Somerset County, Maryland

Somerset County
Somerset County Courthouse
Somerset County Courthouse
Motto: 
"Semper Eadem" (English: "Ever the Same")
Map of Maryland highlighting Somerset County
Location within the U.S. state of Maryland
Map of the United States highlighting Maryland
Maryland's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°05′N 75°52′W / 38.08°N 75.86°W / 38.08; -75.86
Country United States
State Maryland
FoundedAugust 22, 1666
Named forMary, Lady Somerset
SeatPrincess Anne
Largest townPrincess Anne
Area
 • Total610.35 sq mi (1,580.8 km2)
 • Land319.75 sq mi (828.1 km2)
 • Water290.60 sq mi (752.7 km2)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total24,620
 • Density40/sq mi (16/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.somersetmd.us

Somerset County is the southernmost county in the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2020 census, the population was 24,620,[1] making it the second-least populous county in Maryland. The county seat is Princess Anne.[2] The county is part of the Lower Eastern Shore region of the state.

The county was named for Mary, Lady Somerset, the wife of Sir John Somerset and daughter of Thomas Arundell, 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour (c. 1560–1639). She was also the sister of Anne Calvert, Baroness Baltimore (1615–1649), who later lent her name to Anne Arundel County, which was erected in 1650 as the Province of Maryland's third county.

Somerset County is located on the state's Eastern Shore. It is included in the Salisbury, MD-DE Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore is located in Princess Anne.

  1. ^ "QuickFacts: Somerset County, Maryland". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.