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Nestled between Lake Cumberland and the Daniel Boone National Forest, Somerset, Kentucky and Pulaski County attracts more than 1.5 million tourists each year. Lake Cumberland is one of the largest man made lakes in the nation. Its 1255 miles of shoreline serves as a great place for boating, fishing, and skiing. Its southern hospitality makes guests feel right at home. Tourism is one of most important economic aspects of Somerset, due to its proximity to |
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Lake Cumberland and several other events that are held throughout
the year. Lake Cumberland alone generates approximately
$150 million dollars in revenue each year . The city
also holds the annual Master Musician's Festival, which has featured
such performers as Sam Bush, Old Crow Medicine Show, Murder By
Death, and Nickel Creek. Somerset is home to the Somernites Cruise
Car Show, the largest monthly car show in the state. The Battle of
Mill Springs took place in nearby Nancy, KY and the reenactments
held there often draw large crowds.Commerce, driven in part by the area's tourism, thrives in Somerset. The city is home to a small mall and several shopping centers. Most of these stores, as well as many restaurants and hotels are located along Highway 27, making up the state's longest stretch of businesses outside of Louisville and Lexington. Industry also plays a role in the city's economy. Somerset is home to the Valley Oak Technology Complex, a key industrial center in the state, housing such companies as Science Applications International Corporation, Safeauto, Presidium Learning and others. Somerset's location along Lake Cumberland has caused it to become a major houseboat manufacturing center. Both Sumerset Houseboats and Sharpe Houseboats are located in Somerset. The city also has auto-associated, flooring, wood-associated, and other industries. Somerset has also increasingly been taking on the functions of a major medical center, with many doctor's offices and Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital being one of the largest in the state. The medical community is growing rapidly and continues to provide great opportunities for those in the medical field. Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital is a regional hub for the regions only advanced medical services. Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital is a JACHO accredited hospital with 259 beds Hospital & Community Tour.
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Somerset was first settled in 1798 by Thomas Hansford and several
members of the Jasper family and it received its name from Somerset
County, New Jersey, the place where some of the settlers once lived.
Somerset became the county seat of Pulaski County in 1802 and was
incorporated as a city in 1887. A significant Civil War battle was
fought at Mill Springs (now "Nancy") about 8 miles west of Somerset,
and a museum exists at the site of the battle. The completion of
Lake Cumberland in 1950 transformed Somerset from a sleepy rural
community into one of the largest recreation centers in Kentucky
drawing more than 1.7 million visitors yearly, the bulk of which
occurs between the Memorial and Labor Day holidays. Lake Cumberland
is one of the largest man-made lakes in the world (101 miles in
length, with an average depth of 85 feet and a normal pool
containing more than 2 trillion gallons of water). Somerset is also
close to Cumberland Falls and the Big South Fork National River and
Recreation Area; its tourism industries are, in part, due to its
scenic and varied landscape. |
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