Hancock, Maine
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Hancock is a town in Hancock County,
Maine Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and north ...
, United States. The population was 2,466 at the 2020 census. Located on the mainland at the head of
Frenchman Bay Frenchman Bay is a bay in Hancock County, Maine, named for Samuel de Champlain, the French explorer who visited the area in 1604. Frenchman Bay may have been the location of the Jesuit St. Sauveur mission, established in 1613. In a 1960 book ...
, Hancock has commanding views of
Mount Desert Island Mount Desert Island (MDI; french: Île des Monts Déserts) in Hancock County, Maine, is the largest island off the coast of Maine. With an area of it is the 52nd-largest island in the United States, the sixth-largest island in the contiguous ...
.


History

It was first settled in 1766 by Philip and S. Hodgkins from Georgetown. Formed from portions of Sullivan, Trenton and Plantation No. 8, the town was incorporated by the
state legislature A state legislature is a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system. Two federations literally use the term "state legislature": * The legislative branches of each of the fifty state governments of the United Sta ...
on February 21, 1828 and named for
John Hancock John Hancock ( – October 8, 1793) was an American Founding Father, merchant, statesman, and prominent Patriot of the American Revolution. He served as president of the Second Continental Congress and was the first and third Governor of the ...
, signer of the Declaration of Independence. It had two
water power Hydropower (from el, ὕδωρ, "water"), also known as water power, is the use of falling or fast-running water to produce electricity or to power machines. This is achieved by converting the gravitational potential or kinetic energy of a wa ...
sites to operate
mills Mills is the plural form of mill, but may also refer to: As a name *Mills (surname), a common family name of English or Gaelic origin * Mills (given name) *Mills, a fictional British secret agent in a trilogy by writer Manning O'Brine Places Unit ...
—the Kilkenny and Egypt streams. There was one
gristmill A gristmill (also: grist mill, corn mill, flour mill, feed mill or feedmill) grinds cereal grain into flour and Wheat middlings, middlings. The term can refer to either the Mill (grinding), grinding mechanism or the building that holds it. Grist i ...
, four shingle mills and four
lath A lath or slat is a thin, narrow strip of straight-grained wood used under roof shingles or tiles, on lath and plaster walls and ceilings to hold plaster, and in lattice and trellis work. ''Lath'' has expanded to mean any type of backing mate ...
mills. Other products included staves,
lumber Lumber is wood that has been processed into dimensional lumber, including beams and planks or boards, a stage in the process of wood production. Lumber is mainly used for construction framing, as well as finishing (floors, wall panels, wi ...
,
boot A boot is a type of footwear. Most boots mainly cover the foot and the ankle, while some also cover some part of the lower calf. Some boots extend up the leg, sometimes as far as the knee or even the hip. Most boots have a heel that is cle ...
s,
shoes A shoe is an item of footwear intended to protect and comfort the human foot. They are often worn with a sock. Shoes are also used as an item of decoration and fashion. The design of shoes has varied enormously through time and from culture t ...
,
wagon A wagon or waggon is a heavy four-wheeled vehicle pulled by draught animals or on occasion by humans, used for transporting goods, commodities, agricultural materials, supplies and sometimes people. Wagons are immediately distinguished from ...
s and
sleigh A sled, skid, sledge, or sleigh is a land vehicle that slides across a surface, usually of ice or snow. It is built with either a smooth underside or a separate body supported by two or more smooth, relatively narrow, longitudinal runners s ...
s. Many inhabitants were engaged in
seafaring Seamanship is the art, knowledge and competence of operating a ship, boat or other craft on water. The'' Oxford Dictionary'' states that seamanship is "The skill, techniques, or practice of handling a ship or boat at sea." It involves topics a ...
, particularly
fishing Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment, but may also be caught from stocked bodies of water such as ponds, canals, park wetlands and reservoirs. Fishing techniques inclu ...
at the
Grand Banks The Grand Banks of Newfoundland are a series of underwater plateaus south-east of the island of Newfoundland on the North American continental shelf. The Grand Banks are one of the world's richest fishing grounds, supporting Atlantic cod, swordf ...
. During World War II, German spies
Erich Gimpel Erich Gimpel (25 March 1910 in Merseburg – 3 September 2010 in São Paulo) was a German spy during World War II. Together with William Colepaugh, he took part in Operation Elster ("Magpie") an espionage mission to the United States in 1944, but wa ...
and
William Colepaugh William Curtis Colepaugh (March 25, 1918 – March 16, 2005) was an American who, following his 1943 discharge from the U.S. Naval Reserve ("for the good of the service", according to official reports), defected to Nazi Germany in 1944. While a cre ...
landed by submarine in Hancock, then traveled to
New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
. These spies would eventually be captured, tried, and sentenced to death before their sentences were commuted and they were eventually released.


Geography

According to the
United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the town has a total area of , of which is land and is water. Drained by the Kilkenny Stream and Egypt Stream, Hancock is situated on Skillings River, Taunton Bay and
Frenchman Bay Frenchman Bay is a bay in Hancock County, Maine, named for Samuel de Champlain, the French explorer who visited the area in 1604. Frenchman Bay may have been the location of the Jesuit St. Sauveur mission, established in 1613. In a 1960 book ...
, part of the
Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe ...
. The town is crossed by U. S. Route 1 and State Route 182. It borders the towns of Lamoine to the south, Ellsworth to the west, T8 SD to the north,
Franklin Franklin may refer to: People * Franklin (given name) * Franklin (surname) * Franklin (class), a member of a historical English social class Places Australia * Franklin, Tasmania, a township * Division of Franklin, federal electoral d ...
to the east, and (separated by Taunton Bay and Frenchman’s Bay) is near Sullivan and
Sorrento Sorrento (, ; nap, Surriento ; la, Surrentum) is a town overlooking the Bay of Naples in Southern Italy. A popular tourist destination, Sorrento is located on the Sorrentine Peninsula at the south-eastern terminus of the Circumvesuviana rail ...
to the southeast. The Municipality (the entirety of the Town’s area) is considered, generally, to be divided in to a few distinct divisions or areas: Waukeag Neck—which includes the villages of neighborhoods of Hancock Point, Mount Desert Ferry, East Hancock (“Eastside”), South Hancock (“Westside” or “Westshore”), Waukeag Station Crossing, and the Town proper (Hancock Village). ”The Neck” is bounded by the Taunton River to the northeast, Frenchman’s Bay to the south, and Carrying Place Creek to the due west. Mid-Hancock or Hancock Hills—which includes the villages or neighborhoods of Carrying Place Creek, Havey Point, Hyde Point, Hancock Hill (ORO or Old Route One Hill) and Franklin Roads. The area is largely coterminous with US Route One (US1 East) and is bounded by the Carrying Place Creek, Rte 1, and the Kilkenny Stream at Mud Creek Road. Mud Creek—one of the smaller sections of town, the area abuts Kilkenny Stream and Pinkham Flats, adjacent to the town of Lamoine and includes the Mud Creek Marsh. This section includes neighborhoods such as Upper Mud Creek & Kilkenny Cove. Northside—bounded by Egypt Stream, Hog Bay, and Route 182, the area includes the neighborhoods and hamlets of Castle Grove (also known as Austinwood, Austin Castle, and Castle Road), West Egypt, Franklin Roads North, Blease Hill, Spring Pond, and Deerfields. Western Hancock—the larger chunk of the town’s land area is adjacent to the City of Ellsworth and is generally thought to begin at the junction of Mud Creek Road and terminate at Washington Junction Rd and the city limits of Ellsworth and the town line with Lamoine. The area includes the neighborhoods of Washington Junction, Hancock Heights, Crescent Heights, and White Birches. The summer colony of Hancock Point includes many historic properties, such as the Crocker House Country Inn, among a number summer cottages. Hancock Village includes several historic or notable properties as well, such as Ironbound Inn & Restaurant (formerly Le Domaine) and the Pierre Monteaux School. The village also includes commercial, administrative, and social facilities, such as the Grammar School, Hancock Congregational Church, the US Postal Service, the Municipal Hall, among others. The Town serves as one of the crossroads of Eastern Maine, being adjacent to the Mount Desert Island, Ellsworth, Schoodic Peninsula, and Schoodic Foothills / Hog Bay Areas. With an incredible number of scenic spots overlooking MDI, Taunton & Frenchman’s Bay, in addition to its location at the centre of the region, Hancock is a both an attraction in its own right, as well as a basecamp for travellers and tourists. Two of Acadia National Park’s most popular districts—Mount Desert Island and Schoodic Point—are approximately equidistant, and a short drive away. The Island Explorer’s Downeast & Peninsula Routes pass through the community, connecting Bar Harbor, Ellsworth, and Winter Harbor. With its convenient location, historic and charming neighborhoods, as well as its social and commercial facilities, Hancock is both a desirable bedroom community and business district adjacent to Eastern Maine’s shire town of Ellsworth and the popular Mount Desert Island & Schoodic Peninsula Areas.


Demographics


2010 census

As of the
census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...
of 2010, there were 2,394 people, 1,044 households, and 670 families living in the town. The
population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...
was . There were 1,437 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 96.6%
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...
, 0.5%
African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.5% Native American, 0.7%
Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 0.2% from
other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 1.6% from two or more races.
Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...
or
Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...
of any race were 1.3% of the population. There were 1,044 households, of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were
married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...
living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.8% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.73. The median age in the town was 44 years. 20% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.8% were from 25 to 44; 30.8% were from 45 to 64; and 17.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.7% male and 51.3% female.


2000 census

As of the
census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...
of 2000, there were 2,147 people, 927 households, and 596 families living in the town. The
population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...
was 72.0 people per square mile (27.8/km2). There were 1,200 housing units at an average density of 40.2 per square mile (15.5/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.39%
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...
, 0.33%
African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.42% Native American, 0.47%
Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 0.05%
Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe the original p ...
, 0.14% from
other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 1.21% from two or more races.
Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...
or
Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...
of any race were 0.51% of the population. There were 927 households, out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% were
married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...
living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.77. In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.6% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.5 males. The median income for a household in the town was $32,778, and the median income for a family was $36,855. Males had a median income of $27,448 versus $21,031 for females. The
per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...
for the town was $17,339. About 6.9% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the
poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 12.3% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.


Education

* Hancock Grammar school *
Pierre Monteux School The Monteux School and Music Festival for conductors and orchestra musicians, founded by conductor Pierre Monteux, is a 6-week summer orchestra program located in Hancock, Maine, United States. History Pierre Monteux's (1875-1964) first forays i ...
for Conductors and Orchestra Musicians


Notable people

*
George Haskins George Lee Haskins (February 13, 1915 – October 4, 1991) was an American legal scholar and the Algernon Sydney Biddle Professor of Law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Biography Haskins was the son of medievalist Charles Homer Ha ...
(1915–1991), law professor at the
University of Pennsylvania Law School The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School (also known as Penn Law or Penn Carey Law) is the law school of the University of Pennsylvania, a private research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is among the most selective and olde ...


References


External links


Town of Hancock, Maine
{{authority control Towns in Hancock County, Maine Populated places established in 1794 Towns in Maine Populated coastal places in Maine 1794 establishments in Massachusetts