Somerville, New Jersey

Somerville is a borough and the county seat of Somerset County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is located in the heart of the Raritan Valley region within the New York Metropolitan Area, about 33 miles from Manhattan and 20 miles from Staten Island. The town has grown to become an important commercial center for Central Jersey and a popular place for people to live who commute to New York City.

As of the 2020 United States census, Somerville had a population of 12,346 people. This was a small increase from the 2010 census, which counted 12,098 residents.

Somerville was originally formed as a town on March 25, 1863, within a part of Bridgewater Township. It became an official borough on April 16, 1909, after a vote by local people. The town is named after Somerset in England and is home to the oldest competitive 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, like home bakers, to operate.

Geography

Somerville is a small area covering about 2.37 square miles, with mostly land and just a tiny bit of water. The land is flat, and the town is next to the Raritan River and a small stream called Peters Brook. Somerville 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, and for every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 102.1 males aged 18 and over.

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, 23.5% had a male head of household without a spouse, and 27.4% had a female head of household without a spouse. Roughly 33.1% of homes were single individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 or older.

There were 5,387 places to live, with 6.3% of them empty. The rate of homes for sale that were empty was 1.2%, and the rate of rental homes that were empty was 6.8%.

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 12,098 people in Somerville. The population density was 5,189.5 people per square mile. There were 4,951 homes, with an average of 2,123.8 per square mile. The racial makeup was 65.64% White, 12.15% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 11.37% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 6.34% from other races, and 4.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people made up 23.75% of the population.

Of the 4,591 homes, 28.7% had children under 18; 43.7% were married couples living together; 11.4% had a female head of household without a husband; and 39.5% were not families. About 30.8% of homes were single individuals, and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average home size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.20.

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. For every 100 females, there were 107.3 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and older, there were 106.7 males.

The American Community Survey from 2006 to 2010 showed that the median household income was $69,836, and the median family income was $80,461. Males earned a median of $45,929, while females earned $46,540. The per capita income was $30,272. About 3.6% of families and 6.9% of people were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under 18 and 10.8% of those 65 or older.

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. There were 4,882 homes, with an average of 2,068.0 per square mile. The racial makeup was 71.21% White, 12.93% African American, 0.19% Native American, 7.35% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 5.10% from other races, and 3.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people made up 17.00% of the population.

There were 4,743 homes, with 28.6% having children under 18, 44.5% being married couples living together, 11.9% having a female head of household without a husband, and 39.0% being non-families. About 31.4% of homes were single individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average home size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.15.

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. For every 100 females, there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 99.1 males.

The median income for a home was $51,237, and for a family it was $60,422. Males earned a median of $40,585, while females earned $32,697. The per capita income was $23,310. About 4.8% of families and 7.7% of people were below the poverty line, including 10.7% of those under 18 and 8.6% of those 65 or older.

Government

Somerville uses a borough form of government, which is very 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. During the 2021–22 school year, the district had three schools and about 2,200 students. The schools are 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 also private schools, such as Immaculata High School, a Roman Catholic high school founded in 1962, and Immaculate Conception School, a Catholic school for grades Pre-K through 8, founded in 1957. 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 also 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 and works closely with a major medical school.

Points of interest

Somerville, New Jersey, has several special places listed on the National Register of Historic Places. One is the Wallace House, which served as a special home for 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 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 of them became well-known in sports, the arts, politics, and other fields.

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 have helped shape the town’s history.