View source for Somerset County, Maryland

{{short description|County in Maryland, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Somerset County
 | state                = Maryland
 | flag                 = Flag of Somerset County, Maryland.svg
 | seal                 = Seal of Somerset County, Maryland.png
 | founded date         = August 22
 | founded year         = 1666
 | motto                = "Semper Eadem" ({{langx|en|"Ever the Same"}})
 | seat wl              = Princess Anne
 | largest city wl      = Princess Anne
 | city type            = town
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 610.35
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 319.75
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 290.60
 | pop                  = 24620
 | census yr            = 2020
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | web                  = www.somersetmd.us
 | ex image             = Somerset County Courthouse, Princess Anne.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Somerset County Courthouse
 | district             = 1st
 | named for            = Mary, Lady Somerset
 | time zone            = Eastern
}}

'''Somerset County''' is the southernmost [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Maryland]]. As of the [[2020 United States census]], the population was 24,620,<ref name="QuickFacts">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts: Somerset County, Maryland |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/somersetcountymaryland/POP010220 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=September 10, 2021}}</ref> making it the second-least populous county in Maryland. The [[county seat]] is [[Princess Anne, Maryland|Princess Anne]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The county is part of the [[Eastern Shore of Maryland|Lower Eastern Shore]] region of the state.

The county was named for Mary, Lady Somerset, the wife of Sir John Somerset and daughter of [[Thomas Arundell, 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour]] (c. 1560–1639). She was also the sister of [[Anne Calvert, Baroness Baltimore]] (1615–1649), who later lent her name to [[Anne Arundel County, Maryland|Anne Arundel County]], which was erected in 1650 as the [[Province of Maryland]]'s third county.

Somerset County is located on the state's [[Maryland's Eastern Shore|Eastern Shore]]. It is included in the [[Salisbury, Maryland|Salisbury]], MD-[[Delaware|DE]] [[Salisbury metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

The [[University of Maryland Eastern Shore]] is located in Princess Anne.

==History==

===Initial settlements===
Somerset County was settled and established by English colonists in part due to a response to the [[Colony of Virginia|Province/Dominion of Virginia]] passing a law in 1659/1660 requiring Quakers in the colony to convert to [[Church of England|Anglicanism]] or leave the colony. A group of Virginia Quakers living in [[Accomack County, Virginia]], on the southern tip of what later became known as the [[Delmarva Peninsula]], petitioned [[Charles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore|Charles Calvert, third Lord Baltimore]] in 1661 to migrate to the Eastern Shore of Maryland to the territory under his governance. The governor considered this an opportunity to fortify the borders of his territory on the Delmarva Peninsula against the pressing encroachment of the Virginians.<ref>Torrence, Clayton, ''Old Somerset on the Eastern Shore of Maryland: A Study in Foundations and Founders'', Whittett & Shepperson, Richmond, VA (1935); Reprint 2005, Heritage Books, Westminster, MD, pp. 13–15</ref>

The Royal Charter that Lord Baltimore had received from King Charles I in 1632 had granted Maryland the land north of the entire length of the [[Potomac River]] up to the [[40th parallel north|40th parallel]]. Later surveys authorized by Baltimore on the [[Eastern Shore of Maryland|Eastern Shore]] of the [[Chesapeake Bay]] indicated that the southern boundary would continue across the peninsula at the mouth of the [[Pocomoke River]]. It was marked on the north shore by a rock outcropping labelled as "Watkins' Point". The Virginian Quakers settled just north of that point, on the southern bank of the Annemessex River in November 1662, A separate group of Anglican Virginian settlers were granted permission to make another settlement, further north along the [[Manokin River]].<ref>Torrence, pp. 25–26</ref>

In conjunction with the two new settlements, Lord Baltimore set up a three-man commission for the Eastern Shore territory, made up of two Marylanders and one Virginian. Its purpose was ostensibly to oversee the territory, found new settlements, and maintain a detailed recording of all land and civic transactions in the area. Lord Baltimore intended to use the commission to reinforce Maryland's claim to the area and to monitor any encroachments by Virginians.<ref>Torrence, pp. 15–16</ref>

===Invasion from Virginia===
In 1663, activists from Virginia persuaded the Virginia Assembly to declare that the Virginia-Maryland border was {{convert|30|mi}} north of the Pocomoke Sound, at the mouth of the [[Wicomico River (Maryland eastern shore)|Wicomico River]]. The Assembly tried to secure the allegiance to Virginia of all settlers south of the Wicomico River{{snd}} including the Annemessex and Manokin settlements.<ref>Torrence, pp. 27–28</ref> In early October 1663, a militia from Accomac County, Virginia led by a Colonel Edmund Scarborough arrived at the Annemessex settlement. They attempted to secure oaths of allegiance under threat of arrest and property confiscation. Scarborough was also on a personal mission to arrest [http://nabbhistory.salisbury.edu/resources/profiles/horsey.html Stephen Horsey] (born on [[Isle of Wight]], England and immigrated to Northampton, Virginia, 1643), the leader of the anti-tax movement and a vocal critic of the colonial government. He along with fellow Northampton County residents [http://nabbhistory.salisbury.edu/settlers/profiles/coulbourn.html William Coulborne], [http://www.esva.net/ghotes/dead_files/revell_desc.htm Randall Revell], and [http://nabbhistory.salisbury.edu/settlers/profiles/dixon.html Ambrose Dixon] signed the ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20150510034818/http://nabbhistory.salisbury.edu/resources/transcriptions/northampton1651.html Tricesimo die Marty]'' 1651.

Scarborough and his force of 40 mounted men reached Horsey's new residence on October 11, 1663, and presented the Commands of the Assembly of Virginia against him. Horsey was "arrested" by Scarborough, but Horsey refused to accompany the party back to Virginia, declaring that he was going to remain in Maryland and maintain allegiance to the King and Lord Baltimore. The settlers expelled Scarborough and his force from the settlement.<ref>Torrence, pp. 39–40</ref> The company moved on to the [[Manokin Settlement]], where they were received much more favorably.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e487MlEWyOUC&q=Annemessex+settlement&pg=PA432|title=Maryland, a Guide to the Old Line State|first=Best Books|last=on|date=June 15, 2018|publisher=Best Books on|isbn=9781623760199|access-date=June 15, 2018|via=Google Books}}</ref> Although the Anglican settlers there were willing to swear allegiance to the Virginia colonial government, they were not willing to take any action against Lord Baltimore's government. Scarborough returned to Virginia without success in taking over southern Somerset County for Virginia.<ref>Torrence, pp. 41–42</ref>

===Early county leaders===
The new settlers established a government for Somerset County, the eighth in the [[Province of Maryland]]; it was formed from the southern part of [[Kent County, Maryland|Kent County]]. This had been organized in 1642 as the Province's second county, encompassing the entire Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake. Horsey was selected to sit on the first county court, which administered the new county. [[Charles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore|Charles Calvert]] appointed Stephen Horsey on December 11, 1665, along with [http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=hsch1964&id=I74 Captain William Thorne], William Stevens, George Johnson, John Winder, James Jones and Henry Boston.<ref>Torrence, pp. 61–62</ref> Horsey sat as a regular member of the Somerset County Court through the winter and spring of 1666. He traveled across the Chesapeake Bay in 1665 with Captain Thorne to meet with Charles Calvert, who swore them in as county commissioners. Horsey established himself as a nonconformist and someone willing to stand up for his beliefs.<ref>Torrence, pp.300–301</ref>

[[File:Somerset County, MD 1669.jpg|thumb|Map of The Hundreds of Somerset County, Maryland as of 1669. Note the boundaries overlap with Sussex, Delaware and Accomac counties, Virginia.]]

===Boundary disputes with Delaware===
{{main|Penn–Calvert Boundary Dispute}}

County boundary disputes continued, including of the northern boundary. Baltimore believed his Eastern Shore territory extended to the top of the peninsula, where the Delaware River meets the Bay. In the 1680s, [[William Penn]], founder of Pennsylvania, claimed this territory as his own, based on a conflicting deed. Penn, Baltimore, and their heirs began a protracted legal battle to determine the boundaries. Their compromise was to split the Delmarva Peninsula; however, they disagreed as to whether the boundary line should be drawn at the location of Cape Henlopen or at Fenwick Island. There were few settlers in the frontier on either side to take issue. That boundary would finally be settled in 1763 when surveyors [[Charles Mason]] and [[Jeremiah Dixon]] incorporated the [[Transpeninsular Line]] (Mason–Dixon line) as the definitive boundary between Delaware and Maryland.

===Settlement growth===
The territory continued to attract new settlers, primarily from Virginia, and by 1666, the territory had met the requirements to become established as a county in the province with its own local government. On August 22, 1666, Lord Baltimore issued a proclamation establishing the new county, including the establishment of a complete civil and military organization. The proclamation established a sheriff and a military commander for the county, and five surveyors charged with laying out a highway to serve the county. In January 1667, the county administration laid out the five initial districts, designated as "[[hundred (county subdivision)|Hundreds]]", into which the county would be divided. Additional hundreds were added as additional knowledge of the area was surveyed.<ref>Torrence, pp. 67–70</ref>

===Religious communities===
Settlement of the county generally proceeded from the Chesapeake Bay eastward, and from old [[Accomack County, Virginia|Accomack County]] northward. The original settlers in the first two settlements were [[Quakers]] and [[Anglican]]s; and both groups continued to grow from ongoing immigration from the northern portions of the Virginia colony. In the 1670s, Scottish and Irish Presbyterians began to immigrate to the county, some from Virginia, some from the British Isles. In December 1680, a prominent member of the county and professed Anglican, William Stevens of Rehoboth settlement, sent a request to the Presbytery of Laggan in northern Ireland to consider sending a [[Presbyterian]] minister to Somerset county; and the first Presbyterian (Reformed) minister, Reverend Francis Makemie, arrived in early 1683, quickly followed by a growing list of additional Irish Presbyterian ministers and missionaries. The towns of Rehoboth and [[Snow Hill, MD|Snow Hill]] along the [[Pocomoke River]] in the eastern (seaside) portion of Somerset County became Presbyterian centers in the county. The work of these Presbyterian ministers and missionaries eventually led to the organization of the Presbytery in Philadelphia in 1706, the forerunner of [[Presbyterian Church in the United States of America|American Presbyterianism]].

In 1689, the "[[Glorious Revolution]]" of 1688 in [[Kingdom of England|England]] resulted in the exile of the Roman Catholic [[James II of England|King James II]]. After conquest by invasion, the Protestant Dutch rulers [[William III of England|William of Orange-Nassau and Mary of Orange]] (James II's Protestant daughter) later became King William III, (1650–1702) and Queen Mary II. The [[Protestant Revolution (Maryland)|"Protestant Revolution" of 1689]] in Maryland overthrew the Roman Catholic government, resulting in the reversion of Lord Baltimore's proprietary charter. The Province was converted into a Royal colony (with a later government controlled by the king and his ministers). The capital was moved from the Catholic stronghold at [[St. Mary's City, Maryland|St. Mary's City]] in southern Maryland to the more central, newly renamed [[Annapolis, Maryland|Annapolis]] on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay, opposite [[Kent Island]].

In 1692, the [[Maryland General Assembly|Provincial General Assembly]] established the [[Church of England]] as the "established church" of the Province. This put pressure on the Quakers and Presbyterians, who were excluded from political office for a period. Their numbers in the county began a slow decline until the [[American Revolution]].<ref>Scharf, J. Thomas, ''History of Maryland: From the Earliest Period to 1880'', Louis H. Everts, Philadelphia (1880), p. 68</ref>

For more than a century, the county and much of the colony were developed by planters, with the labor of enslaved Africans, for tobacco as a commodity crop. For many years they prospered, but tobacco exhausted the soil. By the early 19th century, after the [[American Revolutionary War]], some planters turned to mixed farming. The Eastern Shore remained primarily rural and steeped in slave society culture. Other parts of Maryland had an increasing proportion of [[free people of color]], and more than half the blacks in the state were free before the Civil War.

=== Connection to Napoleon ===
After the defeat of the [[First French Empire|French Empire]] at the hands of the [[Hundred Days|Seventh Coalition]] in July 1815, emperor [[Napoleon|Napoleon I]] sought to flee to the United States to escape imprisonment. According to local legends, Napoleon's brother, [[Jérôme Bonaparte|Jerome Bonaparte]], had previously married [[Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte|Elizabeth Patterson]], an American socialite from Baltimore, and through her the Bonapartes had connections to the American gentry, such as the King family in Beverly. According to the 1944 book 'Rivers of the Eastern Shore' by Hulbert Footner, [[Nicholas Girod]], former [[Mayor of New Orleans|Mayor]] of [[New Orleans]], attempted to rescue Napoleon from his exile in British Saint Helena in 1821, the plan being to hide Napoleon in [[Beverly (Princess Anne, Maryland)|Beverly House]] in [[Princess Anne, Maryland|Princess Anne]], Somerset County, before transporting him to [[Napoleon House]] in New Orleans once the hunt for him subsided.<ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://msuweb.montclair.edu/~lebelp/napoleonsomerset19780716r.pdf}}</ref> However, Napoleon died before the plot could go ahead.

===Native Americans===
As the English colonies expanded, they encroached on Native American land. The coastal areas were occupied primarily by [[Algonquian languages|Algonquian language]]-speaking tribes. The population of the latter decreased, due to disease, warfare and social disruption. Some of the tribes migrated west to the Ohio River Valley or joined with neighboring tribes to the north, such as the Lenape.

Some of the descendants of the tribes of Maryland remained. They intermarried with colonists, including white indentured servants, and African and African-American enslaved workers. Children of Native American mothers were generally absorbed and grew up in their culture, even if [[mixed-race]]. The Catholic Church recorded Native American families in southern Maryland. In the late 20th century, many groups of Native American began to reorganize, noting their community continuity. Several tribes have been recognized by the state.

===Subsequent counties===
After the Dutch Anglo war, the Dutch Republic lost their North American lands along the North & South Rivers (that is, along the Hudson & the Delaware). The Dutch colony (2 miles X 20 miles) along the Delaware Bay, became Durham County Maryland, With the county seat being Lewes, 1665 until 1669. In 1669 it became part of Somerset County until 1683 when it given to William Penn.

In 1742, [[Worcester County, Maryland|Worcester County]] to the east and the ocean, was organized as the thirteenth county of Maryland by separation from Somerset County. By 1867, portions of Somerset and Worcester counties were ceded to create a 22nd jurisdiction, [[Wicomico County, Maryland|Wicomico County]]. (The state in 1872 created a 23rd and final county in the far mountainous west, named [[Garrett County, Maryland|Garrett]].)

The county has a number of properties on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Somerset County, Maryland|National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2008a}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|610|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|320|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|291|sqmi}} (48%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_24.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 14, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913171515/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_24.txt|archive-date=September 13, 2014}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Wicomico County, Maryland|Wicomico County]] (north)
*[[Accomack County, Virginia]] (south)
*[[Dorchester County, Maryland|Dorchester County]] (northwest)
*[[Worcester County, Maryland|Worcester County]] (east)
*[[Saint Mary's County, Maryland|Saint Mary's County]] (west)

===State protected area===
The State of Maryland [[Deal Island Wildlife Management Area]], a [[protected area]], is in the northwest quadrant of the county. It incorporates not only Deal Island but the tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay. It is {{convert|13000|acres}}.<ref name="dnr.state.md.us">[http://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/publiclands/eastern/dealisland.asp Maryland DNR] Deal Island WMA</ref> It has over {{convert|9|mi}} of flat trails.

===Climate===
The county has a [[humid subtropical climate]] (''Cfa'') with all months significantly above freezing, seven to eight months greater than {{convert|50|°F|°C|abbr=on}},) and three months greater than {{convert|22|°C|°F|abbr=on}}.) The [[hardiness zones]] are 7b and 8a.
{{Weather box 
|location = Crisfield, Maryland
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 64
|Feb record high F = 69
|Mar record high F = 77
|Apr record high F = 87
|May record high F = 91
|Jun record high F = 92
|Jul record high F = 99
|Aug record high F = 98
|Sep record high F = 92
|Oct record high F = 90
|Nov record high F = 78
|Dec record high F = 71
|Jan high F = 44
|Feb high F = 47
|Mar high F = 55
|Apr high F = 65
|May high F = 74
|Jun high F = 82
|Jul high F = 87
|Aug high F = 85
|Sep high F = 79
|Oct high F = 69
|Nov high F = 58
|Dec high F = 49
|Jan low F = 30
|Feb low F = 31
|Mar low F = 38
|Apr low F = 48
|May low F = 57
|Jun low F = 66
|Jul low F = 71
|Aug low F = 71
|Sep low F = 64
|Oct low F = 53
|Nov low F = 43
|Dec low F = 34
|Jan record low F = −1
|Feb record low F = 3
|Mar record low F = 10
|Apr record low F = 27
|May record low F = 38
|Jun record low F = 46
|Jul record low F = 51
|Aug record low F = 50
|Sep record low F = 45
|Oct record low F = 30
|Nov record low F = 22
|Dec record low F = 7
|Jan precipitation inch = 3.25
|Feb precipitation inch = 3.00
|Mar precipitation inch = 4.29
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.81
|May precipitation inch = 3.12
|Jun precipitation inch = 2.83
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.14
|Aug precipitation inch = 4.15
|Sep precipitation inch = 2.76
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.78
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.80
|Dec precipitation inch = 2.51
|source 1 = Weather.com<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/vacationplanner/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/21817|title=Monthly Weather Forecast for Crisfield, Maryland (21817)|publisher=The Weather Channel|access-date=September 11, 2010}}</ref>
|date=September 2010
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1790= 15310
|1800= 17358
|1810= 17195
|1820= 19579
|1830= 20166
|1840= 19508
|1850= 22456
|1860= 24992
|1870= 18190
|1880= 21668
|1890= 24155
|1900= 25923
|1910= 26455
|1920= 24602
|1930= 23382
|1940= 20965
|1950= 20745
|1960= 19623
|1970= 18924
|1980= 19188
|1990= 23440
|2000= 24747
|2010= 26470
|2020= 24620
|estyear=2023
|estimate=24910
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 3, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000|publisher=[[US Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 24, 2022}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=September 14, 2014}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/md190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 14, 2014}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 14, 2014}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

===2020 census===
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Somerset County, Maryland – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Somerset County, Maryland|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US24039&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Somerset County, Maryland|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US24039&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|13,796
|style='background: #ffffe6; |12,886
|52.12%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |52.34%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|11,082
|style='background: #ffffe6; |9,449
|41.87%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |38.38%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|83
|style='background: #ffffe6; |80
|0.31%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.32%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|183
|style='background: #ffffe6; |250
|0.69%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.02%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|2
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1
|0.01%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|46
|style='background: #ffffe6; |69
|0.17%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.28%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|415
|style='background: #ffffe6; |810
|1.57%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.29%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|863
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,075
|3.26%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.37%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''26,470'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''24,620'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 26,470&nbsp;people, 8,788&nbsp;households, and 5,478&nbsp;families residing in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US24039
  |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data
  |access-date=January 22, 2016
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213024100/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US24039
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The population density was {{convert|82.8|PD/sqmi}}. There were 11,130 housing units at an average density of {{convert|34.8|/sqmi}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US24039
  |access-date=January 22, 2016
  |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213191715/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US24039
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 53.5% white, 42.3% black or African American, 0.7% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 1.4% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.3% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 13.3% were [[Germans|German]], 11.5% were [[English people|English]], 9.2% were [[Americans|American]], and 8.3% were [[Irish people|Irish]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US24039
  |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=January 22, 2016
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213012643/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US24039
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

Of the 8,788&nbsp;households, 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.1% were married couples living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.7% were non-families, and 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.91. The median age was 36.5 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $42,443 and the median income for a family was $49,759. Males had a median income of $39,307 versus $33,067 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,919. About 12.7% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 27.0% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US24039
  |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=January 22, 2016
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213020325/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US24039
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 24,747 people, 8,361 households, and 5,444 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|76|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 10,055 housing units at an average density of {{convert|31|/mi2|/km2|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 56.4% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 41.1% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.4% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.5% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.5% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.2% from two or more races. 1.3% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. The largest ancestry groups in the county are [[African American|Black or African American]] (41%), [[English American]] (16%), [[German American|German]] (8%), [[Irish American|Irish]] (8%) and [[Italian American|Italian]] (1%) ancestry.

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

==Politics and government==

=== Presidential elections ===
In presidential elections, Somerset is a swing county that typically votes [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]. In 2012, it was one of only a handful of [[Southern United States|Southern counties]] to switch from the Republican [[John McCain|McCain]] to the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] [[Barack Obama|Obama]],<ref>Sullivan, Robert David; [http://www.americamagazine.org/content/unconventional-wisdom/how-red-and-blue-map-evolved-over-past-century ‘How the Red and Blue Map Evolved Over the Past Century’]; ''America Magazine'' in ''The National Catholic Review''; June 29, 2016</ref> though in 2016 it swung strongly in favor of [[Donald Trump]]. In 2020, Somerset shifted even more toward Trump, the only county in Maryland to trend this way, in spite of Maryland as a whole voting more Democratic; [[Joe Biden|Biden]] won [[Talbot County, Maryland|Talbot]] and [[Frederick County, Maryland|Frederick]] counties, two counties that were formerly solidly Republican in presidential elections. It has the longest streak of voting for every incumbent president seeking re-election; it has done so since at least [[1980 United States presidential election|1980]]. If Gerald Ford, who was never elected president, is not counted as an incumbent, this streak can be traced back to [[1948 United States presidential election|1948]] (Trump in [[2020 United States presidential election|2020]], [[Barack Obama|Obama]] in [[2012 United States presidential election|2012]], [[George W. Bush|Bush]] in [[2004 United States presidential election|2004]], [[Bill Clinton|Clinton]] in [[1996 United States presidential election|1996]], [[George H. W. Bush|H.W. Bush]] in [[1992 United States presidential election|1992]], [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] in [[1984 United States presidential election|1984]], [[Jimmy Carter|Carter]] in 1980, [[Richard Nixon|Nixon]] in [[1972 United States presidential election|1972]], [[Lyndon B. Johnson|Johnson]] in [[1964 United States presidential election|1964]], and [[Dwight D. Eisenhower|Eisenhower]] in [[1956 United States presidential election|1956]]).

{{PresHead|place=Somerset County, Maryland|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=June 12, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|5,805|4,054|278|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|5,739|4,241|167|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|5,341|4,196|363|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|5,042|5,240|117|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|5,037|4,779|108|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|4,884|4,034|76|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|3,609|3,785|210|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|2,919|3,557|693|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|3,450|3,210|1,276|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|4,222|2,911|32|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|4,508|2,439|23|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|3,312|3,342|283|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|3,254|3,472|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|4,342|2,036|71|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|2,829|2,319|1,899|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|3,155|4,527|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|4,030|3,948|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|4,770|3,031|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|4,113|3,951|39|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|3,129|3,112|58|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|3,790|3,125|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|3,954|4,352|84|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|4,770|4,116|72|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|3,675|4,811|59|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|5,071|2,277|47|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|3,230|2,903|177|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|3,658|2,634|62|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|2,364|1,885|154|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,528|1,617|408|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,912|1,627|130|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,874|1,580|183|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|2,855|2,017|349|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|2,646|2,084|479|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|1,819|1,638|534|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1888|Republican|2,072|1,625|374|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1884|Republican|2,022|1,734|49|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1880|Republican|1,883|1,710|4|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1876|Democratic|1,786|1,914|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1872|Republican|1,615|1,122|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1868|Democratic|421|989|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1864|Democratic|644|2,110|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1860|Constitutional Union|2|89|2,875|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1856|Know Nothing|1|1,321|1,593|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1852|Whig|1,443|1,115|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1848|Whig|1,413|1,005|1|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1844|Whig|1,449|902|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1840|Whig|1,516|844|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1836|Whig|1,030|523|0|Maryland}}
|}

===Voter registration===
{| class=wikitable
! colspan = 6 | Voter registration and party enrollment as of March 2024<ref name="MDBOE">{{cite web |title=Maryland Board of Elections Voter Registration Activity Report March 2024 |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/pdf/vrar/2024_03.pdf |website=Maryland Board of Elections |access-date=April 9, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align = center | {{formatnum: 6136}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |6136 |14,327 |2}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| align = center | {{formatnum: 5440}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |5440 |14,327 |2}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| Unaffiliated
| align = center | {{formatnum: 2518}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |2518 |14,327 |2}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Libertarian Party (United States)}}
| [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
| align = center | {{formatnum: 66}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |66 |14,327 |2}}
|-
| {{party color cell|None}}
| [[Third party (U.S. politics)|Other parties]]
| align = center | {{formatnum: 167}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |167 |14,327 |2}}
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align = center | {{formatnum: 14,327}}
! align = center | {{Percentage |100}}
|}

=== County commissioners ===
Somerset County is governed by county commissioners, the traditional form of county government in Maryland. Somerset County Commissioners are elected to four-year terms; all current commissioners' terms will expire in 2022.
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" |Somerset County Commissioners<ref>{{Cite web|title=County Commissioners|url=https://www.somersetmd.us/government/county_commissioners/county_commissioners.php|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210408192027/https://www.somersetmd.us/government/county_commissioners/county_commissioners.php|archive-date=April 8, 2021|access-date=April 8, 2021|website=Somerset County Maryland}}</ref>
|-
!District||Name
!Position||Party
|-
| 4 ||{{party shading/Republican}}|Charles Laird
|President||Republican
|-
| 5 ||{{party shading/Democratic}}|Randy Laird
|Vice-President||Democrat
|-
| 3 ||{{party shading/Republican}}|Eldon Willing
|Commissioner||Republican
|-
| 2 ||{{party shading/Republican}}|Darryl Webster
|Commissioner||Republican
|-
|1||{{party shading/Democratic}}|Craig N. Mathies Sr.
|Commissioner||Democrat
|-
|n.a.
|Ralph D. Taylor
|County Administrator
|n.a.
|}

===Sheriffs===
Stephen Horsey was appointed by the [[Governor of Maryland]] as the first [[Sheriffs in the United States|sheriff]] of Somerset County on August 22, 1666,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Somerset County, Maryland - Sheriffs|url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/36loc/so/jud/sheriffs/former/html/00list.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210408194203/https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/36loc/so/jud/sheriffs/former/html/00list.html|archive-date=April 8, 2021|access-date=April 8, 2021|website=Maryland State Archives}}</ref> and the Somerset County Sheriff's Office celebrated its 300th anniversary in 2011. The current sheriff is Ronald Howard (Republican), who has been serving as sheriff since 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sheriff's Office|url=https://www.somersetmd.us/departments/departments_-_n_-_z/sheriff_s_office.php|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117175115/https://www.somersetmd.us/departments/departments_-_n_-_z/sheriff_s_office.php|archive-date=January 17, 2021|access-date=April 8, 2021|website=Somerset County Maryland}}</ref>

==Communities==

===City===
*[[Crisfield, Maryland|Crisfield]]

===Town===
*[[Princess Anne, Maryland|Princess Anne]] (county seat)

===Census-designated places===
The Census Bureau recognizes the following [[census-designated place]]s (CDPs) in the county:
{{div col}}
*[[Chance, Maryland|Chance]]
*[[Dames Quarter, Maryland|Dames Quarter]]
*[[Deal Island, Maryland|Deal Island]]
*[[Eden, Maryland|Eden]]
*[[Fairmount, Maryland|Fairmount]]
*[[Frenchtown-Rumbly, Maryland|Frenchtown-Rumbly]]
*[[Mount Vernon, Maryland|Mount Vernon]], historically known in parts as Hog's Neck, Cow Island or Jason
*[[Smith Island, Maryland|Smith Island]]
*[[West Pocomoke, Maryland|West Pocomoke]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Ewell, Maryland|Ewell]]
*[[Kingston, Maryland|Kingston]]
*[[Manokin, Maryland|Manokin]]
*[[Marion Station, Maryland|Marion Station]]
*[[Oriole, Maryland|Oriole]]
*[[Rehobeth, Maryland|Rehobeth]]
*[[Rhodes Point, Maryland|Rhodes Point]]
*[[Shelltown, Maryland|Shelltown]]
*[[Tylerton, Maryland|Tylerton]]
*[[Upper Fairmount, Maryland|Upper Fairmount]]
*[[Upper Falls, Somerset County, Maryland|Upper Falls]]
*[[Wenona, Maryland|Wenona]]
*[[Westover, Maryland|Westover]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Somerset County, Maryland]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050525172257/http://www.some.lib.md.us/ Somerset County Library]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20161228211107/http://www.yourcommunitylink.org/ Your Community Link: A Database of Community, Government, and Non-Profit organizations on the Lower Shore]
*{{osmrelation|934891}}

{{coord|38.08|-75.86|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MD_source:UScensus1990}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Somerset County, Maryland
|North     = [[Wicomico County, Maryland|Wicomico County]]
|Northeast = 
|East      = [[Worcester County, Maryland|Worcester County]]
|Southeast = 
|South     = [[Accomack County, Virginia]]
|Southwest = 
|West      = [[Chesapeake Bay]]
|Northwest = 
}} 
{{Somerset County, Maryland}}
{{Maryland}}
{{Salisbury metropolitan area}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Somerset County, Maryland| ]]
[[Category:Maryland counties]]
[[Category:1666 establishments in Maryland]]
[[Category:Salisbury metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1666]]
[[Category:Maryland counties on the Chesapeake Bay]]