South Centre Township, Pennsylvania

Infobox Settlement
official_name = South Centre Township,
Pennsylvania
settlement_type = Township
nickname =
motto =


imagesize =
image_caption =


image_



mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Map of Columbia County, Pennsylvania highlighting South Centre Township

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mapsize1 = 250x200px
map_caption1 = Map of Columbia County, Pennsylvania
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Pennsylvania
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Columbia
government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
leader_title2 =
leader_name2 =
established_title = Settled
established_date = 1771
established_title1 = Incorporated
established_date1 = 1923
unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 15.0
area_land_km2 = 13.8
area_water_km2 = 1.2
area_total_sq_mi = 5.8
area_land_sq_mi = 5.3
area_water_sq_mi = 0.5
population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 1972
population_density_km2 = 143.1
population_density_sq_mi = 370.7
timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
postal_code_type =
postal_code =
area_code = 570
website =
footnotes =

South Centre Township is a township in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,972 at the 2000 census.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 5.8 square miles (15.0 km²), of which, 5.3 square miles (13.8 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.2 km²) of it (8.12%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,972 people, 822 households, and 571 families residing in the township. The population density was 370.7 people per square mile (143.1/km²). There were 865 housing units at an average density of 162.6/sq mi (62.8/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.99% White, 0.15% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.05% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.06% of the population.

There were 822 households out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the township the population was spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $34,764, and the median income for a family was $40,395. Males had a median income of $27,875 versus $21,507 for females. The per capita income for the township was $16,600. About 6.2% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The area's local school district is the Central Columbia School District. It serves about 2,100 students and features three academic buildings and one administration building. Students are divided into the Elementary School (grades K through 4), Middle School (grades 5 through 8) and the High School (grades 9 through 12).

According to the 2003 data collected by Standard & Poor's, 18.4% of students are economically disadvantaged, 13.1% receive special education services and 71.1% of students pass the state-mandated testing. The district spends about $6,999 per student. [ [http://www.schoolmatters.com/app/location/q/stid=39/llid=116/stllid=151/locid=953373/stype=/catid=-1/secid=-1/compid=-1/site=pes Central Columbia School District report] , School Matters, Standard & Poors 2003, 2005.]

In 2007, the Pittsburgh Business Times ranked the district 146th out of 499 Pennsylvania school districts based on three years of Pennsylvania System of Student Assessment test scores. [Blacklidge, Karen, Valley schools all over the Chart, The Daily Item, June 6, 2007. http://www.dailyitem.com/archivesearch/local_story_163000144.html ]

The Middle School is under construction, as of 2006. Several small additions are being added to accommodate the increasing class size, and a major renovation on the existing portion will bring it up to code. It's expected to be near completion by the beginning of the 2007-2008 school year.

References