Everything about Hancock Michigan totally explained
Hancock is a
city in
Houghton County. It is the northernmost city in the
U.S. state of
Michigan, located on the
Keweenaw Peninsula, or, depending on terminology,
Copper Island. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 4,323; the city website estimates its current population as 4,900. It is the
sister city of
Porvoo,
Finland.
Laurn Grove Park is located in West Hancock.
The city was named after
John Hancock.
History
James Hicks originally owned the "land where Hancock now stands."
The earliest building in what is now the City of Hancock was a log cabin erected in 1846 on the site of the Ruggles Mining Claim; it's no longer standing and the present "location of the Houghton County Garage buildings". It was owned by Christopher C[olumbus]. Douglass, who came to live there in 1852. The Quincy Mining Company founded Hancock in 1859 after purchasing land from Douglass and building an office and mine on the site.
Hancock's first store "was built by [the] Leopold brothers in 1858." Hancock's first post office was also in this store. "Samuel Hill, an agent for the Quincy Mining Company" platted "Hancock Village... in 1859." Although it was organised and officers elected in 1863, the village wouldn't be incorporated until 1875 "under a charter... amended in 1877."
In 1869 a fire burnt down about 75% of the village. There was also a significant fire in the 1940s that destroyed much of the downtown.
"[T]he Mineral Range Railroad" began "provid[ing] passenger and freight service between Hancock and Calumet" in 1873.
Hancock was incorporated as a city in 1903.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.4 km²). 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²) of it's land and 0.9 km² (0.3 sq mi) of it (12.28%) is water. Hancock is connected to
Houghton, Michigan by the
Portage Lake Lift Bridge, which crosses the dredged
Portage Lake.
The city is bounded on the south by the Portage Canal; and on the east by Limerick, an
unincorporated community straddling
Quincy and
Franklin Townships, Franklin Mine, an unincorporated community in Franklin Township; and on the north by Quincy and
Hancock Townships.
Climate
Hancock has a
humid continental climate but winters are typically long and snowy with much
lake effect snow.
Neighborhoods
The
East Hancock neighborhood is part of the city, and consists of many old victorian-style houses, which were once owned by those who ran the mines.
Doctors' Park, located in West Hancock near the former Portage View Hospital Building (now the Portage Campus of Finlandia University), is so called because many of the residents are physicians. It lies north of West Quincy Street.
People and culture
Hancock has been called "the focal point of Finns in the United States". Due to the large number of
Finnish immigrants, many street signs in Hancock are, as of 2007, printed in both English and their Finnish names.
Hancock hosts an annual midwinter festival called Heikinpäivä.
Every summer, the cities of Hancock and neighboring Houghton host a festival known as "Bridgefest," to commemorate the building of the
Portage Lake Lift Bridge.
Demographics
As of the
census of 2000, there were 4,323 people, 1,769 households, and 902 families residing in the city. The
population density was 1,727.5 per square mile (667.6/km²). There were 1,983 housing units at an average density of 792.4/sq mi (306.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.95%
White, 0.76%
Black or
African American, 0.93%
Native American, 1.06%
Asian, 0.02%
Pacific Islander, 0.23% from
other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. 0.76% of the population were
Hispanic or
Latino of any race. 32.2% were of
Finnish, 14.4%
German, 8.2%
English, 5.3%
Italian, and 5.2%
French ancestry according to
Census 2000. 94.4% spoke
English and 4.4%
Finnish as their first language.
There were 1,769 households out of which 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.2% were
married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.0% were non-families. 38.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city the population was spread out with 19.0% under the age of 18, 18.0% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 20.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,118, and the median income for a family was $36,625. Males had a median income of $27,090 versus $22,150 for females. The
per capita income for the city was $16,669. About 6.9% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 15.1% of those age 65 or over.
Museums and galleries
The birthplace of
Mary Chase Perry-Stratton, founder of
Pewabic Pottery, "escaped the 1869 fire"; it's now called Pewabic House and run as a museum.
The Kerredge Gallery and the
Republic Bank Gallery are both located inside the Copper Country Community Arts Center.
Turquoise Art Gallery is also located in Hancock.
Education
Public education
Elementary-school students attend the Gordon Barkell Elementary School (formerly Hancock Elementary School), middle school students Hancock Middle School and high-school students Hancock Central High School.
Higher education
Hancock is the home of
Finlandia University (formerly Suomi College), and several small parts of the campus of
Michigan Technological University are also located in Hancock, including a former MTU "underground classroom" in Quincy Mine.
Transportation
Highways
Intercity bus
Indian Trails bus lines operates a terminal at the Shottle Bop Party Store, 125 Quincy Street. Until January 31, 2007 this was operated by
Greyhound Bus Lines.
Public transportation
In 1902 "Houghton County Traction Company" ran "a trolley system" with service "to nearby towns".
(External Link
)
Hancock Public Transit operates a demand bus which will take riders to anywhere in Hancock, Houghton, or
Ripley.
Airport
The
Houghton County Memorial Airport (CMX) is often said to serve Houghton, though it's closer to Hancock and sometimes referred to as "Hancock".
Bicycling
The Jack Stevens Trail runs through the city.
Sports
The 2004 Professional Walleye Trail Championship Tournament was held partly in the city.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Hancock Michigan'.
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