SOMERSET COUNTY
County Offices
300 North Center Avenue
Somerset 814-445-1400
www.co.somerset.pa.us
Chamber of Commerce
601 North Center Avenue
Somerset 814-445-6431
www.somersetcountychamber.com
Major Highways
Interstate 76/70, U.S. Routes 219 and 30, State Route 31
Called the “Roof Garden of Pennsylvania,” Somerset County is situated on a wide plateau of the Appalachian Mountain system that spans the crests of the Laurel and Allegheny Mountains. Across the region, red barns and patchwork fields punctuate the landscape. Picturesque, wholesome, and productive are the key words for Somerset County where over a thousand farms remain.
Economic diversity is on the upswing, adding progressive industries like DeVilbiss Health Care to traditional industries like agriculture and coal. Many businesses are thriving in industrial parks that invite further growth. While residents enjoy the rural character of this area, they have access to excellent support services, exciting recreational opportunities, scenic beauty, good schools, and outstanding healthcare facilities. The Pennsylvania Turnpike traversed the center of the county, enhancing the convenience of daily life.
Services
Somerset is one region that has managed to blend a country lifestyle with first-rate amenities. The three leading healthcare facilities — Somerset Hospital, Windber Hospital, and Meyersdale Medical Center — emerged from a commitment to provide state-of-the-art healthcare locally. The 183-bed Somerset Hospital is the largest of the three, recently adding a new Women’s Health Center to its specialties.
Local youth receive a quality education in the public school districts, including a vocational and technical school that provides opportunities for continuing education. The opportunity to learn a new trade or skill is enhanced by the presence of two community college campuses. A number of four-year institutions have established partnerships with Allegany College of Maryland for degree completion programs, including California University of Pennsylvania in Somerset, Geneva College in Johnstown, Shippensburg University in Shippensburg, and Wrightco Technologies in Somerset.
Lifestyle
Somerset County is home to some of Pennsylvania’s most popular vacation destinations and recreational areas, including Hidden Valley Four Seasons Resort, Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Forbes State Forest, and Laurel Hill State Park. Both resorts are four-season playgrounds, and Seven Springs has been rated among the top 50 ski areas in North America. The resort added an Alpine Slide for warm-weather thrills—recreating the thrill of bobsledding without the ice!
State game lands, forests, outstanding trails, and wild rivers invite a kaleidoscope of outdoor activities such as canoeing, kayaking, water skiing, boating, downhill skiing, hiking, biking, camping, and hunting or fishing. Tennis courts, lovely golf courses, and sports fields are even closer to home. Farms and stables throughout the area offer equestrian activities, while NASCAR fans enjoy the action at Jennertown Speedway. Aficionados of the arts can satisfy their taste for culture at the Philip Dressler Center for the Arts in Somerset, a showcase for visual arts, music, dance, and theatre. Beautiful homes, homespun hospitality, and serene residential neighborhoods are all a part of the charm and appeal of Somerset County.
Somerset Borough/Township
Municipal Offices
Somerset Borough
814-443-2661
www.somersetborough.com
Somerset Township
814-445-4675
Chamber of Commerce
814-445-6431
www.somersetcountychamber.com
As the only community with an entrance to the Pennsylvania Turnpike within its boundaries, Somerset serves as the hub of the county. Somerset Borough is less than 3 square miles in area, although the township provides a rich selection of homesites and possibilities for development. Two state highways are also routed through the area, and three major vacation resorts are less than 30 minutes away. Locally, residents enjoy lush parks, sports fields, tennis courses, and fitness centers. The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown is only 25 miles from home, and healthcare needs are met in the local hospital. The retail sector is enjoying new vitality after a successful renaissance and revitalization project. Wonderful festivals, celebrations, and seasonal events draw thousands of visitors to Somerset, from the Fire and Ice Festival to the Main Street Market.
