Somerset County, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, is the State’s southernmost county.  The Chesapeake Bay forms its western boundary, Virginia its southern.  The County is located approximately 100 miles from the Baltimore/Washington, Wilmington/Philadelphia, as well as the Norfolk/Hampton Roads metropolitan areas.  A water-oriented County, rural Somerset attracts fisherman, hunters, tourists, and water sports enthusiasts.

Crisfield and Princess Anne are the two major business and industrial centers of the County. Somerset’s 450 businesses employ 4,260 workers approximately ten of these employee over 100. Major employers are Sysco Eastern Maryland, McCready Hospital, Handy International, Mountaire Farms, PNC, Perdue Inc., Rubberset, Eastern Correctional Institute, and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.  Somerset is a major seafood processor and poultry producer, and provides a rich agricultural harvest including soybeans, corn, tomatoes, and wheat.  Princess Anne is the County Seat and the site of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, with undergraduate programs, including doctoral programs in marine, estuarine, and environmental sciences.

The County has a 499- acre Enterprise Zone located within the City of Crisfield, and a 1,297-acre Zone in the Town of Princess Anne. In addition, Somerset is participating in the One Maryland Program, which offers significant tax credits for capital investments that create jobs. The County’s EDC is working on developing services in and around Princess Anne to assist the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and commercial interests in the waterfront of Crisfield. Also, plans and studies are still moving forward with a marine/barge terminal, federal facility, and alternative energy projects (biomass, ethanol, etc.)