We asked... (Pocomoke north of the river?)

 

Why didn't Pocomoke City establish businesses and residences on the north side of the Pocomoke River?

Several factors limited the establishment of businesses and residences on the north side of the Pocomoke River, including the historical origins of the town, geographic and environmental barriers, and the pattern of railroad development. 

Geographic and environmental factors

• The Great Cypress Swamp: The Pocomoke River flows from the Great Cypress Swamp in the north, creating a landscape of inaccessible wetlands. This made the area immediately north of the river difficult to build on.
• Difficult drainage: For centuries, heavy rains would cause the water to back up into the drainage ditches on the flat farmlands, leaving the fields sodden for days and unsuitable for development. The land on the south side of the river proved to be higher and more suitable for early settlement.
• Spoil banks from dredging: In the post-World War II era, an 18-mile stretch of the river was dredged and channelized to improve drainage for agriculture. The dredged material was deposited along the riverbanks, creating elevated "spoil banks" that further disconnected the floodplain from the river itself. This would have continued to hinder development on the northern side. Historical development
  • Original settlement location: The town that became Pocomoke City began in the late 17th century as a small settlement called Stevens Landing on the south bank of the Pocomoke River, centered around a ferry crossing.
  • Native American territory: Historically, the Nusswattux, a sub-tribe of the Pocomoke Nation, were located on the north side of the river. Land patents and historical records from the 1700s reference the Nusswattux Neck, a territory on the north side of the Pocomoke River.
  • Railroad placement: The town's growth accelerated in the 1880s with the construction of a main railroad line running along the Delmarva Peninsula. This critical transportation link crossed the Pocomoke River at the existing settlement, reinforcing the development on the south side. 
  Infrastructure and logistics
  • Early river commerce: The south side was already established as a center for river commerce and shipping. Key infrastructure like wharves and warehouses for shipping tobacco and lumber were constructed on the south bank.
  • Land-based access: With the main part of town, the railroad, and later the main highway (Route 13), being established on the south side, it was more logical and convenient for businesses and residences to stay centralized near existing infrastructure.