Known as the Gateway to Lake Cumberland, the city of Somerset blends southern hospitality with abundant recreational opportunities that attract more than 1.5 million people to the region every year.
Located just minutes from I-75, Somerset has a strong and solid business climate. The city is known as the houseboat capital of the world, with the majority of houseboats being manufactured in the immediate area. The public school system of Pulaski County serves approximately 8,000 students with eight elementary schools, two middle schools, two high schools and one technology school. Independent school systems include Somerset Independent, with one elementary school, one middle school and one high school; and Science Hill Independent, with one school for students K-8. There also are several Christian schools, with Somerset Christian School being the largest, with more than 300 K-12 students.
Somerset is also home to The Center for Rural Development, which brings nationally recognized, high quality performing and visual arts, concerts and other special events to the community. Somerset Community College, a division of the Kentucky Community-Technical College System (KCTCS), offers associate degrees and curricula for the first two years toward a bachelor’s degree. In addition, there are seven other colleges and universities located within 75 miles of Somerset.
Additionally, Somerset is known for the Somernites Cruise, which is held on the fourth Saturday of each month from April to October. The Cruise is the largest car and cruise show in Kentucky.
Somerset is home to beautiful Lake Cumberland, a 65,000-acre lake with 1,200 miles of shoreline. Lake Cumberland offers a wealth of recreational opportunities and provides excellent fishing for crappie, bass and other types of fish. Water sports from sailing and water skiing to house-boating are all popular on the lake. Located in the middle of Lake Cumberland, General Burnside Island State Park provides a peaceful retreat for campers, boaters, golfers and fishermen, with a campground and an 18-hole golf course. Four additional golf courses are located within the area. Known as the Niagara of the South, Cumberland Falls boasts the only Moonbow in the Western Hemisphere, as well as white-water rafting, hiking and canoeing. Daniel Boone National Forest has more than 704,000 acres of mostly rugged terrain, with steep forested ridges, narrow ravines, 3,400 miles of sandstone cliffs and 600 miles of beautiful trails.
