As an unincorporated community, Somerset Center has no legally defined boundaries or population statistics of its own but does have its own post office with the 49282 ZIP Code.

US 12, known locally as Chicago Road, is the main roadway through the community, and it has a junction with US 127 about 3.0 miles (4.8 km) to the east.

[13] The area was first settled when Elias Alley, who came from Cayuga County, New York, built his home here as early as 1833.

In 1835, Hillsdale County was formally organized, and the largely undeveloped area became part of the newly established Wheatland Township.

Thomas Gamble, who purchased the Hoevenburg homestead, became the first postmaster when a post office began operating on September 9, 1835.

The post office was relocated to the centralized portion of the township and renamed Somerset Centre, only to eventually be moved back to its original location to the east.

[18] One of the most notable early residents of Somerset Center was William Herbert Lee McCourtie, who was born near here in 1872.

He transformed the estate into a recreation area known as Aiden Lair that hosted many lavish events and prominent guests, including Henry Ford.

In the early 1930s, he commissioned the creation of numerous cement bridges over the small stream running through the estate, and the unique design of the concrete was sculpted to look like wood.