Monroe Township, Snyder County, Pennsylvania

Monroe Township, Snyder County, Pennsylvania
Township
Pylons in Monroe Township
Map of Snyder County, Pennsylvania highlighting Monroe Township
Map of Snyder County, Pennsylvania
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Snyder
Settled	1794
Incorporated	1856
Area
• Total	15.8 sq mi (40.8 km^2)
• Land	15.6 sq mi (40.5 km^2)
• Water	0.2 sq mi (0.3 km^2)
Population (2000)
• Total	4,012
• Density	256.6/sq mi (99.1/km^2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Area code(s)	570

Monroe Township is a township in Snyder County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,012 at the 2000 census.

History

The Bridge between Monroe and Penn Townships was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.^[1]

Geography

Cliffs in Monroe Township

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 15.8 square miles (40.8 km²), of which, 15.6 square miles (40.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (0.76%) is water.

Monroe Township is bordered by Union County to the north, the Susquehanna River, Shamokin Dam and Hummels Wharf to the east, Selinsgrove to the south, and Penn Township, Kratzerville and Jackson Township to the west.

Hummels Wharf is a census-designated place within the township.

Small creeks drain the township into the Susquehanna River. Flooding occurs in low-lying areas on an annual basis. A few areas have persistent standing water with most rains. Ground water is being monitored by the USGS. Ground-Water-Quality Data in Pennsylvania - A Compilation of Computerized Electronic Databases, 1979-2004

Economy

The township (and inlaid Shamokin Dam) is home to most of Snyder County's commercial activity and serves as the location for nearly all of the county's national-chain retail outlets, hotels, and restaurants. The Susquehanna Valley Mall is in Monroe Township. The most recent addition is Monroe Marketplace, a collection of department stores and restaurants which was developed on farmland and the site of a former church camp along U.S. Routes 11 & 15. It was fully completed in 2009. Nearly every major "Big Box" retail format (e.g. home improvement, general merchandise, grocery, department store, and consumer electronics) has a presence in the township.

U.S. Routes 11 & 15 combine at the township's north end and continue southward through the township in a combined fashion. The highway is a major travel artery through the region. Day time flow is constant (truck and vehicle) with very heavy loads and serious backups on Fridays and holiday weekends. A thruway project has been in the works to allow traffic to bypass the congested commercial area, with only a portion (that which bypasses Selinsgrove) having ever been completed. The remaining portion which would lie in Monroe Township exists only as a concept. Residents along the proposed route have expressed concerns about the negative impact on their quality of life that the thruway will mean. Others are concerned that the bypass will mean a loss of business that the traffic on highway brings to restaurants and hotels along the current route. The primary inhibition to construction is a lack of funding for the estimated $300 million project.

The Penn Central Railroad passes through the township between Old Trail Road and the Susquehanna River, used for the delivery of coal to Sunbury Generation, a 420 MW coal-fired power plant in Shamokin Dam.

Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 4,012 people, 1,633 households, and 1,211 families residing in the township. The population density was 256.6 people per square mile (99.1/km²). There were 1,772 housing units at an average density of 113.4/sq mi (43.8/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.71% White, 0.25% African American, 0.05% Native American, 1.07% Asian, 0.17% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.52% of the population.

There were 1,633 households out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.6% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.8% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the township the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 29.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $41,907, and the median income for a family was $57,731. Males had a median income of $40,996 versus $22,490 for females. The per capita income for the township was $26,978. About 3.8% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Monroe Township is governed by three elected supervisors.

Schools

Map of Snyder County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts

Selinsgrove Area School District is the local public school. There are approximately 2900 students clustered on a campus located in Selinsgrove borough. Selinsgrove Area High School has about 960 students in grades 9-12. The Selinsgrove Area Middle School serves students in grades 6-8 using a team teaching approach. The school's test scores have been consistently higher than the region and the state scores. Selinsgrove Area Intermediate School has students grades 3-5. Concern has arisen about the lagging reading and math scores at this school. They are below both state and regional averages for several years.

SASD employs about 350 people as of 2007. Two hundred of the employees are teachers. The median teacher salary in 2007 is $58,000 plus benefits. Seventy percent of spending is allocated to employee costs. The district reports spending $9800 per pupil in 2007.^[3] According to Hummel, costs for building projects coupled with salaries, transportation costs and increased charges for energy, will mean continued property tax increases.

According to Pittsburgh Business Times, which ranks Pennsylvania school districts based on test scores, in 2007 Selinsgrove Area School District was ranked 235th out of 499 public school districts in the state. The Daily Item reported that in 2007, Selinsgrove School District reached adequate yearly progress standards for the first time since the progress analysis began during the 2002-03 school year.

Primary grades are provided at Selinsgrove Area Elementary School. Kindergarten is located at Jackson Penn School, in Penn Township. The district will provide All Day Kindergarten effective in 2007-2008. Officials are using this as an opportunity to further consolidate the district by renovating and enlarging Selinsgrove Elementary School and closing Jackson-Penn Elementary School. Enrollment in the district is declining and is projected to continue to decline for the next decade. SASD Demographic report PreK-12 school statistics Enrollment Projections

In 2005 Selinsgrove Area High School was ranked 306th out of 601 Pennsylvania high schools on the annual state testing. The 3rd grade, located at the Intermediate school, ranked 1215th out of 1779 Pennsylvania third grades.

SUN Area Technical Institute located in New Berlin, Union County, PA 17855 SUN Area Technical Institute is a regional school that provides area students with skills needed to compete in today’s job market and receive consideration for advanced college placement. SUN Tech also offers adult education classes, vocational education, and technical career training, serving over 1500 people annually. ISO9001 and Middle States Accredited. SUN Tech was presented with the Significant Achievement Award in Education for raising their Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Program criteria score to 648 points, a 345-point increase from 303 points in August, 2000.

Residents also have a wide selection of alternative schools. By law, the local public school must provide transportation to schools within 10 miles (16 km) of the borders of the school district at no charge to the student.

St Monica School was located at 109 Market Street, Sunbury, Northumberland County. It was a parochial school providing a first class education to grades: PreK through 8th grade. Their enrollment is about 180. Noncatholics regularly sought admission to the school. The school was closed by the officials of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in June 2012.

Sunbury Christian Academy 135 Spruce Hollow Road, Northumberland PA 17857. [phone] An Association of Christian Schools International member offering pre Kindergarten through 12th grade curriculum.

Northumberland Christian School 351 Fifth Street Northumberland, PA 17857 570-473-9786. NCS was founded in 1972 and is a ministry of the First Regular Baptist Church of Northumberland, Pa. The school offers a full educational program for students from preschool through high school.

SusQ-Cyber Charter School provides students in grades 9-12 with an electronically delivered, cyber school accredited high school curriculum.

21st Century Cyber Charter School A state accredited, diploma granting school serving Pennsylvania students in grades 6 through 12. As with all charter schools it is funded by the state of Pennsylvania. There is no fee to attend. Modifications are made to suit individual student learning styles, varying academic levels and scheduling needs, among others. Most classes are offered in honors, college prep, and career paths. All of the classes are designed to help prepare the students for standardized tests such as the PSSAs.

Central Pennsylvania Digital Learning Foundation - CPDLF K - 12 program.

The Pennsylvania Distance & Electronic Learning Academy (PDELA) offers a complete K-12 academic program to assist families that want to educate their children at home.

The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School provides a free and appropriate course of study to the children of Pennsylvania families. The school provides a high-quality, accredited courses of study, certified teachers, and state-of-the-art technology. PA Cyber has established the highest standards of student achievement and educational standards using both technology and regular contact among students, parents and staff. Parents of cyber school students do not pay tuition. The public school district where the student resides pays tuition with state and local tax money through a state formula.

Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit 16 serves the region from Montandon, PA.

Triangle Tech Sunbury School located in Upper Augusta Township, Pennsylvania on Rt. 890 just off of Route 61. [phone]. A two-year college that awards associate degrees and courses toward a bachelor's program. Has about 200 students.

Empire Beauty School Orchard Hills Plaza RTE 11 & 15, Shamokin Dam, PA. [phone]. This school provides an accredited and licensed program to prepare students for a career in cosmetology.

Bucknell University a private university located in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. [phone].

Susquehanna University a private school located in Selinsgrove, PA. [phone].

Information regarding local daycare can be found on line at SnyderUnionChildCare.org

CareerLink for Union/Snyder County offers various training programs to help displaced workers, the unemployed and underemployed. Located at 713 Bridge Street, Suite 2. Selinsgrove, PA 17870. [phone]

PA. Department of Education runs a Bureau of Adult Basic and Literacy Education. Adult Basic Education (ABE) is instruction for adults that are at grades 0 through 8.9. Adult Secondary Diploma/General Educational Development (ASD/GED) provides programs for adults at the 9th through pre high school graduation level.

Parks and recreation

Monroe Township Recreation Area is located on Ball Park Way, Green Street and Wharf Drive off Park Road. A medium-sized community park that has an improved ball field with scoreboard, restrooms, picnic tables and a picnic pavilion. It can be reserved through the township office. There is off street parking available on-site.

The township is participating in a regional effort to increase and improve outdoor recreation in Eastern Snyder County. A regional plan has been developed by Shamokin Dam borough, Selingrove borough, Monroe Township, and Penn Township officials. Their hope is to garner state tax dollars through grant and matching fund applications. Officials assert that a poll of 10% of residents showed that they were willing to paying higher taxes to add more recreation facilities to the area.

One concept brought out in the Park, Recreation and Open Space Plan was for the region to market riverfront recreation opportunities. This is being actively promoted by the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership. In addition to the Susquehanna River, Penns Creek and its many tributaries drain the region.

Susquehanna River Shady Nook PP&L electric company donated 4.7 acres of land to the township for a public boat access in Hummels Wharf. From U.S. routes 11 and 15 in Selinsgrove, turn right at Sheetz, then at the curve drive straight ahead. At the stop sign, turn left to access area. The hours of operation are 24 hours, 7 days a week. Activities include unlimited horsepower boating, shallow-draft, lightweight fishing boats, canoes and inflatables. Shore fishing is permitted with a fishing license. Parking is available in a large lot and a Surfaced ramp is maintained.

The East Snyder Park is a multi-use facility which is under development using state grants and local donations. It is located along the upper end of University Ave. near Rt. 522, at the location of the existing Penn Township ball fields. The master plan of the park calls for nine professional-grade horseshoe pits, baseball, softball, football and soccer fields, a preschool playground with age appropriate apparatus (Kaboom grant) a playground for older children, and a small wetland conversation education area. The facilities are governed by the East Snyder Regional Recreation Association, a 501 (c) organization with a board made up of interested parties, local youth recreation organization representatives and area government officials. Monroe Township has contributed fill to the project.

Susquehanna Valley Country Club has an 18-hole course on a private facility in Hummels Wharf, Pennsylvania. It features 6,261 yards (5,725 m) of golf from the longest tees for a par of 70. The course rating is 71.2 and it has a slope rating of 128 on Rye grass. The golf course opened in 1920.

References

1. National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
2. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
3. Jeffrey Hummel, District Business Manager, WKOK Leaders and Lawmakers Show, July 19, 2007.

External links

• Elected officials directory for Snyder County
• Hazardous Air Pollutant Report
• Central Susquehanna Valley Thruway

Coordinates: 40°52′36″N 76°52′35″W / 40.87667°N 76.87639°W