Hancock

/han"kok/, n.

1. John, 1737-93, American statesman: first signer of the Declaration of Independence.

2. Winfield Scott, 1824-86, Union general in the Civil War.

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(as used in expressions)

Hancock Herbie

Herbert Jeffrey Hancock

Hancock John

Hancock Winfield Scott

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▪ Michigan, United States

      city, Houghton county, northwestern Upper Peninsula of Michigan, U.S. It is located about halfway up the Keweenaw Peninsula, across Portage Lake from Houghton. Laid out in 1859, it was named for John Hancock (Hancock, John), the American Revolutionary leader. With the discovery of nearby copper mines in the mid-19th century, Hancock became a busy shipping point. The mines attracted many immigrants to the area, including large numbers of Finns. Local industries include the manufacture of plastic products and machined metal parts, lumber milling, and commercial fishing; tourism and outdoor recreation have been of increasing importance since copper production ended in the 1960s. Hancock is the seat of Finlandia University (Lutheran, 1896), which was founded (as Suomi College) by Finnish immigrants and for many years used Finnish as the language of instruction. The Arcadian Copper Mine and the Quincy Mine Steam Hoist have guided tours during the summer. The annual Heikinpäivä festival (January)—for St. Henrik of Uppsala, patron saint of Finland—celebrates the city's Finnish heritage with skiing and sledding races, a parade, and traditional Finnish foods, crafts, and dancing. The Portage Lake Ship Canal connects Portage Lake with Lake Superior (Superior, Lake). Nearby are Frederick J. McLain State Park and Keweenaw National Historical Park. Inc. village, 1875; city, 1903. Pop. (2000) 4,323; (2005 est.) 4,223.

▪ county, Maine, United States

      county, southeastern Maine, U.S. It is located in a mountain-and-valley region bounded to the west by the Penobscot River and to the south by several bays of the Atlantic Ocean and includes many islands. The rugged coastline was formed by a flooded mountain range; Mount Desert Island features Cadillac Mountain (1,532 feet [467 metres]), the highest Atlantic coast summit in Maine, and Somes Sound, the only fjord along the East Coast. There are many marshlands and waterways, including Graham and Nicatous lakes and the Union River. State recreational areas include Holbrook Island Sanctuary and Lamoine state parks. The main forest type is spruce and fir, with stands of maple, aspen, and birch.

       Abenaki Indians lived in the region before Hancock county was formed in 1789. The county was named for patriot John Hancock (Hancock, John). The city of Ellsworth, the county seat, developed as a centre of lumbering and shipbuilding. Other communities are the towns of Bucksport, Stonington, and Castine. The latter had been a strategic trading post alternately controlled by the French, British, and Americans for 200 years (1613–1813).

      Tourists are attracted by the county's numerous lakes and islands, particularly Mount Desert Island, which includes the coastal town of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park (founded 1919). Other industries include paper products and biological research. Area 1,589 square miles (4,116 square km). Pop. (2000) 51,791; (2007 est.) 53,278.

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