Pocomoke City, Maryland
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Pocomoke City is a city located in Worcester County, Maryland. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 4,098.
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History
Settled in the 1600's on the banks of the Great 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 again incorporated this time as Pocomoke. It soon became a thriving center of population and the largest community in the area.
By the early 1900's ship building was the largest industry in Pocomoke with furs, whiskey and tobacco finding their way via the Pocomoke River (the deepest and 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, museums and scenic waterfront that includes a drawbridge, cycling and walking trails, parks and public docking facilities. Some the companies that have facilites in and around the city are, Benelli (shotguns), Beretta USA (handguns), Bel-Art (plastics), AquaMar (aquaculture), Mid-Atlantic Foods (seafood products), Ricca Chemical Co., among others.
Geography
Pocomoke City is located at 38°4'8" North, 75°33'42" West (38.068904, -75.561718)Template:GR.
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 is water. The total area is 7.60% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 4,098 people, 1,596 households, and 1,058 families residing in the city. The population density is 520.5/km² (1,346.5/mi²). There are 1,764 housing units at an average density of 224.0/km² (579.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 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. 1.05% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 1,596 households out of which 35.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.6% are married couples living together, 24.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% are non-families. 29.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 16.8% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.51 and the average family size is 3.11.
In the city the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 83.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 74.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $28,938, and the median income for a family is $34,722. Males have a median income of $32,175 versus $19,362 for females. The per capita income for the city is $17,301. 18.3% of the population and 13.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 31.8% of those under the age of 18 and 13.2% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
External links
- Pocomoke City Chamber of Commerce (http://www.pocomoke.com/)