50-622: 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 / ˈ p oʊ k oʊ m oʊ k / . The population was 4,295 at the 2020 census . It is part of the Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area . Pocomoke City
100-434: A female householder with no husband present, 34.3% were non-families, and 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.76. The median age was 48.1 years. The median income for a household in the county was $ 55,487 and the median income for a family was $ 67,408. Males had a median income of $ 44,986 versus $ 37,785 for females. The per capita income for
150-490: A son of Henry Somerset, 1st Marquess of Worcester . She was sister to Anne Arundell ( Anne Arundel County ), wife of Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore ( Cecil County ), the first Proprietor and Proprietary Governor of the Province of Maryland . Worcester County is included in the Salisbury , MD- DE Metropolitan Statistical Area . The county includes the entire length of the state's ocean and tidewater coast along
200-560: 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 . Beginning in the late seventeenth century, a small settlement called Stevens Landing (sometimes Stevens Ferry ) grew at the ferry landing on
250-627: Is the Salisbury–Ocean City–Wicomico Regional Airport near Salisbury . Shore Transit provides public transportation in Worcester County, operating bus routes connecting Pocomoke City, Snow Hill, Berlin, and Ocean City with Princess Anne and Salisbury. Ocean City Transportation operates bus service branded as Beach Bus in Ocean City. DART First State 's Beach Bus Route 208 connects Ocean City with
300-556: Is the easternmost county of the U.S. state of Maryland . As of the 2020 census , the population was 52,460. Its county seat is Snow Hill . The county is part of the Lower Eastern Shore region of the state. It is the only county of Maryland that borders the Atlantic Ocean , and the only county bordering both Delaware and Virginia . The county was named for Mary Arundell, the wife of Sir John Somerset,
350-413: Is water. 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
400-527: The Atlantic Ocean and the highest elevation is 49 ft (15 m) in the northwestern part of the county along State Route 12 just south of the Wicomico County line. The county has a humid subtropical climate ( Cfa .) All monthly temperature averages are above freezing and eight months in most of the county are above 50 °F (10 °C).) Three months are above 22 °C (72 °F).) Freight trains run from Snow Hill north to Berlin and
450-533: The Atlantic Ocean , and the later Ash Wednesday "Nor'easter" of 1962 , which destroyed much of the residential development on Assateague Island and led to the creation of the National Seashore and State Park . The county has a number of properties on the National Register of Historic Places . Worcester County was granted home rule in 1976 under a state code under the amendments to
500-540: The Delaware Beaches in the summer months. Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race. As of the 2010 United States Census , there were 51,454 people, 22,229 households, and 14,598 families residing in the county. The population density
550-815: The Eastern Shore Baseball League , at times hosting the Salamanders, the Red Sox, and the Chicks. On June 14, 1906, the city was the site of a lynching. A farmhand named Edd Watson was murdered by a mob. In October 1933, George Armwood , a Pocomoke City man was taken from a jail cell in nearby Princess Anne and killed by a mob. Three Worcester County Public Schools are located in Pocomoke City: Pocomoke Elementary, Pocomoke Middle, and Pocomoke High . Both
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#1732780214057600-577: 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
650-584: The Intracoastal Waterway bordering Assawoman Bay , Isle of Wight Bay , Sinepuxent Bay , and Chincoteague Bay between the sand barrier islands of Fenwick Island and Assateague Island bordering the Atlantic Ocean coast. It is home to the popular vacation resort area of Ocean City , founded 1875, as well as wild habitats on the primitive wilderness areas on Assateague Island and in the Pocomoke River and Swamp . Worcester County
700-482: The National Register of Historic Places . 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 . In the past, Pocomoke City held a franchise in
750-458: The U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 695 square miles (1,800 km ), of which 468 square miles (1,210 km ) is land and 227 square miles (590 km ) (33%) is water. It is the second-largest county in Maryland by total area (behind Dorchester County ) and the fourth-largest by land area. The terrain is mostly level and coastal. The lowest elevation is sea level along
800-647: 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. As of
850-533: The 1960s has turned the northern part of the county from a summer resort to an expanding year-round community. Two major storms influenced the course of Worcester County history in the 20th Century: the hurricane of August 1933 , which badly damaged Ocean City and Public Landing , but also cut the Ocean City Inlet and passageway between the inner bays west of the sandy barrier islands of Assawoman Bay , Sinepuxent Bay and Assateague Channel and Bay and
900-602: The Delaware border on the Maryland and Delaware Railroad , and the main line (formerly Pennsylvania Railroad ) from Philadelphia to Cape Charles, Virginia and Norfolk runs through the southwestern corner of the county, operated by the Delmarva Central Railroad . The Ocean City Municipal Airport is located near Ocean City, but has no scheduled service. The nearest airport with commercial air service
950-424: 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
1000-427: The age of 18 living with them, 53.20% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.60% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.79. In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.50% under
1050-468: The age of 18, 6.20% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 26.90% from 45 to 64, and 20.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.30 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 40,650, and the median income for a family was $ 47,293. Males had a median income of $ 31,735 versus $ 24,319 for females. The per capita income for
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#17327802140571100-405: The average family size was 3.11. In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 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
1150-518: The census of 2000, there were 4,098 people, 1,596 households, and 1,058 families living in the city. The population density was 1,346.5 inhabitants per square mile (519.9/km). There were 1,764 housing units at an average density of 579.6 per square mile (223.8/km). 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
1200-561: 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
1250-440: 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. As of the census of 2010, there were 4,184 people, 1,626 households, and 1,077 families living in
1300-409: 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. Pocomoke City was the subject of a 2019 documentary, The Friendliest Town , which investigated the abrupt and unexplained firing in 2015 of
1350-474: The city. The population density was 1,133.9 inhabitants per square mile (437.8/km). There were 1,894 housing units at an average density of 513.3 per square mile (198.2/km). 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
1400-628: The civil war in Worcester County first generation immigrants from England and Germany were known for siding with the Union whereas first generation Irish Catholic immigrants from Ireland overwhelmingly sided with the Confederacy and were known for being some of the leaders of the Copperheads or "Peace Democrats" in Worcester County. Worcester County was primarily an agricultural area from its inception, first planting tobacco , but when
1450-503: The county was $ 22,505. About 7.20% of families and 9.60% of the population were below the poverty line , including 17.00% of those under age 18 and 6.40% of those age 65 or over. The following institutions are part of the Worcester County public school system , governed by the Worcester County Board of Education: In the fall of 2008 Worcester County has plans to open Worcester Technical High School to all residents of
1500-474: The county was $ 31,520. About 6.2% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line , including 16.2% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over. As of the census of 2000, there were 46,543 people, 19,694 households, and 13,273 families residing in the county. The population density was 98 inhabitants per square mile (38/km ). There were 47,360 housing units at an average density of 100 per square mile (39/km ). The racial makeup of
1550-399: The county was 18.9% German, 18.2% Irish, 17.1% English and 7.7% Italian. If people who wrote they were a combination of "Irish", "English" and "German" (in any order) were counted as one group, they would be 31.9%, and the largest group in the county. Of the 22,229 households, 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% were married couples living together, 10.9% had
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1600-432: The county was 81.20% White , 16.66% Black or African American , 0.18% Native American , 0.61% Asian , 0.02% Pacific Islander , 0.37% from other races , and 0.97% from two or more races. 1.28% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 15.7% were of German , 13.3% English , 12.6% Irish , 11.1% American and 6.0% Italian ancestry. There were 19,694 households, out of which 24.50% had children under
1650-533: The county, to replace Worcester Career and Technology Center. The following private schools also operate in Worcester County: This county contains the following incorporated municipalities: The Census Bureau recognizes the following census-designated places in the county: 38°14′N 75°17′W / 38.23°N 75.28°W / 38.23; -75.28 Pocomoke High School Too Many Requests If you report this error to
1700-513: The elementary and high schools are named a Blue Ribbon School . 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 km), of which 3.69 square miles (9.56 km) is land and 0.25 square miles (0.65 km)
1750-785: The fourth Maryland Constitution of 1867. The Circuit Court of Maryland and District Court of Maryland are located in Snow Hill with two district courthouses . The county is governed by a Board of Commissioners elected from seven districts. The members of the County Council as of 2022 are: Worcester County lies wholly in Senate District 38 and is served in the Maryland House of Delegates in Districts 38A and 38C. Members listed below as of 2018 are: According to
1800-456: The highest portion of free people of color per capita out of any county in Maryland. It was one of the few counties in the state with an active abolitionist movement. Most abolitionists in the county were Methodists , Quakers and Presbyterians , however the slave-owning community was overwhelmingly Baptist and Catholic . First-generation immigrants from England and Germany were also overwhelmingly abolitionists in Worcester County. During
1850-523: 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
1900-477: The later 19th century, the seaside resort of Ocean City was founded. Truck farming and the canning industry came to the fore during the early 20th century. However, both the seafood industry and truck farming declined after mid-century, due to overfishing on the one hand, and the opening of California 's Central Valley to irrigated agriculture on the other, but the advent of the large-scale poultry industry filled this gap. The expansion of Ocean City since
1950-704: The newly independent state following American independence. Competing territorial claims between the Proprietor family of the Calverts and the Lords Baltimore in the old Province of Maryland and the Penns of the neighboring Province of Pennsylvania to the north and of what later became the state of Delaware to the east led to the surveying of Worcester County's northern border, the " Transpeninsular Line " in 1751, though boundary disputes continued through
2000-407: 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
2050-517: The quality produced in the area's sandy soil could not compete with that produced elsewhere, they began growing wheat, corn, and livestock. Early industrial activity included the smelting of bog iron ore in a brick blast furnace to make pig iron at Furnacetown in the first half of the 19th century. The presence of large bald cypress swamps along the Pocomoke River led to logging, the manufacture of roofing shingles , and shipbuilding along
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2100-508: The region during summer and fall. The Köppen climate classification subtype for this climate is " Cfa " (Humid Subtropical Climate). 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
2150-735: The rest of the colonial period, not totally settled until the work of the famous Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon with their " Mason–Dixon line ". In 1779, Stephen Decatur , the famous United States Navy officer and hero of the First Barbary War and the Second Barbary War in the early 1800s, and leading into the War of 1812 , was born at Sinepuxent , near what is today the town of Berlin . Originally settled by European immigrants of British and Irish stock, along with slaves of mainly West African descent , Worcester County
2200-556: The river at Newtown (later Pocomoke City ). The arrival of steam-powered water transport and then the railroad opened urban markets to another of Worcester County's principal products: seafood , particularly shellfish . Oysters, clams, and crabs were shipped to Baltimore , Philadelphia , and New York . Soon after the Civil War (to each side of which Worcester County sent soldiers), parts of both Worcester and Somerset Counties were combined to create, in 1867, Wicomico County . Also in
2250-584: 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
2300-665: The town's first Black police chief, Kelvin Sewell. Sewell subsequently filed suit in federal court together with former lieutenant Lynell Green and former detective Franklin Savage, alleging a pattern of "rampant racial discrimination and retaliation" by city, county, and state officials. In 2019, Pocomoke City agreed to settle Sewell and Green's federal lawsuits, and the town entered a consent decree requiring it to reform its policies and procedures around policing. Worcester County, Maryland Worcester County / ˈ w ʊ r s t ər /
2350-402: Was 109.9 inhabitants per square mile (42.4/km ). There were 55,749 housing units at an average density of 119.1 per square mile (46.0/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 82.0% white, 13.6% black or African American, 1.1% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 1.2% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry
2400-790: Was created by the division of the formerly larger Eastern Shore's Somerset County in 1742. The county seat , which was previously located near the confluence of Dividing Creek with the Pocomoke River , was later transferred to the river port of Snow Hill , at the head of navigation of the Pocomoke, now near the center of the new county. Both the areas of Somerset and Worcester Counties were divided into old colonial divisions of "hundreds" , from south to north: Mattapony , Pocomoke, Boquetenorton, Wicomico, and Baltimore Hundreds. Later subdivisions of these hundreds added Pitts Creek, Acquango, Queponco, and Buckingham & Worcester Hundreds, all of which in turn eventually became election districts for
2450-449: Was divided during the colonial period into several Church of England parishes , though Quakers , Presbyterians , and later Methodists also set up meeting houses. Like the border states in general, Worcester County had a high proportion of free people of color for many decades before the Civil War , due in part to the influence of initially Quakerism , and later Methodism . During the 1840s and 1850s, Worcester County, Maryland had
2500-502: Was one of the nine Finalist Communities. 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
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