Editing Rock Hall, Maryland

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Rock Hall, Maryland
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|nickname                 = Rock City
|motto                    = "Pearl of the Chesapeake"<ref name="Town of Rock Hall, Maryland">{{cite web|url= http://www.rockhallmd.com/|title=Town of Rock Hall, Maryland|publisher=Town of Rock Hall, Maryland|access-date=August 24, 2012}}</ref>

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Main Street Dentist.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Main St. Rock Hall
|image_flag               = Flag of Rock Hall, Maryland.png
|image_seal               = Seal of Rock Hall, Maryland.png

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map = Kent_County_Maryland_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Rock_Hall_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Rock Hall, Maryland
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             =

|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = {{Flagu|United States}}
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = {{Flag|Maryland}}
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Maryland|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = {{Flagicon image|Flag of Kent County, Maryland.gif}} [[Kent County, Maryland|Kent]]
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = [[Mayor-Council-Manager]]
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = [[Hon. James Cook]]
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1707
|established_title1 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date1 = 1908<ref>{{cite web|title=Rock Hall|url=http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/37mun/rockhall/html/r.html|website=Maryland Manual|access-date=June 27, 2017}}</ref>

<!-- Area -->
|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           = 4.02
|area_land_km2            = 3.47
|area_water_km2           = 0.55
|area_total_sq_mi         = 1.55
|area_land_sq_mi          = 1.34
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.21

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 1198
|population_density_km2   = 345.74
|population_density_sq_mi = 895.37

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_m              = 3
|elevation_ft             = 10
|coordinates              = {{coord|39|8|12|N|76|14|31|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 21661
|area_code                = [[Area code 410|410]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 24-67400
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0586872
|website                  = [http://www.rockhallmd.com/ Town of Rock Hall, Maryland]
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
}}
''' Rock Hall,''' is a waterfront town located directly on the [[National Scenic Byway|National Chesapeake Scenic Byway]] in [[Kent County, Maryland|Kent County]], [[Maryland]], United States. The population was 1,310 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]].

==History==
Originally called Rock Hall Crossroads, the city is now a fishing, sailing and recreational boating town situated on the upper Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. It is the center of Kent County's maritime industries, and is also a popular tourist destination. It was established in 1707.<ref name="Town of Rock Hall, Maryland"/> The city was named for a mansion made of white sandstone,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=2762|title=Profile for Rock Hall  Maryland, MD |publisher=ePodunk|access-date=August 25, 2012}}</ref> and was incorporated in 1908.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/city/Rock-Hall-Maryland.html|title= Rock Hall, Maryland |publisher=Town City-Data.com |access-date=August 24, 2012}}</ref>

Rock Hall served as a shipping point for tobacco, seafood and other agricultural products, as well as a passenger transport connection for travelers during the Colonial era. Later, fishing and seafood processing became the town's largest industry.

The town missed out on receiving a railroad connection in 1872, when the [[Baltimore and Delaware Bay Railroad|Kent County Railroad]] set out to build from [[Massey, Maryland|Massey]] via [[Chestertown, Maryland|Chestertown]] and connect with a ferry to Baltimore for both passengers and freight. The company went bankrupt in 1877, having only built a stub from Chestertown to a place called Belair or Parsons and abandoning the rest unfinished.<ref>Railway World, Volume 21 1877 p. 613</ref><ref>Walker, M: SPV's Comprehensive Railroad Atlas, Northeast 1993 p. 12</ref>

Rock Hall Harbor remains a working harbor with an active fleet of commercial watermen, charter fishing and commercial sailing boats. It has three museums including a waterman's museum.

[[Hinchingham]] and [[Trumpington (Rock Hall, Maryland)|Trumpington]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|1.55|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|1.34|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.21|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=January 25, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=January 25, 2012}}</ref>

[[File:2022-06-30 13 54 07 View east at the west end of Maryland State Route 20 (Rock Hall Avenue) at Lawton Avenue and Beach Road in Rock Hall, Kent County, Maryland.jpg|thumb|left|MD 20 eastbound in Rock Hall]]

==Transportation==
The main method of transportation in and out of Rock Hall is by road, and two state highways serve the town. The primary highway serving the town is [[Maryland Route 20]], which connects eastward from Rock Hall to Chestertown. [[Maryland Route 445]] also traverses the town on a north-south alignment.

[[File:Oyster Boats.jpg|thumb|Working crab and oyster boats]]
[[File:Cruises 050.jpg|thumb|Modern marina resorts]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 221
|1910= 781
|1930= 405
|1940= 781
|1950= 786
|1960= 1073
|1970= 1125
|1980= 1511
|1990= 1584
|2000= 1396
|2010= 1310
|2020= 1198
|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}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 25, 2013}}</ref> of 2010, there were 1,310 people, 630 households, and 374 families residing in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|977.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 930 housing units at an average density of {{convert|694.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 92.0% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 5.8% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.2% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.9% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.5% of the population.

There were 630 households, of which 19.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.6% were non-families. 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.05 and the average family size was 2.57.

The median age in the town was 54.3 years. 15.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 16.4% were from 25 to 44; 33% were from 45 to 64; and 30% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.2% male and 52.8% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 1,396 people, 654 households, and 408 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|1,050.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 834 housing units at an average density of {{convert|627.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 92.91% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 5.52% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.07% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.14% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.07% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.14% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.15% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.86% of the population.

There were 654 households, out of which 23.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.67.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 19.8% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 29.5% from 45 to 64, and 23.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $32,833, and the median income for a family was $38,672. Males had a median income of $29,375 versus $21,429 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $20,521. About 10.5% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 22.4% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
{{unreferenced section|date=February 2020}}

A variety of retail shops are located on Main Street.<ref>https://www.mainstreetrockhall.org/Home/main-street-rock-hall-discover</ref> Oyster collection, crabbing and fishing contribute to the economy as do charter boats for fishing trips.  Tourism is also a source of income, particularly over the summer months and on special events weekends such as the Pirates and Wenches Weekend.<ref>https://www.rockhallpirates.com/</ref> It is also a center in the area for July 4 celebrations.
[[File:Daymark.jpg|thumb|Entrance Mark to Harbor]]
[[File:Workboat.jpg|thumb|Fishing boat returning with catch]]
[[File:Scenic Sunset Cruise.jpg|thumb|Scenic Sunset Cruise]]
[[File:Oyster Tonging Statue 002.jpg|thumb|Rock Hall Oysterman]]

==Government==
The town has a Weak Mayor-Council-Manager form of government.<ref name="StarDem-Charter-4Dec14">{{cite news|last1=Divilio |first1=Daniel |title=Charter change approved as mayor continues lawsuit |url=http://www.stardem.com/news/local_news/article_2c4c955f-292c-5c20-8f26-19db4f24804a.html|access-date=March 27, 2016|work=The Star Democrat |publisher=TownNews.com |location=Easton, Maryland |date=December 4, 2014}}</ref> As of 2023, the mayor is James Cook.<ref name="State Archives">{{cite web|title=KENT COUNTY, MARYLAND: Rock Hall|url=http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/37mun/rockhall/html/r.html|publisher=[[Maryland]] State Archives|access-date=March 27, 2016}}</ref>

==Education==
It is in the [[Kent County Public Schools]]. Rock Hall Elementary School is in the town. Kent County Middle School is in [[Chestertown, Maryland|Chestertown]], and [[Kent County High School]] is in an [[unincorporated area]] with a [[Worton, Maryland|Worton]] postal address.

The former Rock Hall Middle School consolidated into Kent County Middle in Chestertown in 2010.<ref name=Divilioboardhearing>{{cite web|last=Divilio|first=Daniel|url=https://www.myeasternshoremd.com/spotlight/board-to-hold-hearing-monday-on-school-closings/article_9061da30-b7e0-5ebd-b7cc-92f2fd18d277.html|title=Board to hold hearing Monday on school closings|newspaper=[[My Eastern Shore, Maryland]]|publisher=[[Adams Publishing Group]]|date=February 23, 2017|accessdate=June 10, 2021}}</ref>

Kent County Public Library maintains the Rock Hall branch.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kentcountylibrary.org/|title=Home|publisher=Kent County Public Library|accessdate=June 10, 2021|quote=Rock Hall Branch 5585 Main Street Rock Hall, MD 21661}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Lambert Wickes]] (1735–1777), [[Captain (naval)|captain]] in the [[Continental Navy]] 
*[[Wylie F. L. Tuttle]] (died 2002), real estate developer responsible for the development of [[Tour Montparnasse]] built his residence there

==References==
<references />

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.rockhallmd.com Town website]
* [http://www.kentcountyhistory.org/maps/map_page/rockhall2.htm Map and directory of Rock Hall], from 1876 Atlas by Lake, Griffing and Stevenson

{{Kent County, Maryland}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Fishing communities in Maryland]]
[[Category:Towns in Maryland]]
[[Category:Towns in Kent County, Maryland]]
[[Category:Maryland populated places on the Chesapeake Bay]]