Adams Township, Snyder County, Pennsylvania

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 20.9 square miles (54 km²), of which, 20.5 square miles (53 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km²) of it (1.67%) is water.[4]

Adams Township is bordered by Union County to the north, Center Township to the east, Beaver Township to the south and Spring Township to the west.[5]

The census-designated place of Troxelville is in Adams Township.

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 852 people,[8] 320 households, and 253 families residing in the township. The population density was 41.5 people per square mile (16.0/km²). There were 376 housing units at an average density of 18.3/sq mi (7.1/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 99.53% White, 0.23% African American, 0.23% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.47% of the population.[9]

There were 320 households, out of which 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.3% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no spouse present, and 20.9% were non-families. 17.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 2.97.[10]

In the Township, the population was spread out, with 26.3% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.6 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $29,940, and the median income for a family was $37,292. Males had a median income of $26,167 versus $21,635 for females. The per capita income for the township was $16,217. About 4.8% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.[11]

Adams Township is governed by three elected-at-large Township Supervisors.[12] In 2014, they are: Daniel L. Kuhns, (term expires 12/19); James H. Richard, (term expires 12/15) and Mark Beachel, (term expires 12/17).[13] The Supervisors meet on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. The Adams Township Municipal Authority operates the local water treatment plant. Subdivisions are reviewed and approved by the Snyder County Planning Commission. Adams Township is a member of Central Keystone Council of Government,[14] which provides various governmental functions.[15]

Residents are also governed at the county level. There are three, elected at large, Snyder County Commissioners. In 2014, they are: Joseph E. Kantz, Chairman; Malcolm L. Derk III, Vice Chairman and Peggy Chamberlain Roup.[16] The County levies several taxes and receives funding from both the state and federal government. The county is mandated by the Pennsylvania General Assembly to provide many social services to residents.[17][18] Snyder County is a member of SEDA COG which provides the county various services. The County levies a property tax.

Adams Township is in the 82nd Legislative District for the Pennsylvania General Assembly held by C. Adam Harris whose office is located on Main St., Middleburg. Pennsylvania Senate District 27th is held by Senator John Gordner. Adams Township is in the United States House of Representatives Pennsylvania 12th District held by Rep. Fred Keller. Pennsylvania is represented in the United States Senate by Senator Bob Casey, Jr. and Senator Pat Toomey.

The average yearly property tax paid by Snyder County residents amounts to about 2.79% of their yearly income. Snyder County ranked 728th out of the 3143 United States counties for property taxes as a percentage of median income.[19] Snyder County collects, on average, 1.17% of a property's assessed fair market value as property tax. According to a report prepared by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the total real estate taxes collected by all school districts in Pennsylvania rose from $6,474,133,936 in 1999–2000 to $10,438,463,356 in 2008-09 and to $11,153,412,490 in 2011.[20] Property taxes in Pennsylvania are relatively high on a national scale. According to the Tax Foundation, Pennsylvania ranked 11th in the U.S. in 2008 in terms of property taxes paid as a percentage of home value (1.34%) and 12th in the country in terms of property taxes as a percentage of income (3.55%).[21]

Map showing Snyder County, Pennsylvania public school districts shows Midd-West School District in pink

Residents of Adams Township may attend the local, public schools operated by Midd-West School District. The District provides publicly funded, full day kindergarten through 12th grade. By October 2013, Midd-West School District's enrollment had declined to 2,200 students.[22] In 2011, Midd-West School District enrollment was 2,202 pupils.[23] The district's enrollment was 2,388 pupils in 2005–06.[24] Midd-West School District operates: Midd-West High School (8th-12th), Midd-West Middle School (6th-7th), Middleburg Elementary School (K-5th), and West Snyder Elementary School (K-5th). In 2013, Midd-West School District's graduation rate was 86%.[25]

In 2013, the Pittsburgh Business Times ranked Midd-West School District 313th out of 496 public schools for academic achievement of its pupils.[26] In 2012, Midd-West School District achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) despite the low academic achievement at the high school.[27] In 2011, under the leadership of Dr. Wesley Knapp, Superintendent, Midd-West High School has placed on the state's Lowest Achieving Schools List.[28]

Adams Township high school aged students can also attend the taxpayer funded SUN Area Technical Institute, located in New Berlin, Union County, for training in the building trades, auto mechanics, culinary arts, allied health careers and other areas. SUN Area Technical Institute is funded by a consortium of the school districts, which includes: Midd-West School District, Lewisburg Area School District, Shikellamy School District, Mifflinburg Area School District and Selinsgrove Area School District.

Adams Township residents may also apply to attend any of the Commonwealth's 14 public cyber charter schools (in 2013) at no additional cost to the parents. This includes SusQ Cyber Charter School which is locally operated. The resident's public school district is required to pay the charter school and cyber charter school tuition for residents who attend these public schools.[29][30] The tuition rate that Midd-West School District must pay was $9,626.31 in 2012. By Commonwealth law, if the District provides transportation for its own students, then the District must provide transportation to any school that lies within 10 miles of its borders. Residents may also seek admission for their school aged child to any other public school district. When accepted for admission, the student's parents are responsible for paying an annual tuition fee set by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit #16 provides a wide variety of services to children living in its region which includes Adams Township. Early screening, special education services, speech and hearing therapy, autistic support, preschool classes and many other services like driver education are available. Services for children during the preschool years are provided without cost to their families when the child is determined to meet eligibility requirements. Intermediate units receive taxpayer funding: through subsidies paid by member school districts; through direct charges to users for some services; through the successful application for state and federal competitive grants and through private grants.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania is a public university located in Bloomsburg. It is one of the 14 state universities that make up the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). Eleventh and twelfth grade students may attend the University at a significant tuition discount through its Dual Enrollment program earning college credits while still earning their high school diploma. The university operates a summer college program called ACE , where high school students can earn credits at a 75% tuition discount. The credits are transferable to many other Pennsylvania universities through the state's TRAC system.

Community members have access to the Snyder County Public Library System which is headquartered at the Rudy Gelnett Memorial Library, 1 North High Street, Selinsgrove. Through it Pennsylvania residents have access to all POWER Library online resources. Adams Township residents may also use the Beavertown Community Library on 111 West Walnut Street, Beavertown, the Middleburg Community Library, 13 North Main Street, Middleburg and the McClure Community Library located at 4 Library Lane, McClure.

Walker Lake is a 239-acre man-made lake owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.[31] It is managed by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission for public fishing and boating. The Commission stocks the Lake with northern pike and walleye fingerling. Annual fishing licenses are required in Pennsylvania. State registration and launch permits are mandated for all boats. Permits are issued by the Fish and Boat Commission or Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The lake was created by damming the North Branch of Middle Creek.[32] Middle Creek flows across Adams Township and has many tributaries. Moyers Mill Run flows from northern Adams Township and empties into Walker Lake.