Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania

History

In early times, Marcus Hook was a major Lenape settlement that became a New Sweden trading post in the 1640s. Called "Chammassungh" or "Finland", it was on the west side of the Delaware River, between Marcus Hook and the mouth of Naamans Creek. The settlement was renamed "Marrites Hoeck" after the Dutch conquered the area in 1655. Small ship construction and fishing were its early industries. Later, Marcus Hook became a resort and amusement center. The borough was officially incorporated on March 7, 1892. The convergence of rail, roads, a deepwater port, and the nation's growing thirst for petroleum gave rise to the refineries that became the borough's dominant industry.

Geography

Marcus Hook is located along the southern border of Delaware County (and Pennsylvania) at 39°49′N 75°25′W (39.8182, -75.4155). It is bordered to the northwest by Lower Chichester Township, including the community of Linwood, to the northeast by the borough of Trainer, to the southeast across the Delaware River by Gloucester County, New Jersey, and to the southwest by New Castle County, Delaware.

U.S. Route 13 (10th Street) is the main road through the borough, leading northeast 4 miles (6 km) to Chester, and southwest 9 miles (14 km) to Wilmington, Delaware. Pennsylvania Route 452 (Market Street) intersects US 13 in the center of the borough and leads north 1 mile (1.6 km) to Interstate 95 Exit 2, and 7 miles (11 km) to U.S. Route 1 west of Media.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Marcus Hook has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.2 km²), of which 1.1 square miles (2.9 km²) is land and 0.50 square miles (1.3 km²), or 31.63%, is water. The lowest point in the state of Pennsylvania is located on the Delaware River in Marcus Hook, where it flows out of Pennsylvania and into Delaware.

Educational system

Marcus Hook is a part of Chichester School District. Children within the borough usually attend Marcus Hook Elementary School (Grades K-4), Chichester Middle School (Grades 5-8), or Chichester High School (Grades 9-12).

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,314 people, 919 households, and 565 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,055.7 people per square mile (790.7/km²). There were 1,025 housing units at an average density of 910.6 per square mile (350.2/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 91.44% White, 5.32% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.69% from other races, and 1.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.77% of the population.

There were 919 households, out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.9% were married couples living together, 19.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.5% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% 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 3.18.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 28.1% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $28,219, and the median income for a family was $36,083. Males had a median income of $31,620 versus $24,569 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $13,738. About 13.3% of families and 21.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.5% of those under age 18 and 16.5% of those age 65 or over.

Famous residents

Local community groups

In the interest of protecting and remembering nearly 400 years of history in Marcus Hook two groups were created. The Marcus Hook Preservation Society works with the community, local universities and archeology groups to fund archeological digs and set up educational programs. The Plankhouse Crew is a pirate reenactment group focusing on the Golden Age of Piracy and provides living history demonstrations as well as entertainment. The Plankhouse Crew was created around the Plankhouse which was believed to be the former home of a woman named Margaret, a mistress of the infamous pirate Blackbeard. They are also Marcus Hook's featured group for the annual Delaware River River Ramble celebration held in September.

Mayor sex scandal

In March 2013, then-Mayor James "Jay" Schiliro was charged with unlawful restraint, reckless endangerment, false imprisonment, official oppression, and furnishing alcohol to a minor after allegedly ordering a Marcus Hook police officer to bring a 20-year-old man to his house in a marked police vehicle, giving the man wine, and then offering 20 to 30 times to perform oral sex on him. When the man refused, Schiliro informed the man that he was "going to be a hostage", and fired a 9mm bullet into the wall.