Upper Augusta Township, Pennsylvania

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Pagename
settlement_type = Township
nickname =
motto =


imagesize =
image_caption = The marina unit of Shikellamy State Park is on Packer Island in Upper Augusta Township.


image_



mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Map of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania highlighting Upper Augusta Township

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mapsize1 = 250x200px
map_caption1 = Map of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Pennsylvania
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Northumberland
government_footnotes =
government_type = Board of Supervisors
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
leader_title2 =
leader_name2 =
established_title = Settled
established_date = 1701
established_title1 = Incorporated
established_date1 = 1846
unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 60.3
area_land_km2 = 52.8
area_water_km2 = 7.5
area_total_sq_mi = 23.3
area_land_sq_mi = 20.3
area_water_sq_mi = 3.0
population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 2566
population_density_km2 = 48.7
population_density_sq_mi = 126.2
timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
postal_code_type =
postal_code =
area_code = 570
website =
footnotes =

Upper Augusta Township is a township in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. It was formed in 1846 by the division of Augusta Township (one of the seven original townships of Northumberland County formed in 1772) into Upper and Lower sections. The population was 2,556 at the 2000 census.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 23.3 square miles (60.3 km²), of which, 20.3 square miles (52.5 km²) of it is land and 3.0 square miles (7.8 km²) of it (12.97%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 2,556 people, 1,022 households, and 781 families residing in the township. The population density was 126.2 people per square mile (48.7/km²). There were 1,058 housing units at an average density of 52.2/sq mi (20.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.16% White, 0.51% African American, 0.08% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.74% of the population.

There were 1,022 households out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.6% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.5% were non-families. 20.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the township the population was spread out with 20.0% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.8 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $41,875, and the median income for a family was $48,875. Males had a median income of $35,489 versus $21,389 for females. The per capita income for the township was $22,433. About 2.9% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.6% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The local public school system is the Shikellamy School District. The admistrative offices are located at Administration Center, 200 Island Blvd, Sunbury, Pennsylvania. Shikellamy High School has a 78% graduation rate according to the district report card 2005-2006. In 11th grade, 49% were proficient in math. For reading 62% were proficient in [http://www.paayp.com/district.jsp?hiddenSelectCounty=Northumberland&selectDistrict=SHIKELLAMY%20SD 2005-2006] . The high school is ranked [http://www.schooldigger.com/SelectState.aspx?Level=3&findschool=2274006280&from=schoolrank 384th out of 606 public high schools] in Pennsylvania.

In 2007, the Pittsburgh Business Times ranked the Shikellamy School District 434th out of 499 Pennsylvania school districts based on three years of Pennsylvania System of Student Assessment test scores. [ Valley schools all over the chart, Daily Item June 6, 2007 http://www.dailyitem.com/archivesearch/local_story_163000144.html ]

The Shikellamy School Board set the budget at $34.62 million for 2007-2008. The board levies a variety of taxes to support its programs. Taxes include 62.5 mills real estate tax in 2007. [ Shikellamy school board adopts $34.6M budget, Daily Item, June 20, 2007 http://www.dailyitem.com/0100_news/local_story_171003120.html] Per capita taxes are $5 per resident. An earned income taxes of one-half of 1 percent of income yields a revenue of approximately $1.8 million. Additionally, the real estate transfer tax of one-half percent (Nothumberland borough, Point Township, Rockefeller Township) and one percent (Snydertown borough) is levied on real estate transfers. [Shikellamy budget approved Daily Item, May 19,2007 http://www.dailyitem.com/archivesearch/local_story_139001649.html]

Voters rejected a tax referendum in May 2007 which would have increased local earned income tax by 0.5 percent to reduce property taxes for homeowners and farmers by $176. [Tax reform proposal falls in all Valley school districts, Daily Item, May 19, 2007. http://www.dailyitem.com/archivesearch/local_story_139203055.html]

[http://www.sun-tech.org/ SUN Area Career & Technology Center] is a regional vocational school, offering adult education classes, vocational education, and technical career training. SUN Tech serves 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 of the borders of the school district at no charge to the student. [ 24 PS 17-1726-A Transportation to charter schools http://www.pde.state.pa.us/transportation/lib/transportation/SchoolCode_Transportation_7-17-06.pdf]

Parochial schools

* [http://saintmonica.sunbury.pa.us/ St. Monica's School] provides a parochial education program for kindergarten to 8th grades. The school is a member of the National Christian Schools Association. Noncatholics seek admission to this school.
* [http://www.sunburychristianacademy.org/ Sunbury Christian Academy] offers pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The campus is located just north of the borough of Northumberland. The student population is nearing 160. Programs and student accomplishments are noted regularly in local media.
* [http://www.norrychristian.net/main/default.asp Northumberland Christian Academy] was founded in 1972 and is a ministry of the First Regular Baptist Church of Northumberland, Pa. The school offers an educational program for students from preschool through high school.

Charter Public Schools

* Connections Academy provides a form of public school that students can attend from home. This is a unique program that combines strong parental involvement, the expertise and accountability of publicly funded education, and the flexibility of online classes. Centered on meeting students needs and goals. Has a K-11th program. Students are required to take all state mandated, standardized tests in person at locations designated by the school. [ http://www.connectionsacademy.com/state/home.asp?schoolCode=CCA Connections Academy ]
* [http://www.susqcyber.org/ SusQ-Cyber Charter School] provides students in grades 9-12 with an electronically delivered accredited high school curriculum.
* [http://204.108.129.225/aboutus 21st Century Cyber Charter School] is a state accredited, diploma granting school serving Pennsylvania students in grades 6 through 12. Modifications are made to suit individual student learning styles, varying academic levels and scheduling needs. Most classes are offered in honors, college prep, and career paths. All of the classes are designed to prepare the student for standardized tests such as the PSSAs.
* [http://www.pavcs.org/Why_PAVCS/why.html Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School] provides a structured yet flexible, interactive environment in a program for Kindergarten through 10th grade. The rigorous instruction, high standards, informed guidance, and individual attention provide each student with the opportunity to be highly successful. Teachers interact with students via email. Additionally the Elluminate classroom gives the student access to their teachers during the teacher’s office hours to ask questions related to content of a subject. "An independent audit of cyber-charter schools by KPMG Consulting, which was commissioned by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, praised PAVCS for offering a well-researched program and an appropriate assessment plan." [ Boss, Shira, "Virtual charters: public schooling, at home", Christian Science Monitor, January 2002.]

The Central Susquehanna LPN Career Center, located in Sunbury, provides a one year full time program to prepare the indidivual to enter a career in licensed practical nursing. Classroom instruction and laboratory experience are offered in Sunbury. Affiliated hospitals, nursing care facilities, doctors' offices and childcare settings provide clinical experience.

References