A Brief History of Somerton, PA

The sexual assault attorneys in Somerton, PA, at Justice Guardians invite you to take a closer look at all the community has to offer its visitors and residents.

Somerton

The neighborhood of Somerton is located in the northeastern region of Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Red Lion Road formed the southern border while Roosevelt Boulevard created the eastern. East County Line Road cuts across the northern border along with Poquessing Creek. The neighborhood stands adjacent to communities such as Bustleton, Normandy, and Byberry, the township of Bensalem, and the township of Lower Southampton. 

History

Initially, the area was known as Smithfield and was a village in Moreland Township. Howver as early as 1830, it was changed in honor of an officer in the American Revolution, Jacob Sommer. Sommer was the son of Johannes and Anna Eva Sommer, who emigrated from Germany in 1752. They purchased the Manor of Moreland in 1761. 

Jacob was held prisoner for four years during the American Revolution before being released in 1782. He served on the state senate from 1805 until 1809. After which, he became an associate judge for the District Court of Philadelphia from 1811 until 1821. 

Agriculture

The town is home to the Somerton Tank Farms. These experiment urban farm tanks were constructed in 1954. The idea behind the innovative concept was to use a smaller footprint for farming when a large field is not available. They claim to make $68,000 in gross sales by growing high-value vegetables on just a half-acre. Just a few of the cash crops grown within the farm include:

• watermelon
• sunflowers
• carrots

Neighborhood

Aside from purchasing fresh produce from the local farm stand and farmer's markets, residents can visit the Bustleton-Somerton Shopping Center for their retail needs. Some of the shops and restaurants within the plaza include:

• Georgian Bread
• Dollar & Up+Gift
• Barakat Halal Restaurant
• E J Nails
• Marcello's Pizza Grill Philly

The town is home to many subdivisions, including:

• Londontown - located between the Short Line train tracks on Southampton Road and Carter Road
• Tudor Village - the area, found  on the western side of Southampton Road, west of the train tracks, and east of Worthington Road
• Brentwood - located east of Bustleton Avenue, south of the line of Woodhaven Road, and north of Lorraine Gardens
• Timberwalk - located east of George Washington High School
• Lumar Park - found west of Bustleton Ave but north of Tomlinson Rd
• Philmont Heights - south and west of Lumar Park

Demographics

Residents in the community are predominantly middle-income, making it a moderate-income neighborhood compared to others in the state. English is spoken by 77.7% of households, 2.6% that speak Russian, and some that speak Spanish. The community has a high population of foreign-born residents, mainly Russian and Indian immigrants, but other ancestries include:

• Irish (21.4%)
• Italian (19.1%)
• German (16.2%)
• Polish (6.0%)
• Ukrainian (3.2)

Continue reading: Discover the History of Parkwood, PA

Our Local Office

The Somerton, PA, sexual assault attorneys at Justice Guardians offer compassionate and confidential legal guidance to those who have suffered from sexual abuse. Call our experienced legal team today to see how we can help you seek justice.

Justice Guardians
15260 Kutztown Rd
Kutztown, PA 19530
(267) 332-1769