Hancock, Maryland | |
|---|---|
 Main Street in Hancock in 2006 | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location of Hancock in Maryland and in Washington County | |
| Coordinates:39°42′23″N78°10′32″W / 39.70639°N 78.17556°W /39.70639; -78.17556 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Maryland |
| County | Washington |
| Incorporated | 1853[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 3.00 sq mi (7.78 km2) |
| • Land | 2.98 sq mi (7.73 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) |
| Elevation | 564 ft (172 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 1,557 |
| • Density | 521.96/sq mi (201.50/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 21750 |
| Area code(s) | 301, 240 |
| FIPS code | 24-36600 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2390229[3] |
| Website | townofhancock.org |
Hancock is a town inWashington County,Maryland, United States. The population was 1,557 at the2020 census. TheWestern Maryland community is notable for being located at the narrowest part of the state. The north–south distance from thePennsylvania state line to theWest Virginia state line is only 1.8 miles (2.9 km) at Hancock.
Prior to the current name, the settlement was named "William's Town" for William McClary.The name Hancock comes from Edward Joseph Hancock, Jr. (July 21, 1758 – September 2, 1834),[4][5] who fought alongside George Washington during theAmerican Revolutionary War. Individuals began settling in the area of modern-day Hancock during the 1730s. During the Civil War, on January 5, 1862,General Stonewall Jackson began thesiege of the town, but did not succeed due to weather conditions.[6]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.75 square miles (7.12 km2), of which 2.73 square miles (7.07 km2) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) is water.[7]
The state ofMaryland narrows to a width of less than two miles (3 km) in the Hancock area—the smallest non-vertex border-to-border distance of any U.S. state.
TheChesapeake and Ohio Canal passes through the town, and theWestern Maryland Rail Trail connects Hancock withFort Frederick State Park.
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to theKöppen Climate Classification system, Hancock has ahumid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[8]
| Climate data for Hancock, Maryland | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 76 (24) | 81 (27) | 93 (34) | 94 (34) | 100 (38) | 98 (37) | 105 (41) | 102 (39) | 103 (39) | 98 (37) | 86 (30) | 77 (25) | 105 (41) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 39 (4) | 43 (6) | 54 (12) | 65 (18) | 74 (23) | 82 (28) | 86 (30) | 84 (29) | 78 (26) | 67 (19) | 55 (13) | 44 (7) | 64 (18) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 19 (−7) | 23 (−5) | 30 (−1) | 38 (3) | 47 (8) | 57 (14) | 62 (17) | 60 (16) | 53 (12) | 40 (4) | 32 (0) | 25 (−4) | 41 (5) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −27 (−33) | −14 (−26) | −4 (−20) | 15 (−9) | 26 (−3) | 33 (1) | 40 (4) | 33 (1) | 25 (−4) | 16 (−9) | 8 (−13) | −19 (−28) | −27 (−33) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 2.73 (69) | 2.23 (57) | 3.17 (81) | 3.20 (81) | 4.03 (102) | 3.38 (86) | 3.81 (97) | 3.28 (83) | 3.21 (82) | 3.24 (82) | 3.09 (78) | 2.69 (68) | 38.06 (966) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 9.7 (25) | 8.1 (21) | 5.2 (13) | 0.4 (1.0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1.5 (3.8) | 4.3 (11) | 29.2 (74.8) |
| Source:[9] | |||||||||||||
_in_Hancock%2c_Washington_County%2c_Maryland.jpg)
The primary means of travel to and from Hancock is by road.Interstate 70 is the main highway serving the town. I-70 continues east toBaltimore and west to the southern suburbs ofPittsburgh.U.S. Route 40 runs concurrently with I-70 through the town, but just to the northwest, splits with I-70 to followInterstate 68 westward towardsCumberland.U.S. Route 522 also traverses Hancock, heading northwest with I-70 into Pennsylvania and southward into easternWest Virginia towardsWinchester,Virginia. Within the town,Maryland Route 144 serves as a local service route, following Main Street.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 931 | — | |
| 1890 | 815 | −12.5% | |
| 1900 | 824 | 1.1% | |
| 1910 | 893 | 8.4% | |
| 1920 | 972 | 8.8% | |
| 1930 | 947 | −2.6% | |
| 1940 | 940 | −0.7% | |
| 1950 | 963 | 2.4% | |
| 1960 | 2,004 | 108.1% | |
| 1970 | 1,881 | −6.1% | |
| 1980 | 1,887 | 0.3% | |
| 1990 | 1,926 | 2.1% | |
| 2000 | 1,725 | −10.4% | |
| 2010 | 1,545 | −10.4% | |
| 2020 | 1,557 | 0.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] | |||
As of thecensus[11] of 2010, there were 1,545 people, 694 households, and 407 families living in the town. Thepopulation density was 565.9 inhabitants per square mile (218.5/km2). There were 821 housing units at an average density of 300.7 per square mile (116.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.7%White, 0.4%African American, 0.5%Native American, 0.4%Asian, and 1.0% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.5% of the population.
There were 694 households, of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.6% weremarried couples living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.4% were non-families. 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.86.
The median age in the town was 40.7 years. 22.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.5% were from 25 to 44; 27.6% were from 45 to 64; and 17.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.
As of thecensus[12] of 2000, there were 1,725 people, 735 households, and 462 families living in the town. The population density was 637.8 inhabitants per square mile (246.3/km2). There were 803 housing units at an average density of 296.9 per square mile (114.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.26%White, 0.35%African American, 0.35%Native American, 0.06%Asian, 0.12%Pacific Islander, 0.12% fromother races, and 0.75% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.46% of the population.
There were 735 households, out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.8% weremarried couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.5% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $28,750, and the median income for a family was $32,538. Males had a median income of $25,353 versus $20,304 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $13,758. About 11.6% of families and 16.8% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 19.7% of those under age 18 and 13.7% of those age 65 or over.
The town government consists of five elected officials: a Mayor and four members of the Town Council. Council members are elected to four-year terms, while the Mayor is elected to a two-year term. Hancock is one of the smallest municipalities in the state of Maryland. The current mayor is Roland E. Lanehart, Jr.[13]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
