Somerset County is located atop the Allegheny Mountains in the southwestern portion of Pennsylvania. It borders Cambria County to the north, Bedford County to the east, the state of Maryland to the south and Fayette and Westmoreland counties to the west.
Somerset County gained global notice in 2001 when a hijacked airliner, United Airlines Flight 93, crashed near the town of Shanksville during the September 11th Terrorist Attacks. A year later, in July 2002, Somerset County again made worldwide front-page news when nine coal miners where rescued from several hundred feet underground from the Quecreek mine after an intense multi-day struggle.
An excellent network of US highways (30, 40 and 219), as well as state and local highways, provides easy access to destinations within the county and connections outside. I-76, the Pennsylvania Turnpike runs through central Somerset County and provides East-West access to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. US Route 219, running north and south, offers access to Johnstown, Central Pennsylvania and Maryland.
Demographics
| Land Area: | 1,075 square miles |
| Water Area: | 6.5 square miles |
| Population | 77,742 |
| Population Density: | 72 people per square mile |
| Cost of Living Index: | 87.6 |
| Industries Providing Employment: | 19.3% education, health and social services 16.9% manufacturing 12.2% retail |
| Median Resident Age: | 40.2 years |
| Average Household Size: | 2.5 people |
| Median Household Income: | $39,362 |
| Links | |
| County Government | http://www.co.somerset.pa.us/ |
| Chamber of Commerce | http://www.somersetcountychamber.com/ |
| Economic Development | http://www.scedc.net/ |
| Tourism | http://www.laurelhighlands.org/index.asp |
