Hancock (village), New York
Encyclopedia
Hancock is a village
in Delaware County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 1,189 at the 2000 census
.
The Village of Hancock is in the west part of the Town of Hancock
at the junction of NY Routes 17
and 97
.
Hancock is located at the confluence of the East and West branches of the Delaware River
.
Hancock owes its former importance mainly to its role as a division point of the Erie Railroad
from 1848, especially in the days of steam locomotives. Its importance declined with the replacement of steam with diesel locomotives in the early 1950s; the division point was removed with the merger of the Erie into the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad in 1960. The railroad still exists as the Southern Tier line of the Norfolk Southern Railway
, leased to the Central New York Railway, but sees only a few freight trains weekly.
The Scranton branch of the New York, Ontario and Western Railway
bridged the West Branch of the Delaware River just west of the village; this railway's main activity in the area was at Cadosia junction, a few miles up the East Branch of the Delaware River. Though the O&W ceased operations on March 29, 1957, the bridge was not removed until the 1970s.
bordering Pennsylvania
. The village is located at 41°57′17"N 75°16′59"W (41.954764, -75.283326). Hancock is approximately 40 miles east of Binghamton, New York
with easy access via New York State Route 17
. To many, Hancock is considered part of the Southern Tier
region while others regard it a part of the Catskills region. Nevertheless, since it is farther from New York City than Roscoe, it is always considered as Upstate New York
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²), of which, 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (7.65%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1,189 people, 505 households, and 311 families residing in the village. The population density
was 755.4 people per square mile (292.4/km²). There were 594 housing units at an average density of 377.4 per square mile (146.1/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 96.89% White, 0.42% Black or African American
, 0.42% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.42% from other races
, and 1.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.28% of the population.
There were 505 households out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples
living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the village the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 24.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.2 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $27,419, and the median income for a family was $36,083. Males had a median income of $27,455 versus $17,188 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $16,616. About 7.9% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.7% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in Delaware County
Delaware County, New York
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of 2010 the population was 47,980. The county seat is Delhi. It is named after the Delaware River, which was named in honor of Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, appointed governor of Virginia in 1609.-History:When counties...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,189 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
.
The Village of Hancock is in the west part of the Town of Hancock
Hancock (town), New York
Hancock is a town in Delaware County, New York, United States. The town contains a village, also named Hancock. The town is in the southwest part of the county...
at the junction of NY Routes 17
New York State Route 17
New York State Route 17 is a state highway that extends for through the Southern Tier and Downstate regions of New York in the United States...
and 97
New York State Route 97
New York State Route 97 is a north–south scenic route in southern New York, United States. It runs from U.S. Route 6 and US 209 in Port Jervis to NY 17 in Hancock. Its most famous feature is the Hawk's Nest, a tightly winding section of the road along the Delaware River,...
.
Hancock is located at the confluence of the East and West branches of the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
.
Hancock owes its former importance mainly to its role as a division point of the Erie Railroad
Erie Railroad
The Erie Railroad was a railroad that operated in New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, originally connecting New York City with Lake Erie...
from 1848, especially in the days of steam locomotives. Its importance declined with the replacement of steam with diesel locomotives in the early 1950s; the division point was removed with the merger of the Erie into the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad in 1960. The railroad still exists as the Southern Tier line of the Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
, leased to the Central New York Railway, but sees only a few freight trains weekly.
The Scranton branch of the New York, Ontario and Western Railway
New York, Ontario and Western Railway
The New York, Ontario and Western Railway, more commonly known as the O&W or NYO&W, was a regional railroad with origins in 1868, lasting until March 29, 1957 when it was ordered liquidated by a US bankruptcy judge. The O&W holds the distinction of being the first major U.S...
bridged the West Branch of the Delaware River just west of the village; this railway's main activity in the area was at Cadosia junction, a few miles up the East Branch of the Delaware River. Though the O&W ceased operations on March 29, 1957, the bridge was not removed until the 1970s.
Fire Department
Every year the Bear Creek Sportsman holds an event on Labor Day weekend, which raises over $300,000 for the fire department and new health clinic.Geography
Hancock is situated at the convergence of the East and West Branch of the Delaware RiverDelaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
bordering Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. The village is located at 41°57′17"N 75°16′59"W (41.954764, -75.283326). Hancock is approximately 40 miles east of Binghamton, New York
Binghamton, New York
Binghamton is a city in the Southern Tier of New York in the United States. It is near the Pennsylvania border, in a bowl-shaped valley at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers...
with easy access via New York State Route 17
New York State Route 17
New York State Route 17 is a state highway that extends for through the Southern Tier and Downstate regions of New York in the United States...
. To many, Hancock is considered part of the Southern Tier
Southern Tier
The Southern Tier is a geographical term that refers to the counties of New York State west of the Catskill Mountains along the northern border of Pennsylvania. It is a loosely defined term that generally includes the counties that border Pennsylvania west of Delaware County inclusive...
region while others regard it a part of the Catskills region. Nevertheless, since it is farther from New York City than Roscoe, it is always considered as Upstate New York
Upstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the village has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²), of which, 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (7.65%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,189 people, 505 households, and 311 families residing in the village. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 755.4 people per square mile (292.4/km²). There were 594 housing units at an average density of 377.4 per square mile (146.1/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 96.89% White, 0.42% Black or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.42% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.42% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.28% of the population.
There were 505 households out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the village the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 24.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.2 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $27,419, and the median income for a family was $36,083. Males had a median income of $27,455 versus $17,188 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the village was $16,616. About 7.9% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.7% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.
Current status
A group called Hancock Partners is heading up an effort to revitalize the town and village by spurring new growth in an attempt to attract new residents, retain the younger demographic, increase tourism, and generally improve the quality of life in the area. A tourism plan was recently created by the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry to serve as a guidepost for this effort.External links
- Hancock, NY Official Site
- Hancock Area Chamber of Commerce
- Town/Village of Hancock (from Delaware County website)
- Hancock Partners
Publications
- The Hancock Herald Serving Hancock and the surrounding area since 1873