Editing Pocomoke City, Maryland

{{use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Pocomoke City, Maryland
|settlement_type          = [[City (Maryland)|City]]
|nickname                 = Friendliest Town on the Eastern Shore
|image_skyline            = View along Pocomoke River, Pocomoke City, Md (70296).jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_flag               = Flag of Pocomoke City, Maryland.png
|image_seal               = Pocomoke city md seal.png
|image_map = Worcester_County_Maryland_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Pocomoke_City_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location in Worcester County and the state of Maryland
| pushpin_map             = Maryland#USA
| pushpin_label_position  = 
| pushpin_label           = Pocomoke City
| pushpin_map_caption     = Location within the state of Maryland
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1 = State
|subdivision_name1        = [[Maryland]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Maryland|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Worcester County, Maryland|Worcester]]
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Todd J. Nock
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = 1878
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_24.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=April 26, 2022}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 10.45
|area_land_km2            = 9.81
|area_water_km2           = 0.64
|area_total_sq_mi         = 4.04
|area_land_sq_mi          = 3.79
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.25
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 4295
|population_density_km2   = 437.81
|population_density_sq_mi = 1133.84
|timezone                 = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = −5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = −4
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_m              = 2
|elevation_ft             = 7
|coordinates              = {{coord|38|4|8|N|75|33|42|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 21851
|area_code                = [[Area code 410|410]], [[Area code 443|443]]
|area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 24-62475
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0591031
|website                  = [http://www.cityofpocomoke.com www.cityofpocomoke.com]
}}

'''Pocomoke City''', dubbed "the friendliest town on the Eastern Shore",<ref>{{cite press release |title=Governor O'Malley Declares Pocomoke City Maryland's 'Capital for a Day' |publisher=Office of the Governor of Maryland |date=August 21, 2008 |url=http://www.governor.maryland.gov/pressreleases/080821b.asp |access-date=March 2, 2009 |archive-date=April 30, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430062804/http://www.governor.maryland.gov/pressreleases/080821b.asp |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Pocomoke City 2008 Review |first=Mike |last=McDermott |work=Pocomoke City, Maryland |date=January 1, 2009 |url=http://cityofpocomoke.com/ |access-date=March 2, 2009 |archive-date=February 27, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227011035/http://www.cityofpocomoke.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=From beach to bay |first=Ellen |last=Uzelac |work=Baltimore Sun |date=September 28, 2003 |url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/travel/bal-tr.shore28sep28,0,893323.story?page=1 |access-date=March 2, 2009 |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604185445/http://www.baltimoresun.com/travel/bal-tr.shore28sep28,0,893323.story?page=1 |url-status=live }}</ref> is a city in [[Worcester County, Maryland|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''' {{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|oʊ|k|oʊ-|m|oʊ|k}}. The population was 4,295 at the [[United States Census, 2020|2020 census]].<ref>https://www.maryland-demographics.com/pocomoke-city-demographics</ref> It is part of the [[Salisbury metropolitan area|Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area]].  Pocomoke City 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 Flight Facility|Wallops Island Flight Facility]] in [[Wallops Island]], [[Virginia]].

==History==
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2019}}
Beginning in the late seventeenth century, a small settlement called '''Stevens Landing''' (sometimes '''Stevens Ferry''') grew at the ferry landing on 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."<ref name="history">{{Cite web |title=Welcome Message {{!}} Pocomoke City, Maryland |url=https://www.cityofpocomoke.com/news/welcome-message |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=www.cityofpocomoke.com |archive-date=December 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211223185548/http://cityofpocomoke.com/news/welcome-message |url-status=live }}</ref>

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, Virginia|Cape Charles]] on the [[Eastern Shore of Virginia]]. The line eventually became part of the [[Pennsylvania Railroad]]. In addition to agriculture, industry such as [[sawmill|lumber milling]] and [[shipbuilding]] and, in the twentieth century, factories making barrels and baskets for [[Truck farming|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 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 [[Chicken#Chickens in agriculture|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.<ref name="history"/>

Pocomoke City was named an All-America City by the [[National Municipal League]], and for the years 1984–85, Pocomoke City was one of the nine Finalist Communities.

==Culture==
===Historic locations===
The [[Sturgis One Room School|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 (Pocomoke City, Maryland)|Beverly]], [[Littleton T. Clarke House]], [[Crockett House (Pocomoke City, Maryland)|Crockett House]], [[Hayward's Lott]], [[Pocomoke City Historic District]], [[Puncheon Mill House]], and [[Young-Sartorius House]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>[[File:Pocomoke City Bridge, built in 1920 in Worcester County, Maryland LCCN2011631722.tif|left|thumb|upright|The 1920 drawbridge across the Pocomoke River.]]

===Museums and arts===
Pocomoke City is home to the Delmarva Discovery Museum, an interactive museum focusing on local ecology and history, and [[Costen House|The Isaac Costen House Museum]].<ref>Mike McDermott. [http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009907230384 "A lot is new this summer in Pocomoke"], delmarvanow.com. Retrieved August 3, 2009.</ref> 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]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://marvatheater.com/about/|title=About|df=mdy-all|date=2018-07-12|website=Mar-Va Theater|access-date=2019-01-03|archive-date=January 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103210858/https://marvatheater.com/about/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Sports===
In the past, Pocomoke City held a franchise in the [[Eastern Shore Baseball League]], at times hosting the Salamanders, the Red Sox, and the Chicks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=Pocomoke City, Maryland Encyclopedia|website=Baseball-Reference.com|language=en|df=mdy-all|access-date=2019-01-03|archive-date=April 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403204323/https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Notable murders==
On June 14, 1906, the city was the site of a lynching. A farmhand named Edd Watson was murdered by a mob.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/racial-turmoil-in-friendliest-town/2015/07/18/cf971950-2b7c-11e5-bd33-395c05608059_story.html?hpid=z1|title=Racial turmoil in Md.'s 'Friendliest Town' after black police chief is fired|last1=Brown|first1=DeNee|date=July 18, 2015|work=Washington Post|access-date=July 20, 2015|archive-date=July 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722113846/http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/racial-turmoil-in-friendliest-town/2015/07/18/cf971950-2b7c-11e5-bd33-395c05608059_story.html?hpid=z1|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 1933, [[George Armwood]], a Pocomoke City man was taken from a jail cell in nearby Princess Anne and killed by a mob.<ref name="AAT">{{cite web|date=November 29, 2012|title=An American Tragedy|url=https://www.mdhistory.org/an-american-tragedy/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213023930/http://www.mdhs.org/underbelly/2012/11/29/an-american-tragedy/|archive-date=December 13, 2013|access-date=May 8, 2021|publisher=Maryland Center for History and Culture}}</ref><ref name="MSA">{{cite web|url=http://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/013700/013750/html/13750bio.html|title=George Armwood (b. 1911 - d. 1933)|website=Biographical Series|publisher=[[Archives of Maryland]]|access-date=January 17, 2015|archive-date=January 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120234839/http://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/013700/013750/html/13750bio.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Education==
Three [[Worcester County Public Schools]] are located in Pocomoke City: Pocomoke Elementary, Pocomoke Middle, and [[Pocomoke High School|Pocomoke High]].  Both the elementary and high schools are named a [[Blue Ribbon School]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wboc.com/story/19483379/pocomoke-elementary-earns-national-designation|title=Pocomoke Elementary Named Blue Ribbon School|website=www.wboc.com|language=en|df=mdy-all|access-date=2019-01-03|archive-date=January 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190104021439/http://www.wboc.com/story/19483379/pocomoke-elementary-earns-national-designation|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pocomokehighschool.org/|title=Pocomoke High School|website=www.pocomokehighschool.org|df=mdy-all|access-date=2019-01-03|archive-date=January 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190104022856/http://www.pocomokehighschool.org/|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

==Geography==
Pocomoke City is located at {{coord|38|4|8|N|75|33|42|W|type:city}} (38.068904, -75.561718).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|df=mdy-all|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990|archive-date=August 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824085937/https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|3.94|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|3.69|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.25|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2013-01-25|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=2012-07-02}}</ref>

===Climate===
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 the impact of the Atlantic Ocean nearby, average snowfall amounts only range from {{convert|5 to 10|inch}}; however, this varies considerably from year to year and occasional nor'easters can produce significant snowfalls over {{convert|1|ft|cm|spell=in}}. The Blizzard of 2018, for example, produced {{convert|10 to 15|inch}} of snow, temperatures in teens, and winds gusting over {{cvt|40|mph}}. Tropical storms occasionally impact the region during summer and fall.

The [[Köppen climate classification]] subtype for this climate is "[[Humid subtropical climate|Cfa]]" (Humid Subtropical Climate).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=41781&cityname=Pocomoke+City%2C+Maryland%2C+United+States+of+America&units= |title=Climate Summary for Pocomoke, Maryland |access-date=August 7, 2013 |archive-date=September 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922100836/http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=41781&cityname=Pocomoke+City%2C+Maryland%2C+United+States+of+America&units= |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{Weather box
|location = Pocomoke City, Maryland
|single line = Yes
|metric first = Yes
|Jan high F = 47
|Feb high F = 48
|Mar high F = 56
|Apr high F = 66
|May high F = 75
|Jun high F = 83
|Jul high F = 87
|Aug high F = 85
|Sep high F = 80
|Oct high F = 70
|Nov high F = 59
|Dec high F = 50
|year high F = 67
|Jan low F = 29
|Feb low F = 28
|Mar low F = 35
|Apr low F = 44
|May low F = 53
|Jun low F = 62
|Jul low F = 67
|Aug low F = 66
|Sep low F = 59
|Oct low F = 48
|Nov low F = 39
|Dec low F = 31
|year low F = 47
|Jan precipitation inch = 3.1
|Feb precipitation inch = 3.2
|Mar precipitation inch = 4
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.1
|May precipitation inch = 3.1
|Jun precipitation inch = 3.4
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.1
|Aug precipitation inch = 4.9
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.5
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.4
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.7
|Dec precipitation inch = 3.5
|year precipitation inch = 42
|Jan precipitation days = 9
|Feb precipitation days = 8
|Mar precipitation days = 10
|Apr precipitation days = 8
|May precipitation days = 9
|Jun precipitation days = 8
|Jul precipitation days = 9
|Aug precipitation days = 8
|Sep precipitation days = 6
|Oct precipitation days = 6
|Nov precipitation days = 7
|Dec precipitation days = 9
|year precipitation days = 95
|source 1 = Weatherbase<ref name=Weatherbase>{{cite web
|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=190480&cityname=Leisure-City-Florida
|publisher=Weatherbase
|title=Weatherbase.com
|year=2013
|access-date=August 7, 2013
|archive-date=March 4, 2016
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304085808/http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=190480&cityname=Leisure-City-Florida
|url-status=live
}}
Retrieved August 7, 2013.</ref>
|date=August 2013
}}

==Municipal status==
References to the municipality's status as a city or town varies according to sources. The [[United States Census Bureau|Census Bureau]] accounts Pocomoke City a city,<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|df=mdy-all|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website|archive-date=December 27, 1996|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961227012639/http://www.census.gov/|url-status=live}}</ref> while official state documents differ. According to the Maryland State Archives, many more official documents refer to the "Town of Pocomoke City" than to 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.<ref>[http://query.mdarchives.state.md.us/search?site=aom_coll&sort=date%3AD%3AL%3Ad1&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&client=mdarchives_FE&proxystylesheet=mdarchives_FE&filter=0&sort=score&config=aom&q=%22town+of+pocomoke+city%22&x=23&y=16 Search results for "Town of Pocomoke City"], Maryland Archives. Retrieved April 14, 2008.</ref><ref>[http://query.mdarchives.state.md.us/search?site=aom_coll&sort=date%3AD%3AL%3Ad1&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&client=mdarchives_FE&proxystylesheet=mdarchives_FE&filter=0&sort=score&config=aom&q=%22city+of+pocomoke+city%22&x=23&y=16 Search results for "City of Pocomoke City"], Maryland Archives, accessed 2008-04-14.</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Pocomoke City Charter |work=Pocomoke City, Maryland |format=PDF |url=http://cityofpocomoke.com/vertical/Sites/%7B9BA88CCE-156B-479A-BB0C-5264A01FC915%7D/uploads/%7B097ECD64-F838-4449-895A-710774D3F41A%7D.PDF |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813160440/http://cityofpocomoke.com/vertical/Sites/%7B9BA88CCE-156B-479A-BB0C-5264A01FC915%7D/uploads/%7B097ECD64-F838-4449-895A-710774D3F41A%7D.PDF |df=mdy-all |archive-date=2011-08-13}}</ref> Other sources also differ: the Maryland Manual Online calls it as a city,<ref>[http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/37mun/pocomoke/html/p.html Pocomoke City, Worcester County, Maryland, Municipalities] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113130525/http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/37mun/pocomoke/html/p.html |df=mdy-all |date=2012-11-13}}, Maryland Archives, April 16, 2007. Retrieved April 14, 2008.</ref> while the Maryland Municipal League speaks of it as a town.<ref>[http://www.mdmunicipal.org/cities/PocomokeCity/..%5Cindex.cfm?townname=PocomokeCity&page=home Pocomoke City, Maryland] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307113445/http://www.mdmunicipal.org/cities/index.cfm?townname=PocomokeCity&page=home |date=March 7, 2008 }}, Maryland Municipal League. Retrieved April 14, 2008.</ref> 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.<ref>[http://www.michie.com/maryland/lpExt.dll?f=templates&eMail=Y&fn=main-h.htm&cp=mdcode/2476c/247ca/247d8/247d9 Article 23A §10 of the Maryland Code] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207015139/http://www.michie.com/maryland/lpExt.dll?f=templates&eMail=Y&fn=main-h.htm&cp=mdcode%2F2476c%2F247ca%2F247d8%2F247d9 |date=February 7, 2012 }}, enacted 1955, from Michie's Legal Resources.</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 1195
|1880= 1425
|1890= 1866
|1900= 2124
|1910= 2369
|1920= 2444
|1930= 2609
|1940= 2739
|1950= 3191
|1960= 3329
|1970= 3573
|1980= 3558
|1990= 3922
|2000= 4098
|2010= 4179
|2020= 4295
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015|archive-date=March 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321050514/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}

===2000 census===
As of the census<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 4,098 people, 1,596 households, and 1,058 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,346.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,764 housing units at an average density of {{convert|579.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 50.73% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 46.36% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.46% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.46% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.34% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.61% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.05% of 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 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 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.

===2010 census===
As of the census<ref name="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|title=U.S. Census website|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|df=mdy-all|access-date=2013-01-25|archive-date=December 27, 1996|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961227012639/http://www.census.gov/|url-status=live}}</ref> of 2010, there were 4,184 people, 1,626 households, and 1,076 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1133.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,894 housing units at an average density of {{convert|513.3|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 49.5% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 45.8% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.5% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.3% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.0% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.0% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.5% of the population.

There were 1,626 households, of which 38.7% had children under 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 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.

==Notable people==

*[[Lynching of George Armwood|George Armwood]] (–1933), victim of last recorded [[lynching]] in [[Maryland]]<ref name="AAT"/> lived in Pocomoke City.<ref name="MSA"/>
*[[Jordan Becker]] (b. 1992), soccer player<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jordan Becker |url=https://umbcretrievers.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/jordan-becker/1863 |access-date=January 12, 2025 |website=[[UMBC Retrievers men's soccer|UMBC Retrievers]]}}</ref>
*[[Hugh Latimer Dryden]] (1898–1965), director of [[NACA]] (1947–1958) and Deputy Administrator of [[NASA]] (1958-1965) was born in Pocomoke City.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hugh L. Dryden|url=https://history.nasa.gov/Biographies/dryden.html|website=NASA History Biographies|publisher=[[NASA]]|access-date=July 2, 2018|archive-date=June 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606110010/http://history.nasa.gov/Biographies/dryden.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Controversy ==
Pocomoke City was the subject of a 2019 documentary, ''The Friendliest Town'', which investigated the abrupt and unexplained firing in 2015 of the town's first Black police chief, Kelvin Sewell.<ref>{{Citation|last=Janis|first=Stephen|title=The Friendliest Town on the Eastern Shore|date=2019-10-21|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9038854/|type=Documentary|access-date=2022-02-25|archive-date=February 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225023356/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9038854/|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Pocomoke City agrees to consent decree in settlement with black police officers|language=en-US|work=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/pocomoke-city-agrees-to-consent-decree-in-settlement-with-black-police-officers/2019/03/28/1ebe3f58-517c-11e9-a3f7-78b7525a8d5f_story.html|access-date=2022-02-25|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=October 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016220233/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/pocomoke-city-agrees-to-consent-decree-in-settlement-with-black-police-officers/2019/03/28/1ebe3f58-517c-11e9-a3f7-78b7525a8d5f_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Murray, James, ''History of Pocomoke City, formerly New Town'' (1883).
* Torrence, Clayton, ''Old Somerset on the Eastern Shore of Maryland'' (1935).
* Touart, Paul Baker, ''Along the Seaboard Side: And Architectural History of Worcester County'' (1994).
* Truitt, Reginald V. & Millard Lescallette, ''Worcester County, Maryland's Arcadia'' (1977).

==External links==
{{Commons category|Pocomoke City, Maryland}}
* [http://www.pocomoke.com/ Pocomoke City Chamber of Commerce website]
* {{osmrelation|133691}}

{{Worcester County, Maryland}}
{{Salisbury metropolitan area}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Pocomoke City, Maryland| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Maryland]]
[[Category:Cities in Worcester County, Maryland]]
[[Category:Salisbury metropolitan area]]