Pocomoke City, Maryland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pocomoke City, Maryland
City
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  Friendliest Town on the Eastern Shore
Location in Worcester County and the state of Maryland
Pocomoke City, Maryland Location in Maryland Show map of Maryland Pocomoke City, Maryland Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Maryland
County	Worcester
Incorporated	1878
Area
• Total	4.04 sq mi (10.45 km2)
• Land	3.79 sq mi (9.81 km2)
• Water	0.25 sq mi (0.64 km2)
Elevation	7 ft (2 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,295
• Density	1,133.84/sq mi (437.81/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code	21851
Area code	410, 443
FIPS code	24-62475
GNIS feature ID	0591031
Website	www.cityofpocomoke.com

Pocomoke City, dubbed "the friendliest town on the Eastern Shore", is a city in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. Although renamed in a burst of civic enthusiasm in 1878, the city is regularly referred to by its inhabitants simply as Pocomoke /ˈpoʊkoʊmoʊk/. The population was 4,295 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area. Pocomoke City is a center for commerce on the lower shore, home to an industrial park currently playing host to defense contractors, aerospace engineering, and plastics fabrication. Pocomoke City is located near the Wallops Island Flight Facility in Wallops Island, Virginia.

History

Beginning in the late seventeenth century, a small settlement called Stevens Landing (sometimes Stevens Ferry) grew at the ferry landing on the south bank of the Pocomoke River. The town was incorporated as Newtown (or New Town) in 1865, but was reincorporated in 1878 as Pocomoke City, after the American Indian name of the river, meaning "black water."

Stevens Landing, and then Newtown, remained a modest river crossing until the construction through the town in the 1880s of the trunk railroad line along the Delmarva Peninsula from Wilmington, Delaware, to Cape Charles on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The line eventually became part of the Pennsylvania Railroad. In addition to agriculture, industry such as lumber milling and shipbuilding and, in the twentieth century, factories making barrels and baskets for truck crops, and the canning of those crops, aided the town's growth.

In 1922, the business district of Pocomoke City was destroyed in a large fire; on one side of town this continued up to the church on third Street, known as St. Mary's Episcopal Church, but the downtown was quickly rebuilt. While truck farming declined during the 1900s, the poultry industry rose to take its place. NASA, the U.S. Navy, and the Coast Guard helped with continued growth by bringing jobs to the area.

Pocomoke City was named an All-America City by the National Municipal League, and for the years 1984–85, Pocomoke City was one of the nine Finalist Communities.

Culture

Historic locations

The Sturgis One Room School Museum, a one-room schoolhouse, was moved to its present location in the downtown area as a museum of local African-American history. In addition to the MarVa Theater and Costen House, Beverly, Littleton T. Clarke House, Crockett House, Hayward's Lott, Pocomoke City Historic District, Puncheon Mill House, and Young-Sartorius House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The 1920 drawbridge across the Pocomoke River.

Museums and arts

Pocomoke City is home to the Delmarva Discovery Museum, an interactive museum focusing on local ecology and history, and The Isaac Costen House Museum. The MarVa Theater is a 1927 Art Deco auditorium known for its superior acoustics, and is being restored as a regional center for the performing arts.

Sports

In the past, Pocomoke City held a franchise in the Eastern Shore Baseball League, at times hosting the Salamanders, the Red Sox, and the Chicks.

Education

Three Worcester County Public Schools are located in Pocomoke City: Pocomoke Elementary, Pocomoke Middle, and Pocomoke High. Both the elementary and high schools are named a Blue Ribbon School.

Geography

Pocomoke City is located at 38°4′8″N 75°33′42″W / 38.06889°N 75.56167°W / 38.06889; -75.56167 (38.068904, -75.561718).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.94 square miles (10.20 km²), of which 3.69 square miles (9.56 km²) is land and 0.25 square miles (0.65 km²) is water.

Climate

Its climate is characterized by hot and humid stretches of weather in summer, but they are often broken up by cold fronts from the north offering several days of mild temperatures. Both spring and fall are pleasant with cool to mild temperatures and lower humidity. Winters are relatively mild compared to areas to the north and northwest, but cold spells send temperatures well below freezing. Due to the impact of the Atlantic Ocean nearby, average snowfall amounts only range from 5 to 10 inches (130 to 250 mm); however, this varies considerably from year to year and occasional nor'easters can produce significant snowfalls over one foot (30 cm). The Blizzard of 2018, for example, produced 10 to 15 inches (250 to 380 mm) of snow, temperatures in teens, and winds gusting over 40 mph (64 km/h). Tropical storms occasionally impact the region during summer and fall.

The Köppen climate classification subtype for this climate is "Cfa" (Humid Subtropical Climate).

Municipal status

References to the municipality's status as a city or town varies according to sources. The Census Bureau accounts Pocomoke City a city, while official state documents differ. According to the Maryland State Archives, many more official documents refer to the "Town of Pocomoke City" than to the "City of Pocomoke City." The most recent references to the "Town" are from 1963, however, while the most recent references to the "City", which come from its Charter, are from 1990. Other sources also differ: the Maryland Manual Online calls it as a city, while the Maryland Municipal League speaks of it as a town. While cities and towns are significantly different in some states, Maryland's cities and towns, classed simply as "municipalities", are treated equally in state law.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 4,184 people, 1,626 households, and 1,077 families living in the city. The population density was 1,133.9 inhabitants per square mile (437.8/km²). There were 1,894 housing units at an average density of 513.3 per square mile (198.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 49.5% White, 45.8% African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.3% Asian, 1.0% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the population.

There were 1,626 households, of which 38.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.5% were married couples living together, 24.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.8% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14% 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 3.10.

The median age in the city was 36.4 years. 27.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.4% were from 25 to 44; 24.4% were from 45 to 64; and 15.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 55.6% female and 44.4% male.

Notable people

• Hugh Latimer Dryden, director of NACA (1947–1958) and Deputy Administrator of NASA (1958-1965) was born in Pocomoke City.

See also

In Spanish: Pocomoke City (Maryland) para niños