Somerville, New Jersey

Somerville is a borough and the county seat of Somerset County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is in the Raritan Valley region, close to the New York Metropolitan Area. It is about 33 miles from Manhattan and 20 miles from Staten Island. Many people live there and travel to work in New York City.

As of the 2020 United States census, Somerville had a population of 12,346. This was a small increase from the 2010 census.

Somerville became a town on March 25, 1863. It became an official borough on April 16, 1909. The town is named after Somerset in England. It is home to the oldest bicycle race in the United States.

History

Somerville was first settled by the Dutch, who bought land from English owners. The town grew around a church, courthouse, and tavern after the American Revolution. Its name comes from the Somerville family who founded it in the 1750s. After railroads and water power helped it grow, Somerville became a busy place with factories, especially for making bricks.

Today, Somerville is known for its historic buildings and lively Main Street, filled with shops and restaurants. It is also famous for the Tour of Somerville, a big bicycle race started in 1940. The town continues to grow, with new homes and shops being built.

In 1999, Hurricane Floyd brought lots of rain and caused flooding in Somerville. The town has also had some problems with rules that make it hard for small businesses to operate.

Geography

Somerville is a small area that covers about 2.37 square miles. It has mostly land and a little water. The land is flat. Somerville is next to the Raritan River and a small stream called Peters Brook. It touches the towns of Bridgewater Township and Hillsborough Township.

The weather in Somerville has warm summers, often in the 80s and 90s, and cold winters, usually in the 20s and 30s. July is the warmest month, and January is the coldest. Rain falls evenly during the year, with July being the wettest month. The area's climate is a mix between humid continental and humid subtropical.

Demographics

2020 census

According to the 2020 census, Somerville had a population of 12,346 people. The middle age of residents was 36.1 years. About 19.1% of the people were younger than 18, and 12.5% were 65 years or older. For every 100 females, there were 102.9 males.

All residents lived in urban areas. There were 5,050 homes in Somerville, with 27.5% of them having children under 18 living there. About 40.1% of homes were made up of married couples. Roughly 33.1% of homes were single individuals.

There were 5,387 places to live, with 6.3% of them empty.

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 12,098 people in Somerville. The population density was 5,189.5 people per square mile. The racial makeup was 65.64% White, 12.15% Black or African American, 11.37% Asian, and 6.34% from other races.

Of the homes, 28.7% had children under 18; 43.7% were married couples living together. About 30.8% of homes were single individuals.

About 21.3% of people were younger than 18, 8.9% were between 18 and 24, 34.0% were between 25 and 44, 24.8% were between 45 and 64, and 11.0% were 65 or older. The middle age was 35.5 years.

The American Community Survey from 2006 to 2010 showed that the median household income was $69,836. About 3.6% of families and 6.9% of people were below the poverty line.

2000 census

According to the 2000 United States census, there were 12,423 people living in Somerville. The population density was 5,262.4 people per square mile. The racial makeup was 71.21% White, 12.93% African American, and 7.35% Asian.

There were homes, with 28.6% having children under 18, and 44.5% being married couples living together. About 31.4% of homes were single individuals.

The population was 21.9% under 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 35.8% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% 65 or older. The middle age was 36 years.

The median income for a home was $51,237, and for a family it was $60,422. About 4.8% of families and 7.7% of people were below the poverty line.

Government

Somerville uses a borough form of government, which is common in New Jersey. This means there is a mayor and a borough council. The mayor is elected by voters for a four-year term. The council has six members who serve three-year terms, with two positions up for election each year. The council makes most of the decisions, while the mayor leads meetings and can veto council decisions unless enough council members vote to override it.

Currently, the mayor of Somerville is Brian Gallagher, and the council has several members serving their terms. Somerville is part of the 7th Congressional District at the federal level and the 23rd state legislative district in New Jersey. It is also located in Somerset County, which has its own board of county commissioners.

Education

The Somerville Public Schools teach students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district has three schools: Van Derveer Elementary School for grades PreK-5, Somerville Middle School for grades 6-8, and Somerville High School for grades 9-12. Some students from Branchburg Township also attend the high school.

There are private schools, such as Immaculata High School, a Roman Catholic high school, and Immaculate Conception School, a Catholic school for grades Pre-K through 8. Both are run by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Somerville has many roads and highways that help people get around. Some important roads include U.S. Route 22, U.S. Route 202, U.S. Route 206, and Route 28. There is a train station in Somerville that connects to New York City through NJ Transit.

The closest airport with regular flights is Newark Liberty International Airport, which is about a 35-minute drive away.

Healthcare

There is a big hospital called Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset in Somerville. It has been helping people stay healthy since 1901.

Points of interest

Somerville, New Jersey, has several special places listed on the National Register of Historic Places. One is the Wallace House, which was used by important leaders during the second Middlebrook encampment from 1778 to 1779. Another is the Old Dutch Parsonage, the first home for leaders of the Dutch Reformed Church in Somerset County. The Daniel Robert House in Somerville Borough Hall shows beautiful old-style architecture designed by Alexander Jackson Davis. The J. Harper Smith Mansion now houses a library created by Horace Trumbauer, and St. John's Episcopal Church, also built by Horace Trumbauer in 1895, is another notable spot. The West End Hose Company Number 3 is now a museum for the Somerville Fire Department.

Wallace House

Old Dutch Parsonage

J. Harper Smith Mansion

St. John's Episcopal Church

Notable people

See also: Category:People from Somerville, New Jersey

Somerville, New Jersey has been home to many interesting people. Some became well-known in sports, the arts, and politics.

Examples include Alicia Albe, a gymnast; Nicole Arendt, a tennis player; Frank Asch, a children’s book author; and Christopher "Kip" Bateman, a former state senator. Others include actors, musicians, artists, and community leaders who helped shape the town’s history.