Hancock

History

Prior to the current name, the settlement was named "William's Town" for William McClary. The name Hancock comes from Edward Joseph Hancock, Jr., who fought alongside George Washington during the American Revolutionary War. Individuals began settling in the area of modern-day Hancock during the 1730s. During the Civil War, on January 5, 1862, General Stonewall Jackson began a siege of the town, but did not succeed due to weather conditions.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and is water. The state of Maryland narrows to a width of less than two miles (3 km) in the Hancock area—the smallest non-vertex border-to-border distance of any U.S. state. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal passes through the town, and the Western Maryland Rail Trail connects Hancock with Fort Frederick State Park. The main entrance waterways to the town's periphery are Licking Creek to the east and Sideling Hill Creek along the Washington-Allegany county line to the west. The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Hancock has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Hancock Middle Senior High
  High · Hancock · 219 students · 10.9:1 ratio
• Hancock Elementary
  Elementary · Hancock · 211 students · 14.1:1 ratio