Somerset County Emergency Management Agency
Demographics
As of the latest census in the Year 2000, Somerset County has a population of 50,888, living in the 3rd largest county in the State of Maine with 3,926 square miles of contained in 83 unorganized territories, 27 towns and 6 plantations, bounded West by Franklin County and the Province of Quebec, Canada, North by Aroostook County, South by Kennebec County, South East by Waldo County, East by Penobscot County and North East by Piscataquis County. The population growth rate in Somerset County over the last twenty years has been virtually the same as the State of Maine…13%. The current population resides in 20,367 households across the vast expanse of the county.
What is interesting to note is that the 83 unorganized territories comprise 2,752 square miles with a population density rate ranging from .60 to 8.6 people per square mile, dependent upon political subdivision and area of remoteness. Comparably, the remaining 27 towns and 6 plantations comprise the remaining 1,174 square miles with varying population density rates ranging from 2.6 to 152.5 people per square mile dependent upon remoteness from the major transportation routes in the southern region of the county. *(See Foot Note).
Somerset County has a major U.S. and Canadian Border Crossing Site in Sandy Bay Township near Jackman, Maine; the Kennebec River as a major water tributary; three major transportation routes with U.S. Route 2, East to West; U.S. Route 201, North to South from Canada; Interstate 95, Northeast to the South; contains a Regional Airport in Norridgewock, has the Gilford Rail System in the Southern portion of the County and the Canadian Rail System of the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway, Inc., traversing the Northern portion from West to East.
All major routes are subject to transportation of hazardous materials and waste products, to and from many facilities within and from outside the county that supports the industrial and business hub of Somerset County, which is located predominately in the southern section of the county, mainly in seven communities: Anson, Fairfield, Hartland, Madison, Norridgewock, Pittsfield and Skowhegan. Even though there are currently 4 Extremely Hazardous Substance (EHS) reporting facilities within Somerset County, this does not reflect the other 43 Chemical Hazardous Material reporting facilities and the enormous numbers of hazardous material vehicles by rubber and rail that enter, traverse, and then leave the county, in route to other facilities in and outside of the State of Maine. Somerset County has an unusually high incident rate of reoccurring truck transport accidents, resulting in Hazardous Material Response.
There are numerous major employers in Somerset County, as well as many independent small businesses and self-employed residents providing economic stimulus and growth to the local economy. Although numerous residents travel outside the county boundaries on a daily basis for employment, the majority of residents remain in the county as a basis of employment.
Small business can relate to a major industry, as the White Water Rafting Industry in the Kennebec River Basin in Somerset County drew over 250,000 clients in the four year period from 2000 thru 2003. While Maine is known as the 2nd largest producer of Maple Syrup in the United States, Somerset County is known as the largest producer of Maple Syrup in the entire United States.
The Labor Market Information Services from the Maine Department of Labor has indicated that the top 20 employers in Somerset County each have employees ranging from 151-900 individuals and are as follows: SAPPI, CIANBRO Corporation, New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc., MSAD# 54, Redington-Fairview General Hospital, Wal-Mart Associates Inc., Edwards Systems Technology, MSAD# 49, North Country Associates, Irving Tanning Co. Delaware, SAD# 59, Madison Paper Industries, Good Will Home Association, Sebasticook Valley Hospital Association, Maine Community College System, MSAD# 74, SAS Pittsfield Inc, Maine Department of Transportation, Hannaford Bros Company, and Medical Care Development.
The major traffic routes in the county also provide the avenues of approach for the heavy four-season tourism industry that provides a substantial impact to the economic climate of the county. The population of Somerset County grows rapidly during the spring, summer, fall and winter, as the many seasonal or part time residents and recreation enthusiasts meld into the vast forests, rivers and lake shores of the heavily forested northern expanse of the county. The seasonal residents and tourists enjoy the famous camping, hiking, fishing, boating, whitewater rafting and ATV riding during the spring and summer, hunting for upland large game and birds during the fall, and skiing and snowmobiling during the winter.
The tourism and four season recreation activities are known not only to provide the economic boast to Somerset County, but also expanding the population and public safety responsibility far beyond the reported resident population of 50,888 to what has been discussed as being doubled at times depending upon the activities or events.
Although a reasonable statistical determination can be made from available census data and property tax records to approximate the seasonal resident population that returns to property structures throughout the county, the high influx of four season and tourism population is difficult to accurately determine because of the varying seasonal recreational use. Well over 50,000 people participate annually in just White Water Rafting alone.
The County Government contains the County Sheriff’s Department and County Jail, County Clerk’s Office, County Treasurer’s Office, Registrar of Deeds, Probate Judge, Assistant District Attorney, the Emergency Management Agency, and the County Regional Communications Center.
The County also has responsibility for road maintenance and snow removal in the 83 unorganized townships and assessing County Tax for municipalities and preparation of an unorganized territory budget to the State of Maine for operation. The municipalities are responsible for municipal tax collection, clerk’s office, road maintenance and snow removal, refuse collection, land use planning, code enforcement, animal control, fire protection and cemetery maintenance.
The public safety and protection for the residents, industrial and business base on Somerset County is dependent upon several State Law Enforcement Agencies, the Somerset County Sheriff Department, the Somerset County Emergency Management Agency, 4 Municipal Law Enforcement Departments, 17 Rescue and Transporting Ambulance Departments, 25 Fire Departments (many of which are strictly volunteer), and 2 hospitals.
The total responsibility for the non-cellular Enhanced 911 (E-911) calls for the year round 50,888 residents and the influx of seasonal visitors rests entirely upon the services of the Somerset County Communications Center in Skowhegan. The Somerset County Communications Center also has the major Public Safety coverage responsibility for Law Enforcement, Fire, EMS, and EMA services reaching the 50,888 residents.
* Foot Note: The population density for Somerset County is 13.0 people per square mile based upon on year round 2000 Census Figures. Adding the 4 season available house holds, the population density is increased to 17.0 people per square mile.