Pocomoke City, Maryland

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pocomoke City, dubbed "the friendliest town on the Eastern Shore", is a city in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. The population was 4,098 at the 2000 census.

1 History
2 City events
3 Geography
4 Demographics
5 External links

[edit] History

Settled in the 1600s on the banks of the Pocomoke River, Pocomoke City was originally known as Steven's Ferry after the ferry that crossed the Pocomoke River transporting tobacco and other goods. In 1865, the town was incorporated as New Town. A trading center, tavern, shipyard and shops grew up around the original ferry landing. In 1878 the town was re-incorporated, this time as Pocomoke City. It soon became a thriving center of population and the largest community in the area.

By the early 1900s ship building was the largest industry in Pocomoke with furs, whiskey and tobacco finding their way via the Pocomoke River (the deepest and one of the most scenic river in Maryland) to ports in Baltimore, New York and Philadelphia.

Today, Pocomoke has a population of over 4000 residents, one of the larger municipalities on the Lower Shore. It is also a large commercial hub, having an industrial center, retail outlets, cultural centers with its historic downtown, a museum, and scenic waterfront that includes a drawbridge, cycling and walking trails, parks and public docking facilities. Some of the companies that have facilites in and around the city are Benelli (shotguns), Beretta USA (handguns), Bel-Art (plastics), Mid-Atlantic Foods (seafood products), and Ricca Chemical Co., among others.

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

[edit] City events

In May, a Native American Festival and Pow Wow is held, with tribal groups from across the area coming to sell their wares and perform traditional dances.

Two large events, the Cypress Festival and the Great Pocomoke Fair, bring together much of the city and surrounding areas. The Cypress Festival is held yearly in June in celebration of the Pocomoke River Swamp which (along with the Battle Creek Swamp of Maryland's Calvert County) is the northernmost baldcypress swamp in the United States. Rides, vendor booths, live music, and fireworks make this event one of the liveliest in the city. In August of every year, the Great Pocomoke Fair is held, featuring rides, tractor pulls, horse racing, and other traditional fair events.

In very late November or early December, Pocomoke holds its annual Christmas Parade, which makes its way down Market Street ending in the downtown area, and is said to be the largest night-time Christmas parade in the state. Many organizations have floats in the parade, and bands from local high schools march and perform. Local fire departments send delegations of fire trucks and ambulances, usually decked out in holiday decorations, as well.

[edit] Geography

Pocomoke City is located at 38°4′8″N, 75°33′42″W (38.068904, -75.561718)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.5 km² (3.3 mi²). 7.9 km² (3.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.6 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (7.60%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 4,098 people, 1,596 households, and 1,058 families residing in the city. The population density was 520.5/km² (1,346.5/mi²). There were 1,764 housing units at an average density of 224.0/km² (579.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 50.73% White, 46.36% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 1.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.05% of the population.

There were 1,596 households out of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.6% were married couples living together, 24.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the city the population was spread out with 30.5% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 83.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,938, and the median income for a family was $34,722. Males had a median income of $32,175 versus $19,362 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,301. About 13.6% of families and 18.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.8% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over.