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History in
a Pecan Shell
Somerset dates
from 1848 when it was located in Atascosa
County (3 miles south of it's present location). Original settlers
were Baptist families who had come from Somerset, Kentucky. The town
relocated with the arrival of the Artesian Belt Railroad in 1909.
In 1913 the Somerset oilfield was discovered - which was declared
to be the largest shallow field in the world. Two oil refineries were
built and the crude oil was pumped into San
Antonio. A post office was granted in 1920 and from a population
of 50 in 1925, Somerset grew to 700 in three short years. After the
boll weevil
infestation of the 1920s, farmers gave up on cotton
and started fruit and vegetable farming. Diminishing oil returns during
the Great Depression sent the town into a decline. By the late 50s
there were only eight businesses left. The population reached 1,000
in the late 1970s and has since increased to the present 1,631. |
The main street
in Somerset
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, May 2007 |
Somerset United
Methodist Church
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, May 2007 |
St. Mary's Catholic
Church, currently undergoing a renovation
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, May 2007 |
The Old Rock
Baptist Church just south of Somerset off FM 476
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, May 2007 |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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