Somers is a town located in Tolland County, Connecticut. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 10,417.

History

• 1642 - Nathaniel Woodward and Solomon Saffery, two Boston surveyors, are appointed by the Massachusetts Bay Colony to lay out the boundary between the provinces of Massachusetts and Connecticut. They end up eight miles too far south, thus assigning the frontier towns of Suffield, Enfield, Woodstock, and Somers to Massachusetts.
• 1706 - "East Enfield", as Somers was then known, is settled by Benjamin Jones.
• 1713 - The Kibbe, Pease, Roote, McGregory families follow Jones.
• 1724 - Somers asks for readmission to Connecticut.
• 1734 - Somers is incorporated by the General Court of Massachusetts and named for Lord John Somers of England.
• 1749 - Somers separates from Massachusetts and is annexed to Connecticut
• 1768 - Massachusetts again lays claim to Somers. Connecticut ignores the action.
• 1793 - Both states appoint Boundary Commissioners to run a straight boundary from Union, Connecticut to the New York state line.
• 1797 - The Commissioners recommend that a disputed 2.5 square mile tract be awarded to Massachusetts as compensation for its earlier losses of Suffield, Woodstock, Somers, and Enfield to Connecticut.
• 1804 - Connecticut agrees to a modified compromise, creating the Southwick Jog .
• 1838 - The Four Town Fair is established.
• 1930's - The Somers Mountain Indian Museum opens.
• 1962 - The Somers Historical Society opens.
• 1963 - Somers State Prison opens.

"Little Sorrel", the favorite horse of American Civil War General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, was born in Somers. Town of Somers - History

Geography

Somers is located at ¹.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 73.8 km² (28.5 mi²). 73.4 km² (28.3 mi²) of it is land and 0.4 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.49% water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 10,417 people, 2,925 households, and 2,337 families residing in the town. The population density is 141.9/km² (367.6/mi²). There are 3,012 housing units at an average density of 41.0/km² (106.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 82.97% White, 9.82% African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 4.00% from other races, and 1.98% from two or more races. 8.10% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 2,925 households out of which 37.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.4% are married couples living together, 6.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 20.1% are non-families. 16.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.78 and the average family size is 3.11.

In the town the population is spread out with 20.8% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 35.6% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 154.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 171.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town is $65,273, and the median income for a family is $71,757. Males have a median income of $49,766 versus $35,329 for females. The per capita income for the town is $23,952. 4.6% of the population and 3.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 3.3% of those under the age of 18 and 3.8% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

External links

• The Town of Somers Home Page
• For this town, it's location, location, location
• Connecticut's "Southwick Jog"
• Somers Historical Society
• Somers Mountain Museum

Portions of the History section above were taken from these sites.