FACT SHEET

An Overview of the History of Pulaski County

The town of Somerset, Pulaski County, Kentucky began when the nineteenth century was one year old. Pulaski County was created out of parts of Green and Lincoln Counties by the General Assembly, December 10, 1798. It came into being in answer to the petitions from the people of Lincoln and Green who lived so far from their respective county seats of Stanford and Greensburg that it was difficult for them to get into the county seats to carry on necessary business. Poor roads was another reason that prompted them to seek a nearer seat of government.

The portion of Kentucky which became Pulaski County in 1798, lies in the south central part of the state. Pulaski County is bounded on the north by Lincoln and Rockcastle Counties; on the east by Rockcastle and Laurel; on the south by McCreary and Wayne, and on the west by Russell and Casey. The soil is varied with red clay predominating in most sections. There are many springs throughout the county and salt exists in small quantities along Fishing Creek.

There are areas of timberland in the county and about 1,000 acres of the Cumberland National Park Forest (now Daniel Boone National Forest). The timber is largely hardwood and includes white oak, poplar, maple, beech, black pine, yellow pine, cedar, and walnut.

The Assembly named the county in honor of Count Casmier Pulaski, the distinguished Pole. He was mortally wounded at the battle of Savannah, October 9, 1799, and died two days later.

The first meeting of the Pulaski County court was held at the home of Thomas Hansford on June 25, 1799.

Samuel Newell was sworn in as the first sheriff of Pulaski County. William Fox was appointed County Clerk, and Samuel McKee took oath as the first county surveyor.

Geography

City of Somerset land area (square miles)………………………………4
Pulaski County land area…………………………………………………..653
Elevation (feet above sea level) ………………………………………..974
**Lowest point…………………………………………………………………723
**Highest point ……………………………………………………………….1680

Climate
(Degrees shown in Fahrenheit)

Winter……………………………………………………………….Low 24 / High 48
Spring……………………………………………………………….Low 35 / High 76
Summer…………………………………………………………….Low 60 / High 86
Fall…………………………………………………………………..Low 36 / High 79
Average rainfall…………………………………………………………47.29 inches
Average snowfall……………………………………………………….12.60 inches

Distances to major surrounding cities

Lexington, KY………………………………………………………………..76 miles
Bowling Green, KY……………………………………………………….109 miles
Louisville, KY……………………………………………………………….125 miles
Knoxville, TN……………………………………………………………….130 miles
Cincinnati, OH……………………………………………………………..160 miles
Nashville, TN……………………………………………………………….171 miles
Dayton, OH… ………………………………………………………………213 miles
St. Louis, MO……………………………………………………………….395 miles
Cleveland, OH…………………………………………………………… ..409 miles

Population

City of Somerset …………………………………………………………11,196
County Population ………………………………………………………63,912
Shopping / Medical / Recreational HUB………………………..400,000
Median years (age)…………………………………………………………42.4

An Overview of the History of Industry/Commerce

Somerset did not actually begin to grow industrially until after the tracks of Southern Railroad had been completed in 1875. Following this event, the city increased in population from 587 in 1870, to 2,625 in 1890.

In 1877, the railroad had been extended from Cincinnati to Chattanooga. Somerset, with the construction of the Ferguson Shops in 1906, was considered half way. The railroad between Cincinnati and Chattanooga was considered one of the finest and best equipped railroads as early as 1885.

The original survey for the railroad through Somerset located the depot near the courthouse, but the high price demanded for the land caused the railroad to accept free land and the depot was located south of the courthouse. Not long after the completion of the railroad and the erection of the depot, a small thriving community began to develop close by the depot and that community became less dependent of the larger community of Somerset to the north. This new community was given the name South Somerset and for a time enjoyed prosperous existence. It had its own newspaper, …The South Somerset Sun…. In South Somerset, the railroad built its own hospital and there were several stores, a church, two restaurants, a hotel, and an axe-handle factory also located there. Mr. R. A. Johnson built a large two-story brick building at the intersection of Monticello Road and South Main Street in 1885, known as Johnson…s Block. The building contained a drugstore, a hardware store, and a furniture store. The lower floor of this building was occupied by a general store and most of the second floor was used as an auditorium. The second floor was also used as a dance hall and skating rink. This building was destroyed by fire about 1913.

Railroad employees and travelers brought many business and additional interests to Somerset and the “South End” grew rapidly. Some of the principal streets were Bourne and Griffin Avenues; High Street and Depot Street were the cross streets, with Jacksboro Street being formed at the junction of Depot Street and Griffin Avenue.

In May 1941, the Southern Railroad System placed in service the world…s first Diesel Electric Railroad Freight locomotive. This locomotive passed through Somerset, southbound for Chattanooga, on September 19, 1941. The change over to diesel from steam engines rendered the Ferguson Shops out of date as the Shops were equipped to only service steam locomotives. Thus Somerset witnessed the exodus of some of its best citizens and business firms.

The railroad passenger service became quite limited. Freight service continued on a lesser scale. So, the history of the railroads in Somerset was rapidly phasing out.

The improved highways in the community prevented Somerset from feeling the loss of the railroad shops. There were two arterial highways passing through the community. Highway 27 was the most traveled route from Cincinnati to Chattanooga and Highway 80, which runs east and west through Somerset connecting it with London and Jamestown. This route opened up the coal fields to the east and a large territory for the Somerset merchants to the west.

By 1960, a rerouting of Highway 27 bypassing the downtown area of Somerset was completed and was referred as the “Truck Route.” By 1966 the Truck Route was widened into a four lane highway and several business establishments began to located along this by-pass. The erection of two modern motor courts, the Holiday Motel and Quality Court Motel, along with the Tradewinds Shopping Center, some new and used car lots, a couple of drive-in restaurants, a bowling alley, a few service stations, a farm supply store, and some grocery stores made this a busy thoroughfare, contributing much to the financial well-being of the community.

By 1904, the people of Somerset had begun to realize that their town was beginning to grow industrially. One of the leading industrial leaders of the time was the I.R. Longsworth Company, manufacturers of hardwood products, carriage and buggy materials. This industry was regarded as the first industry to open in Somerset.

There were a number of industrial establishments that followed and by the mid-twentieth century in the immediate vicinity of Somerset. Among the largest was the Palm Beach Company. The Palm Beach Company building was erected in 1946 at a cost of $215,000 by Somerset Industries, a corporation formed by local citizens interested in the development of their community. Palm Beach was a company that produced men…s clothing and was the first opportunity for women to work in Pulaski County, as women manned almost all of the sewing machines. Another early industry in Pulaski County was the Cumberland Wood and Chair Corp. which produced bed headboards and sofa frames. Crane Plumbing Company arrived and produces ceramic plumbing supplies. The Southern Belle Dairy Company, Inc., engaged in the production of milk and delivered milk to the homes of Somerset. General Electric Company manufactures pressed glassware and the City of Somerset ran natural gas lines to the gas fields of Eastern Kentucky to supply gas to fire the furnaces. Kingsford Charcoal is know nationwide for their charcoal brickets, and Wonderfuel produces the Duraflame log. Sumerset Houseboat Company, started by the Sharpe family, became a very important industry for the community as people began to understand the economic possibilities the newly impounded Lake Cumberland provided. Sharpe Houseboat Company began with the sale of the Sumerset Houseboat Company. There are many more industries located in our community, but this is a short overview of some of the major players that makes Somerset and great place to live, work and play.

Serving 900,000 people in 42 counties, The Center for Rural Development in Somerset is just one example of the outreach occurring in and out of Pulaski County and Somerset. Chamber of Commerce luncheons, theater productions, conventions and video-conferencing are just a sampling of the events and activities that takes place at the Center.

Somerset … Pulaski County has two Industrial Parks: a 90.1-acre park located off the Somerset bypass now named the Valley Oak Industrial Park and another 60-acre park located off Highway 461.

The Valley Oak Technology Complex, our newest industrial endeavor is a 150-acre regional business park designed to attract technology-intensive, knowledge-based companies to Somerset-Pulaski County. The park includes many enhanced services for companies requiring a highly skilled workforce, a sophisticated telecommunications infrastructure and readily available investment capital. Today there are two technology based companies presently doing business: SAIC (Science Applications International Corporation) and CAL. (Center for Advanced Learning.)

The Southern Kentucky Intra-Modal Park, located near the site of the old railroad shops will serve the region as there is an ever growing interest in domestic shipping. The 34-acre Intra-modal Park is planned to be a hub for switching freight from trucks to rail and rail to truck. It will reduce overall inbound and outbound shipping costs for the region.

Major Employers & Number of Employees

SafeAuto Insurance Co……………………………………………………………75
East KY Power……………………………………………………………………….79
General Electric………………………………………………………………………90
Menzner Hardwood………………………………………………………………..200
Somerset Recycling Services…………………………………………………..100
Pulaski County Government…………………………………………………….116
Prairie Farms ………………………………………………………………………..200
The Adanta Group………………………………………………………………….243
Somerset Community College………………………………………………….319
UGN …………………………………………………………………………………….338
Somerset Hardwood Flooring…………………………………………………..400
Blackboard Student Services……………………………………………………458
Hendrickson…………………………………………………………………………..475
Hinkle Contracting …………………………………………………………………500
City of Somerset…………………………………………………………………….500
Wal-Mart………………………………………………………………………………..600
Bluegrass Oakwood………………………………………………………………..650
Toyotetsu America…………………………………………………………………..972
Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital……………………………………….1,250
Pulaski County Schools…………………………………………………………2,038

Workforce Statistics
*for Pulaski County – Somerset*

Civilian Labor Workforce……………………………………………………27,363
Employed………………………………………………………………………..26,215
Unemployed………………………………………………………………………2,436
Rate of Unemployment………………………………………………………..6.1 %

Income
(Somerset- Pulaski County)

Median Household Income……………………………………………..$41,576
Mean Household Income………………………………………………..$56,009

Housing

Average new home price (1,500 square feet)…………………$134,900
Median value of owner-occupied housing units…………………$92,700
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment…………………….$400-650
Average rent for a three-bedroom apartment…………………..$650-900

Taxes
Real estate tax rate per $1,000

Somerset………………………………………………$9.46
Pulaski County………………………………………..$7.17

Personal property tax per $1,000
Somerset………………………………………………………….. $6.02
Pulaski County…………………………………………………. $10.68
State sales tax ………..………………………………………… 6%
State income tax…..………………..…………………………….. 6%
Somerset School Tax (Real Estate) ………………………051%
Pulaski County Library ……………………….…………..0058%

Licensing

Drivers (Pulaski County Circuit Clerk)…………………………..(606) 677-4029
Car (Pulaski County Court Clerk). ……………………………….(606) 679-2042
Boat (Pulaski County Court Clerk)……………………………….(606) 679-2042
Hunting and Fishing(Ky. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife)…………(877)598-2401
Business (Somerset City Clerk)…………………………………..(606) 679-6366
Occupational Tax (Pulaski Co. Occupational Tax)………….(606) 679-2393
Somerset City Planning and Zoning Commission ………….(606) 679-6366

An Overview of Agriculture

Agriculture in Pulaski County generates more than $43 million each year. Pulaski County is Number 1 in the State of Kentucky in Forage Products, (food for animals), 2nd in the state in Beef Cattle Production, 3rd overall in cattle production, and 3rd in the state in the production of hay. The largest row crops grown in Pulaski County are wheat, soybeans and corn. Although milk production has dropped dramatically over the past few years, Pulaski County still ranks 16th in the state.

Number of Farms …………………………………………………………..808
Land in Farms …………………………………………………….1,781 acres
Average Farm Size ………………………………………………. ….8 acres

An Overview of Education

The beginning of education in Somerset was on April 29, 1801, when Robert Modrel and James Hardgrove were appointed agents for the county in surveying the land granted the county by the state for the endowment of a school. This land was to be sold and the proceeds used to establish the Somerset Academy. On December 18, 1800, the General Assembly passed an act making the permanent location of this academy was to be within the limits of Somerset.

On February 4, 1822, Fontaine Fox became the bonded treasurer of the Somerset Academy. A resolution was recorded November 24, 1859, which states that the members of the Pulaski County Court endorse the high school in Somerset being worthy of public confidence and that the Pulaski County Court would use its best efforts to promote and sustain the school.

This institution met the educational demands of the people of Somerset until 1866, when the Masonic Lodge established the Masonic College. This school was located on the site occupied by the present Somerset High school and served the community for a good many years until the creation of the Somerset Graded School System in 1889. On April 26, 1886, a petition was drawn up establishing the Somerset Graded School. The first high school building was finished in 1892. This building burned in 1902.

School Systems

Pulaski Co School System (8,000 enrolled)

Pulaski County Board of Education ………………………………(606) 679-1123
Burnside Elementary School………………………………………..(606) 561-4250
Eubank Elementary School………………………………………….(606) 379-2712
Nancy Elementary School……………………………………………(606) 636-6338
Oak Hill Elementary School………………………………………….(606) 679-2014
Pulaski Elementary School…………………………………………..(606) 678-4713
Shopville Elementary School………………………………………..(606) 274-4411
Southern Elementary School………………………………………..(606) 678-5229
Woodstock Elementary School……………………………………..(606) 379-2151
Northern Middle School………………………………………………. (606) 678-5230
Southern Middle School……………………………………………….(606) 679-6855
Pulaski County High School………………………………………….(606) 679-1574
Southwestern High School……………………………………………(606) 678-9000
Pulaski Central School…………………………………………………(606) 679-9986
Memorial Education Center…………………………………………..(606) 678-4100

Somerset Independent School System (1,517 enrolled)

Somerset Independent Board of Education …………………..(606) 679-4451
Hopkins Elementary School…………………………………………(606) 678-8707
Meece Middle School………………………………………………….(606) 678-5821
Somerset High School…………………………………………………(606) 678-4721

Science Hill Independent School System (482 enrolled)…..(606) 423-3341

Somerset Christian School (623 enrolled)………………………(606) 451-1600

Jordan Christian Academy……………………………………………..(606) 561-4237
Tabernacle Christian Academy………………………………………..(606) 677-9045
Saline Christian Academy……………………………………………….(606) 679-9265
Cumberland Christian Home Educators…………………………….(606) 678-2001
Pulaski Adult Education…………………………………………………..(606) 679-7030

Higher Education

Somerset Community College (8,200 enrolled)……………(606) 679-8501
Campbellsville Universtiy, Somerset Campus………………(606) 451-8474
Eastern Kentucky University, Somerset Campus………….(606) 676-0838

Colleges and Universities within 100 miles of Somerset

Lindsey Wilson College (Columbia)…………………………………..42 miles
Berea College (Berea)……………………………………………………..43 miles
Centre College (Danville)………………………………………………….45 miles
Cumberland College (Williamsburg)……………………………………55 miles
Eastern Kentucky University (Richmond)…………………………….56 miles
Campbellsville University (Campbellsville)…………………………..63 miles
University of Kentucky (Lexington)……………………………………..75 miles
Transylvania University (Lexington)…………………………………….75 miles