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History of Somerset, (Somerset County) New JerseyOur database does not include an historic photo for Somerset, (Somerset County) New Jersey, do you have one you would like to contribute? Contact Us! 15% - 35% off all Products ยป The Ready Store Local History Notes:The 1854 Gazetteer of the United States by Thomas Baldwin shows: SOMERSET, a county in the N. central part of New Jersey, has an area of about 370 square miles. It is partly bounded on the E. by Raritan river and Bound brook, on the N. E. by the Passaic river, and on the W. by Lamington river, and is drained by the N. and S. branches of Raritan river, and by Millstone river, which afford valuable waterpower. The surface is various; the N. W. portion being mountainous, and the centre and S. E. either level or slightly undulating. The soil of the hills is generally clay or stiff loam, that of the level portions sandy loam formed of shale, and the mountain valleys are of limestone. Indian corn, wheat, oats, hay, and butter are the staples. In 1850 this county produced 685,673 bushels of corn; 109,367 of wheat; 498,922 of oats; 26,631 tons of hay, and 564,573 pounds of butter. There were 3 woollen factories, 31 flour mills, 8 saw mills, 8 tanneries, and 19 boot and shoe manufactories. It contained 33 churches, 2 newspaper offices, 4203 pupils attending public schools, and 70 attending other schools. The range of hills about 2 miles north of Somerville have been perforated by many mining shafts in search of copper ore; one of these shafts is 1300 feet in length. As yet, no company have succeeded in making their operations remunerative, although the ore is said to contain not only a large proportion of copper, but to be worth working on account of the gold which it yields. The Bridgewater mineral paint mines are situated near the centre. Somerset county is distinguished as the birthplace of Samuel L. Southard, Peter D. Vroom, Commodore Stockton, William L. Dayton, and Theodore Frelinghuysen. The New Jersey Central railroad traverses this county, which is also partly intersected by the Delaware and Raritan canal. Organized in 1688, having previously formed part of Middlesex county. Capital, Somerville. Population, 19,688; of whom 27 were slaves. |
New Jersey Facts: Somerset County Facts: Seat: SomervilleEstablished: 1688 Formed from: Middlesex Somerset is situated 28 meters above sea level. |