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Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania

Marreties Hoeck
Borough Hall
Borough Hall
Motto(s): 
The Cornerstone of Pennsylvania
Location in Delaware County and the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
Location in Delaware County and the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania is located in Pennsylvania
Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania
Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania is located in the United States
Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania
Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
County Delaware
Established 1655
Area
 • Total 1.62 sq mi (4.21 km2)
 • Land 1.11 sq mi (2.87 km2)
 • Water 0.52 sq mi (1.34 km2)
Elevation
30 ft (9 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 2,397
 • Estimate 
(2019)
2,402
 • Density 2,167.87/sq mi (836.77/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
19061
Area codes 610 and 484
FIPS code 42-47344

Marcus Hook is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,397 at the 2010 census. The current mayor is Gene Taylor. The borough calls itself "The Cornerstone of Pennsylvania". The 2005 film One Last Thing... was set and partially filmed in Marcus Hook.

History

In early times, Marcus Hook was a major Lenape settlement that became a New Sweden trading post in the 1640s. Called "Chammassungh" or "Finland", it was on the west side of the Delaware River, between Marcus Hook and the mouth of Naamans Creek. The settlement was renamed "Marrites Hoeck" after the Dutch conquered the area in 1655. Small ship construction and fishing were its early industries. Later, Marcus Hook became a resort and amusement center. The borough was officially incorporated on March 7, 1892. The convergence of rail, roads, a deepwater port, and the nation's growing thirst for petroleum gave rise to the refineries that became the borough's dominant industry.

Geography

Marcus Hook is located along the southern border of Delaware County (and Pennsylvania) at 39°49′N 75°25′W / 39.817°N 75.417°W / 39.817; -75.417 (39.8182, -75.4155). It is bordered to the northwest by Lower Chichester Township, including the community of Linwood, to the northeast by the borough of Trainer, to the southeast across the Delaware River by Gloucester County, New Jersey, and to the southwest by New Castle County, Delaware.

U.S. Route 13 (10th Street) is the main road through the borough, leading northeast 4 miles (6 km) to Chester, and southwest 9 miles (14 km) to Wilmington, Delaware. Pennsylvania Route 452 (Market Street) intersects US 13 in the center of the borough and leads north 1 mile (1.6 km) to Interstate 95 Exit 2, and 7 miles (11 km) to U.S. Route 1 west of Media.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Marcus Hook has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.2 km2), of which 1.1 square miles (2.9 km2) is land and 0.50 square miles (1.3 km2), or 31.63%, is water. The lowest point in the state of Pennsylvania is located on the Delaware River in Marcus Hook, where it flows out of Pennsylvania and into Delaware.

Educational system

Marcus Hook PA Elementary School
Marcus Hook Elementary School

Marcus Hook is a part of Chichester School District. Children within the borough usually attend Marcus Hook Elementary School (Grades K-4), Chichester Middle School (Grades 5-8), or Chichester High School (Grades 9-12).

The area Catholic K-8 school is Holy Family Regional Catholic School in Aston. Marcus Hook previously had its own Catholic grade school, Immaculate Conception School. It closed in 1974, with students moved to Holy Savior School. That school merged into Holy Savior-St. John Fisher School in Linwood, which in turn merged into Holy Family in 2012.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1900 1,209
1910 1,573 30.1%
1920 5,324 238.5%
1930 4,867 −8.6%
1940 4,123 −15.3%
1950 3,843 −6.8%
1960 3,299 −14.2%
1970 3,041 −7.8%
1980 2,638 −13.3%
1990 2,546 −3.5%
2000 2,314 −9.1%
2010 2,397 3.6%
2020 2,454 2.4%

As of Census 2010, the racial makeup of the borough was 82.3% White, 13.6% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 3.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.0% of the population [1].

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,314 people, 919 households, and 565 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,055.7 people per square mile (790.7/km²). There were 1,025 housing units at an average density of 910.6 per square mile (350.2/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 91.44% White, 5.32% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.69% from other races, and 1.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.77% of the population.

There were 919 households, out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.9% were married couples living together, 19.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.5% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 28.1% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $28,219, and the median income for a family was $36,083. Males had a median income of $31,620 versus $24,569 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $13,738. About 13.3% of families and 21.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.5% of those under age 18 and 16.5% of those age 65 or over.

Local community groups

In the interest of protecting and remembering nearly 400 years of history in Marcus Hook two groups were created. The Marcus Hook Preservation Society works with the community, local universities and archeology groups to fund archeological digs and set up educational programs. The Plankhouse Crew is a pirate reenactment group focusing on the Golden Age of Piracy and provides living history demonstrations as well as entertainment. The Plankhouse Crew was created around the Plankhouse which was believed to be the former home of a woman named Margaret, a mistress of the infamous pirate Blackbeard. They are also Marcus Hook's featured group for the annual Delaware River River Ramble celebration held in September.

Transportation

U.S. Route 13 (10th Street) is the main road through the borough, leading northeast 4 miles (6 km) to Chester, and southwest 9 miles (14 km) to Wilmington, Delaware. Pennsylvania Route 452 (Market Street) intersects US 13 in the center of the borough and leads north 1 mile (1.6 km) to Interstate 95 Exit 2, and 7 miles (11 km) to U.S. Route 1 west of Media. Marcus Hook station is a SEPTA train station on the Wilmington/Newark Line providing service to Center City Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Newark, Delaware. SEPTA Route 119 bus also services Marcus Hook along its route between Chester Transportation Center and Cheyney University.

Notable people

American Viscose Corporation
American Viscose Corporation Industrial Village built to house workers of the American Viscose Corporation Plant
Marcus Hook, PA (bit of DE) flickr
Aerial view of the riverfront
  • Ron Bennington, Sirius Radio personality
  • William Bucknell, businessman and benefactor of Bucknell University
  • Elisha Cullen Dick, born at Blue Ball Inn, attending physician of George Washington at time of his death
  • Ralph Garzia, member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 160th district
  • John Grubb, member of the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly and original settler of Brandywine Hundred, buried at St. Martins Church
  • Robert E. Haebel, United States Marine Corps major general
  • Billy "White Shoes" Johnson, NFL player
  • Albert Dutton MacDade, Pennsylvania State Senator and Judge in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas
  • Mickey Vernon, Major League Baseball player
  • Curt Weldon, former congressman from Pennsylvania and former mayor of Marcus Hook

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Marcus Hook para niños

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