Hancock

Settled in 1749 and incorporated in 1853, Hancock relied heavily on transportation for its livelihood, first as a stagecoach stop, then as a canal town and finally as a rest stop for truck traffic on Interstates 68 and 70. Hancock is the northernmost large town along the Potomac only two miles from the Pennsylvania border.

The Western Maryland Rail-Trail runs ten miles from Hancock to Big Pool and is part of a nationwide system of rail-trails. Rail-trails are old railway beds that have been paved over to bike paths. The Visitor Center, located along the main street in Hancock, is closed for the winter. It will re-open in Spring 2006.