town. - County Line – A hamletHamlet (place)A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
on the east town line by Routes NY-18 and NY-269. The community is shared with Orleans CountyOrleans County, New YorkAs of the census of 2000, there were 44,171 people, 15,363 households, and 10,846 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile . There were 17,347 housing units at an average density of 44 per square mile...
, New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. - Golden Hill State ParkGolden Hill State ParkGolden Hill State Park is located in the northeast corner of the Town of Somerset in Niagara County, New York, USA. The park is on the south shore of Lake Ontario, north of Lower Lake Road near Thirty Mile Point Light....
– A state park on the shore of Lake Ontario in the northeast part of the town. - Kintigh Generating StationKintigh Generating StationThe Kintigh Generating Station, also known as AES Somerset LLC is a 675-megawatt coal-fired power plant located in Somerset, New York, United States. The plant is owned by AES Corporation. Its only currently operating unit was launched into service in 1984. Coal is provided to the plant via the...
– A power generating station on Lake Ontario northwest of Barker. - MillersMillers, New YorkMillers, New York is an unincorporated hamlet in the town of Somerset in Niagara County, New York, USA.-References:...
– A hamlet by the eastern town line at NY-269, shared with Orleans County. - SomersetSomerset (hamlet), New YorkSomerset, New York is an unincorporated hamlet in the town of Somerset in Niagara County, New York, USA.-References:...
– A hamlet north of Barker on Lake Road (NY-18) and Quaker Road (NY-148). - South SomersetSouth Somerset, New YorkSouth Somerset, New York is an unincorporated hamlet in the town of Somerset in Niagara County, New York, USA.-References:...
– A hamlet at Somerset Road and Town Line Road. - West SomersetWest Somerset, New YorkWest Somerset, New York is an unincorporated hamlet in the town of Somerset in Niagara County, New York, USA.-References:...
– A hamlet west of Barker on West Somerset Road at Hosmer Road.
Adjacent towns and areas
The northern border is Lake Ontario with CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
on the opposite shore. The eastern border is the Town of Yates
Yates, New York
Yates is a town in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 2,510 at the 2000 census. The town in named after Joseph C. Yates, a governor of New York.The Town of Yates is in the northwest part of the county...
in Orleans County. The south border is the Town of Hartland
Hartland, New York
Hartland is a town in Niagara County, New York, USA.The population was 4,117 at the 2010 census.The town is named after Hartland, Vermont, the homeplace of some early settlers.The Town of Hartland is on the eastern border of the county.- History :...
, and the west border is the Town of Newfane
Newfane, New York
Newfane is a town in Niagara County, New York, USA. The population was 9,666 at the 2010 census. The name was suggested by an early settler.The Town of Newfane is in the north-central part of the county, north of the City of Lockport.- History :...
.