Somerset, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Somerset is a village in St. Croix County
, Wisconsin
, along the Apple River
. The population was 1,556 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Somerset
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.8 km²), all land.
of 2000, there were 1,556 people, 635 households, and 391 families residing in the village. The population density
was 844.1 people per square mile (326.5/km²). There were 659 housing units at an average density of 357.5 per square mile (138.3/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 96.85% White, 0.77% Black or African American
, 0.45% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.45% from other races
, and 1.41% from two or more races. 1.16% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 635 households out of which 39.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.8% were married couples
living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the village the population was spread out with 30.1% under the age of 18, 13.4% from 18 to 24, 36.8% from 25 to 44, 12.9% from 45 to 64, and 6.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $45,194, and the median income for a family was $47,426. Males had a median income of $36,827 versus $25,605 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $19,170. About 6.3% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 29.0% of those age 65 or over.
St. Croix County, Wisconsin
St. Croix County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2010, the population was 84,345. Its county seat is Hudson. St. Croix County is part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Statistical Area . It is the fastest growing county in Wisconsin.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, along the Apple River
Apple River (Wisconsin)
The Apple River is a tributary of the St. Croix River, about 70 mi long, in northwestern Wisconsin in the United States. Via the St. Croix, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River....
. The population was 1,556 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Somerset
Somerset (town), Wisconsin
Somerset is a town in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,644 at the 2000 census. The Village of Somerset is located within the town.-Geography:...
.
Geography
Somerset is located at 45°7′30"N 92°40′30"W (45.125189, -92.6752).According to 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 village has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.8 km²), all land.
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 1,556 people, 635 households, and 391 families residing in the village. 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 844.1 people per square mile (326.5/km²). There were 659 housing units at an average density of 357.5 per square mile (138.3/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 96.85% White, 0.77% Black or African American
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...
, 0.45% Native American, 0.06% 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 1.41% from two or more races. 1.16% of the population were Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
or Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
of any race.
There were 635 households out of which 39.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.8% 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, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the village the population was spread out with 30.1% under the age of 18, 13.4% from 18 to 24, 36.8% from 25 to 44, 12.9% from 45 to 64, and 6.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $45,194, and the median income for a family was $47,426. Males had a median income of $36,827 versus $25,605 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 village was $19,170. About 6.3% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 29.0% of those age 65 or over.
History
Somerset has a lengthy and colorful history. Before the turn of the century Somerset was bordered on the south by cranberry bogs. The terrain naturally lent itself to the production of cranberries as a result of the hilliness of the area, which is dotted with ponds, sloughs, swamps and bogs. These wet areas became of greater interest to the local population during Prohibition. These same low spots where water collected became ideal for collecting water for the production of moonshine (homemade alcoholic beverages). Indeed Somerset already had a history of being a rough logging town, and it was only a natural progression to become the supplier of bootlegged alcohol to the twin cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. After Prohibition ended, the citizens of Somerset returned to the more humble activities of logging and farming.Tourism
Somerset has several campsites along the Apple River. Every summer they host a series of concerts including rock, rap, and country music. The campsites bring thousands of people to Somerset every summer, which brings business to the many bars in town.Culture
- On the Mystery Science Theater 3000Mystery Science Theater 3000Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc., that ran from 1988 to 1999....
episode, Alien from LA, Tom mentions to Mike, that Mike grew up in Somerset. - On an episode from Pinky and the Brain, they fly over a map of the U.S. with Somerset being the only highlighted city.
- During the 2002-2003 Season, Somerset High School's Football Team, led by longtime coach Bruce Larson, won the WIAA Division 5 State Championship, the first state title the school had ever won in football. Since then, the Somerset Football team has been to the state championship game twice, although they have not won another state title.
- The TV Show 'Wife SwapWife SwapWife Swap is a reality television program, originally produced by UK independent television production company RDF Media and created by Stephen Lambert. It was first broadcast in 2003 on the UK's Channel 4. Since 2004, a US version has also been broadcast on the ABC network...
' featured the Schachtner family from Somerset, Wisconsin, switching with a family from Florida. (Schachtner/Martincak). The show aired in 2006, and is shown in re-runs.
Notable people
- Somerset is the hometown of professional basketball player Michael SchachtnerMichael SchachtnerMichael "Mike" Schachtner is an American professional basketball player who plays for CSM Oradea of the Romanian Divizia A professional basketball league. Schachtner played four seasons at the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay and wore the number 43...
. - Somerset is the hometown of three-time NCAA All-Around Gymnastic Champion Jenny HansenJenny HansenJenny Hansen is an American gymnast from Somerset, Wisconsin. Hansen won three consecutive NCAA All-Around Championships between 1993 and 1995, the only person to ever win three straight All-Around titles. She attended the University of Kentucky from 1992 until 1996 and has since been named to the...
.