Somerset, Maryland
Somerset is a town of 1,088 people in Montgomery County, Maryland, founded in 1906.
Why visit Somerset
Townapedia lists 89 museums and landmarks, 55 parks and trails, 184 places to eat, 7 places to stay and 9 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Round House Theatre, Landmark Theatres, Avalon Theatre and Bethesda Theatre.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 88°F; January lows average 26°F.
Weather in Somerset
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Somerset
Somerset is an incorporated town in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, located near the border with Washington, D.C. The population was 1,187 at the 2020 census.
From the Wikipedia article Somerset, Maryland (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do9
American University
School · 2.1 mi
Private liberal arts and research-based university in Washington, D.C., USA
Boulder Bridge
Bridge · 3.0 mi
Historic bridge in Washington, D.C., United States
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
School · 2.5 mi
Health science university of the United States federal government
University of the District of Columbia
School · 2.3 mi
Public university in Washington, D.C.
Museums and landmarks89
Avalon Theatre
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Movie theater in Washington, D. C.
5612 Connecticut Avenue Northwest
Bethesda Theatre
Cinema and theater · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Movie theater and theater in Bethesda, Maryland, United States
Milton
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Historic home in Bethesda, Maryland, United States
5312 Allandale Road
Alban Towers
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.9 mi
Historic apartment building in Washington, DC
All Hallows Guild Carousel
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.0 mi
Historic carousel housed at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
Babcock-Macomb House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
Historic house in Washington, D.C., United States
Boulder Bridge and Ross Drive Bridge
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.0 mi
Bridges in Washington, D.C.
Carousel at Glen Echo Park
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.3 mi
Historic carousel at Glen Echo Park, Maryland, United States
Cathedral Mansions Apartment Buildings
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
Historic buildings in Washington, D.C
Chain Bridge Road School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.6 mi
School building in Washington, D.C., United States of America
Chautauqua Tower
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.3 mi
Tower located in Glen Echo Park, Maryland, United States
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Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.1 mi
National Historical Park located in the District of Columbia and the states of Maryland and West Virginia
77 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds55
Little Falls Stream Valley Park
Hiking and trails · 0.7 mi
This 160-acre park stretches from Fairfax Road at its northernmost point to Macarthur Boulevard at its southernmost point.
Ward Circle
Park · 2.1 mi
Traffic circle and park in Northwest, Washington, D.C.
43 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes184
Berries & Bowls
Restaurant · Juice, Smoothies, Bowls, Healthy · 1.1 mi
We're a family-owned cafe serving health-conscious acai bowls, smoothies, fresh-pressed juices, chia puddings, and toast. Made with only...
4961 Elm Street, Bethesda
Mo-Su 09:00-20:00
Aventino Cucina Romana
Restaurant · Italian · 1.0 mi
4747 Bethesda Avenue, Bethesda
Tu-Th 11:30-14:30, 17:00-21:00; Fr 11:30-14:30, 17:00-22:00; Sa...
Chef Trini's
Restaurant · Caribbean · 1.4 mi
4855 Massachusetts Avenue Northwest, Washington
Mo-Fr 08:00-15:00,17:00-20:30; Sa 09:00-15:30,17:00-21:00; Su...
Clyde's
Diner · American · 0.6 mi
5441 Wisconsin Avenue, Chevy Chase
Mo-Th 11:00-24:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-01:00; Su 11:00-24:00
Compass Coffee
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.5 mi
4850 Massachusetts Avenue Northwest, Washington
Mo-Fr 06:00-19:00; Sa-Su 06:30-19:00
Little Beast
Restaurant · Pizza · 1.1 mi
5600 Connecticut Avenue Northwest, Washington
Su-Th 17:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 17:00-00:00
Maggiano's Little Italy
Restaurant · Italian · 0.8 mi
5333 Wisconsin Avenue Northwest
Mo-Th 11:30-22:00; Fr 11:30-23:00; Sa 11:00-23:00; Su 11:00-21:00
Mamma Lucia
Restaurant · Italian, Pizza · 1.2 mi
5504 Connecticut Avenue Northwest
Su-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00
Opal
Restaurant · Seafood · 1.1 mi
5534 Connecticut Avenue Northwest
Mo-Th 12:00-15:00,17:00-21:30; Fr 12:00-15:00,17:00-22:30; Sa...
PLANTA
Diner · American · 1.1 mi
4910 Elm Street, Bethesda
Mo-Th 11:30-21:30; Fr 11:30-22:00; Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 11:00-21:30
Passage to India
Restaurant · Indian · 1.5 mi
4931 Cordell Avenue, Bethesda
We-Mo 11:30-14:15, 17:00-21:15
172 more on the map.
History
The land that would become Somerset was originally a part of the 3,124-acre Friendship Tract patented by Benedict Calvert, 4th Baron Baltimore, to Col. Thomas Addison and James Stoddart in 1711. By 1811, a 211-acre portion of that tract, dubbed Friendship, was owned by Richard Williams, a farmer.
In 1890, John Beall and Ralph Walsh sold 50 acres to five scientists who worked at the U.S. Department of Agriculture: Charles A. Crampton, Harvey W. Wiley, Daniel E. Salmon, Miles Fuller, and Horace Horton, who had established the Somerset Heights Colony Company. Their plans were described in the Washington Evening Post's May 17, 1890, issue: "...the scientific men of the Dept. of Agriculture...selected a tract of 50 acres of rolling land adjoining the property of General Drum just across the DC line in Mont. County. The Company will begin operations by providing the property with good system of sewerage, a bountiful supply of water and electric lights from Georgetown and Tenallytown Electric Railway Company. The lots are to contain not less than one acre...suburb fashioned after the very pleasant ones of Boston and other northern cities."
Five early streets were arranged; they remain to this day: Dorset Avenue, Warwick Place, Surrey Street, Cumberland Avenue, and Essex Avenue, after the English counties.
From the History section of Somerset, Maryland on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay7
Embassy Suites by Hilton Washington DC Chevy Chase Pavilion
Motel and hotel · 0.7 mi
4300 Military Road Northwest, Washington
Hilton Garden Inn - Washington, D.C./ Bethesda
Motel and hotel · 1.2 mi
7301 Waverly Street, Bethesda
Churches and places of worship30
Bethesda Meeting House
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 3.0 mi
Eldbrooke United Methodist Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
Concord-Saint Andrews United Methodist Church
Church · Methodist · 1.4 mi
5910 Goldsboro Road, Bethesda
Shopping35
Gas and EV charging13
Spring Valley Exxon
Gas station · 1.4 mi
4861 Massachusetts Avenue Northwest, Washington
Schools, colleges and libraries67
Healthcare15
Passport Health Chevy Chase Travel Clinic
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.5 mi
5480 Wisconsin Avenue, Chevy Chase
Well by Kaiser Permanente
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.7 mi
5402-A Wisconsin Ave, Chevy Chase
Map of Somerset
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 26°F | 3.3 in | 2.9 in |
| Feb | 46°F | 27°F | 3.2 in | 1.4 in |
| Mar | 55°F | 34°F | 4.2 in | 0.7 in |
| Apr | 68°F | 44°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 76°F | 54°F | 4.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 84°F | 63°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 88°F | 68°F | 5.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 86°F | 66°F | 4.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 79°F | 59°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 68°F | 47°F | 4.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 56°F | 36°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 47°F | 30°F | 3.8 in | 0.8 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Dalecarlia Rsvr (2 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Montgomery County has had 15 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2020-03-26: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2016-03-04: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Snowstorm)
- 2012-11-20: Hurricane Sandy (Hurricane)
- 2012-10-28: Hurricane Sandy (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 9 miles away.
- Friendship Heights Village 0 mi southeast, about 1 min by car
- Chevy Chase Village 1 mi east, about 2 min by car
- Chevy Chase 1 mi northeast, about 2 min by car
- Bethesda 2 mi northwest, about 3 min by car
- Martin's Additions 2 mi northeast, about 3 min by car
- Brookmont 2 mi southwest, about 3 min by car
- Chevy Chase 2 mi northeast, about 4 min by car
- Cabin John 4 mi west, about 6 min by car
- Chevy Chase View 4 mi north, about 6 min by car
- Silver Spring 5 mi northeast, about 8 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- 2019-06-12 12 59 12 View south along Little Falls Parkway just south of Dorset Avenue in Somerset, Montgomery County, Maryland, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2019-06-12 12 57 23 View north along Little Falls Parkway just north of Maryland State Route 190 (River Road) in Somerset, Montgomery County, Maryland, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Town of Somerset - Bethesda - Maryland, Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
- Milton (Bethesda, Maryland), Farragutful, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bethesda Theater, Bethesda, MD, Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Chevy Chase Theater, AgnosticPreachersKid, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Union Arch Bridge MD 2008, Moreau1, Public domain
- Cloverdale, DC, AgnosticPreachersKid, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sedgwick-gardens, Bekka5280, CC BY 3.0
- R & LM Stone House DC, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Pierce Mill Rock Creek Park, Dale Youngkin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Convent de Bon Secours, AgnosticPreachersKid, CC BY-SA 3.0
- GEORGE WASHINGTON MEMORIAL PARKWAY ON VIRGINIA, LOOKING NORTH TO KEY BRIDGE, Yoichi Okamoto, Public domain
- Wilson-high-dc, Slowking4, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Pierce-Klingle Mansion, Albert S. Burns, HABS Photographer, Public domain
- Eldbrooke UM Church DC, Smallbones, CC0
- Fox Hall Village HD DC, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Cumberland Basin looking North, Bonnachoven, CC0
- Salmonstohlman120, Slowking4, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Salmon-Stohlman House, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Salmonstohlman121, Slowking4, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Salmonstohlman119, Slowking4, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Pati Jinich in her kitchen, June 2018, Krisenoel, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Window Protests (49984934687), Daniel Lobo, CC0
- Window Protests (49984154708), Daniel Lobo, CC0
- Virus (49766388978), Daniel Lobo, CC0
- Window Protests (49984154783), Daniel Lobo, CC0
- 2019-06-12 13 04 08 View west along Drummond Avenue at Warwick Lane in Drummond, Montgomery County, Maryland, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2019-06-12 13 04 31 View east along Drummond Avenue at Warwick Lane in Drummond, Montgomery County, Maryland, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Trametes versicolor 108817263, wearethechampignons, CC BY 4.0
- Macedonia Baptist Church Bethesda MD 2021-11-26 15-12-28 1, G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0
- Bank of America River Rd Bethesda MD 2021-11-26 15-12-05 1, G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0
- Capital Bikeshare station Landy Ln Bethesda MD 2021-11-28 10-53-36 1, G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0
- Employees of Capital Bikeshare with crane truck in Washington, D.C. at work 2014 (Flickr 14130606748), Euan Fisk from Washington, DC, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Bikeshare Station at River Rd & Landy Ln-Capital Crescent Trail installed (13729455274), Euan Fisk from Washington, DC, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Marathon Gas Station River Rd Bethesda MD 2021-11-26 15-11-21 1, G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0
- Liberty Gas Station River Rd Bethesda MD 2021-11-26 15-10-48 1, G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0
- Capital Bikeshare station Landy Ln Bethesda MD 2014-05-30 10-45-09 1, G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0
- 2020-06-11 15 58 14 View west along Maryland State Route 190 (River Road) from the overpass for the Capital Crescent Trail in Bethesda, Montgomery County, Maryland, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2020-06-11 15 58 40 View east along Maryland State Route 190 (River Road) from the overpass for the Capital Crescent Trail in Bethesda, Montgomery County, Maryland, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
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_from_the_overpass_for_the_Capital_Crescent_Trail_in_Bethesda,_Montgomery_County,_Maryland.jpg){kind=link}
_from_the_overpass_for_the_Capital_Crescent_Trail_in_Bethesda,_Montgomery_County,_Maryland.jpg){kind=link}
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