Hancock, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hancock, New York
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Town hall
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| Motto(s):
"Gateway to the Upper Delaware"
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 Hancock, New York
Location in New York
Hancock, New York
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Delaware |
| Government | |
| • Type | Town Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 161.82 sq mi (419.10 km2) |
| • Land | 158.83 sq mi (411.36 km2) |
| • Water | 2.99 sq mi (7.75 km2) |
| Elevation | 922 ft (281 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,764 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
13783, 13774, 13756, 12760, 12776, 13856
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| Area code(s) | 607 845 570 |
| FIPS code | 36-025-31951 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0952148 |
Hancock is a town in Delaware County, New York, United States. It's located in the southwest part of the county. Inside the town, there's also a smaller community called Hancock village.
In 2020, about 2,764 people lived in the town. Hancock is the largest town in Delaware County by land area. It shares its borders with Sullivan County to the south and Pennsylvania's Wayne County to the west. Part of the town is also within the beautiful Catskill Park.
Contents
History of Hancock Town
The town of Hancock was created in 1806. It was formed from a section of the town of Colchester. The town was named after John Hancock. He was a very important person who signed the Declaration of Independence.
Sports and the Upper Delaware River
Hancock, New York, has a long and interesting history, especially when it comes to sports. Two of the most popular sports here are baseball and fishing.
Fishing in the Upper Delaware River
Fly fishing is super popular in Hancock. This is because of the Upper Delaware River (UDR), which flows right through the town. This river is very important for the local economy. It helps many businesses in Hancock and nearby areas.
Hancock Golf Course
The Hancock Golf Course is another great sports spot. It was designed in 1941 by a famous golf architect named Robert Trent Jones, Sr.
Baseball in Hancock
Baseball has been a big part of Hancock for many years. A local person from Hancock, Eddie Murphy, even became a professional baseball player. He played in the major leagues and was known as "Honest Eddie" Murphy. He played in three World Series games during his time in the MLB.
More recently, Hancock Central School joined with Deposit Central School for all sports in 2016. Their new sports teams played together as the D-H Eagles. Before this, from 2010 to 2015, the Hancock Wildcats baseball team won six Section 4 championships in a row. In 2013 and 2014, they almost won the state championship but lost in the final game. In 2014, they lost to Smithtown Christian 7-4 in the state championship.
After a lot of hard work, the D-H Eagles finally won their first State Championship in 2017. They defeated Fort Plain 9-3.
Geography of Hancock
The southwestern border of Hancock is the Delaware River. This river also forms the border with Pennsylvania. The East Branch of the Delaware River flows through the town from east to west. It meets the West Branch at Hancock village. Together, they form the main Delaware River.
Upstream from Hancock village, the town's border and the state line are formed by the West Branch. NY Route 17 is a major road that goes through the town. You can get to Hancock from Exits 87 through 90 on this route.
The town covers a total area of about 419.1 square kilometers (161.8 square miles). Most of this area, about 411.3 square kilometers (158.8 square miles), is land. The rest, about 7.8 square kilometers (3.0 square miles), is water.
Population Information
Hancock has seen changes in its population over the years.
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 525 | — | |
| 1830 | 766 | 45.9% | |
| 1840 | 1,026 | 33.9% | |
| 1850 | 1,798 | 75.2% | |
| 1860 | 2,862 | 59.2% | |
| 1870 | 3,069 | 7.2% | |
| 1880 | 3,238 | 5.5% | |
| 1890 | 4,745 | 46.5% | |
| 1900 | 5,308 | 11.9% | |
| 1910 | 5,191 | −2.2% | |
| 1920 | 4,122 | −20.6% | |
| 1930 | 3,953 | −4.1% | |
| 1940 | 3,813 | −3.5% | |
| 1950 | 3,517 | −7.8% | |
| 1960 | 3,907 | 11.1% | |
| 1970 | 3,604 | −7.8% | |
| 1980 | 3,497 | −3.0% | |
| 1990 | 3,384 | −3.2% | |
| 2000 | 3,450 | 2.0% | |
| 2010 | 3,224 | −6.6% | |
| 2020 | 2,764 | −14.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 3,449 people living in the town. About 24.1% of the population was under 18 years old. The average age of people in Hancock was 42 years.
Notable People from Hancock
Many interesting people have come from Hancock, New York:
- Henry Bidleman Bascom (1796-1850) – A religious leader and bishop. He was also a chaplain for the US Congress.
- Clark L. Hood (1847-1920) – A lawyer and a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.
- "Honest Eddie" Murphy – A professional baseball player who played in three World Series.
- Harold Searles (1918-2015) – A well-known psychiatrist.
Communities and Locations in Hancock
The Town of Hancock includes several smaller communities and interesting places:
- Cadosia – A small community northeast of Hancock village.
- Centerville – A place in the northern part of the town, located on New York State Route 30.
- Chiloway – A community southwest of Peakville.
- East Branch – The Hotel Delaware here is a historic building.
- Fish's Eddy – A community northeast of Hancock village on New York State Route 17.
- French Woods – A community near the center of the town on New York State Route 97.
- Goulds – A community near the eastern town line.
- Hancock – The main village in the town, located near the western town line.
- Harvard – A location near the northeastern town line on New York State Route 30.
- Islamberg – A community west of the village.
- Kelsey – A community at the northwestern town line, north of Hancock village.
- Kerry Siding – A community at the northwestern town line.
- Kerryville – Another community at the northwestern town line.
- Kilgore Spur – A location west of Lordville.
- Kingswood Campsite – A campsite run by the Methodist church.
- Long Flat – A location near the northeastern town line.
- Lordville – A community by the Delaware River in the southern part of the town. The Lordville Presbyterian Church and the Ravina historic district are important landmarks here.
- Luzerne – A community southeast of Fishs Eddy on New York State Route 28.
- Methol – The Lower Shavertown Covered Bridge here is a historic covered bridge.
- Peakville – A community west of East Branch, once called Trout Brook.
- Pea Brook – A location in the southern part of the town on New York State Route 97.
- Peas Eddy – A community east of Hancock village by the Delaware River.
- Point Mountain Mausoleum – An old mausoleum at the top of Point Mountain.
- Readburn – A community in the northern part of the town.
- Rock Valley – A community by the eastern town line. The Rock Valley School is a historic building.
- Tylers Switch – A community east of Hancock village near New York State Route 17.
