kids encyclopedia robot

Rock Hall, Maryland facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Rock Hall, Maryland
Main St. Rock Hall
Main St. Rock Hall
Flag of Rock Hall, Maryland
Flag
Official seal of Rock Hall, Maryland
Seal
Nickname(s): 
Rock City
Motto(s): 
"Pearl of the Chesapeake"
Location of Rock Hall, Maryland
Location of Rock Hall, Maryland
Country  United States
State  Maryland
County Kent
Founded 1707
Incorporated 1908
Government
 • Type Mayor-Council-Manager
Area
 • Total 1.55 sq mi (4.02 km2)
 • Land 1.34 sq mi (3.47 km2)
 • Water 0.21 sq mi (0.55 km2)
Elevation
10 ft (3 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 1,198
 • Density 895.37/sq mi (345.74/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
21661
Area code(s) 410
FIPS code 24-67400
GNIS feature ID 0586872
Website Town of Rock Hall, Maryland

Rock Hall, is a waterfront town located directly on the National Chesapeake Scenic Byway in Kent County, Maryland, United States. The population was 1,310 at the 2010 census.

History

Originally called Rock Hall Crossroads, the city is now a fishing, sailing and recreational boating town situated on the upper Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. It is the center of Kent County's maritime industries, and is also a popular tourist destination. It was established in 1707. The city was named for a mansion made of white sandstone, and was incorporated in 1908.

Rock Hall served as a shipping point for tobacco, seafood and other agricultural products, as well as a passenger transport connection for travelers during the Colonial era. Later, fishing and seafood processing became the town's largest industry.

The town missed out on receiving a railroad connection in 1872, when the Kent County Railroad set out to build from Massey via Chestertown and connect with a ferry to Baltimore for both passengers and freight. The company went bankrupt in 1877, having only built a stub from Chestertown to a place called Belair or Parsons and abandoning the rest unfinished.

Rock Hall Harbor remains a working harbor with an active fleet of commercial watermen, charter fishing and commercial sailing boats. It has three museums including a waterman's museum.

Hinchingham and Trumpington are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.55 square miles (4.01 km2), of which 1.34 square miles (3.47 km2) is land and 0.21 square miles (0.54 km2) is water.

2022-06-30 13 54 07 View east at the west end of Maryland State Route 20 (Rock Hall Avenue) at Lawton Avenue and Beach Road in Rock Hall, Kent County, Maryland
MD 20 eastbound in Rock Hall

Transportation

The main method of transportation in and out of Rock Hall is by road, and two state highways serve the town. The primary highway serving the town is Maryland Route 20, which connects eastward from Rock Hall to Chestertown. Maryland Route 445 also traverses the town on a north-south alignment.

Oyster Boats
Working crab and oyster boats
Cruises 050
Modern marina resorts

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 221
1910 781
1930 405
1940 781 92.8%
1950 786 0.6%
1960 1,073 36.5%
1970 1,125 4.8%
1980 1,511 34.3%
1990 1,584 4.8%
2000 1,396 −11.9%
2010 1,310 −6.2%
2020 1,198 −8.5%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,310 people, 630 households, and 374 families residing in the town. The population density was 977.6 inhabitants per square mile (377.5/km2). There were 930 housing units at an average density of 694.0 per square mile (268.0/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 92.0% White, 5.8% African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.5% of the population.

There were 630 households, of which 19.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.5% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.6% were non-families. 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.05 and the average family size was 2.57.

The median age in the town was 54.3 years. 15.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 16.4% were from 25 to 44; 33% were from 45 to 64; and 30% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.2% male and 52.8% female.

Economy

A variety of retail shops are located on Main Street. Oyster collection, crabbing and fishing contribute to the economy as do charter boats for fishing trips. Tourism is also a source of income, particularly over the summer months and on special events weekends such as the Pirates and Wenches Weekend. It is also a center in the area for July 4 celebrations.

Daymark
Entrance Mark to Harbor
Workboat
Fishing boat returning with catch
Scenic Sunset Cruise
Scenic Sunset Cruise
Oyster Tonging Statue 002
Rock Hall Oysterman

Education

It is in the Kent County Public Schools. Rock Hall Elementary School is in the town. Kent County Middle School is in Chestertown, and Kent County High School is in an unincorporated area with a Worton postal address.

The former Rock Hall Middle School consolidated into Kent County Middle in Chestertown in 2010.

Kent County public library maintains the Rock Hall Branch.

Notable people

  • Lambert Wickes (1735–1777), captain in the Continental Navy
  • Wylie F. L. Tuttle (died 2002), real estate developer responsible for the development of Tour Montparnasse built his residence there

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Rock Hall (Maryland) para niños

kids search engine
Rock Hall, Maryland Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.