Jackson Township, Snyder County, Pennsylvania

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 15.1 square miles (39 km²), all of it land.

Jackson Township is bordered by Union County to the north, Monroe Township to the east, Penn and Middlecreek Townships to the south and Center Township to the west.

The census-designated place of Kratzerville is in the southeastern corner of the township.

Ongoing pollution and soil erosion in the region continue to degrade the water quality and the environment locally as well as regionally. Farming, wastewater treatment facilities and industrial spills are cited as contributing factors to loss of water quality. It also contributes to the pollution of the Chesapeake Bay. Controlling the wastewater discharges alone is expected to cost local taxpayers billions of dollars.

The Lower Penn's Creek Watershed Association's central purpose is to protect, conserve, and improve the Lower Penn’s Creek watershed by promoting the wise stewardship of the land and aquatic resources. The organization is open to all citizens. The organization has sponsored a main stream assessment. The Lower Penn’s Creek watershed is approximately 163 square miles (420 km²) within Snyder and Union Counties. It drains into the Susquehanna River on the northern border of the community of Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. It is located within the Lower Susquehanna subbasin. LPCWA’s efforts contribute to the success of the missions of the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership and the Susquehanna River Basin Commission. The Snyder County Conservation District and the Union County Conservation District both have watershed specialists that participate in LPCWA.

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 1,276 people, 459 households, and 379 families residing in the township. The population density was 84.7 people per square mile (32.7/km²). There were 524 housing units at an average density of 34.8/sq mi (13.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.43% White, 0.71% African American, 0.24% Asian, 0.47% from other races, and 0.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.71% of the population.

There were 459 households, out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.1% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.4% were non-families. 14.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the township the population was spread out, with 24.9% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 100.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $33,611, and the median income for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $28,482 versus $20,938 for females. The per capita income for the township was $15,131. About 6.0% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.1% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

The polling place is Jackson Township is located in the Zion Lutheran Church in Kratzerville.

Selinsgrove Area School District is the local public school. There are approximately 3000 students clustered on a campus located in Selinsgrove borough. Selinsgrove Area High School has about 900 students in grades 9-12. The Selinsgrove Area Middle School serves students in grades 6-8 using a team teaching approach. Selinsgrove Area Intermediate School has students grades 3-5. Test scores at the Intermediate School for reading and math are lagging both regionally and compared with children in the state. Primary grades are at Selinsgrove Area Elementary School. Kindergarten is located at Jackson Penn School. Public School busing is provided.

In 2005 Selinsgrove Area High School was ranked 306th out of 601 Pennsylvania high schools on the annual state basic reading and mathematics testing. The 3rd grade ranked 1215th out of 1779 Pennsylvania third grades. 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. Regionally, this rank was roughly the mean. According to The Daily Item, in 2007, Selinsgrove also reached adequate yearly progress standards for the first time since the progress analysis began during the 2002-03 school year.

SUN Area Technical Institute New Berlin, Union County, PA 17855 (570) 966-1031. SUN Tech 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 Award score to 648 points, a 345-point increase from 303 points in August, 2000.

Residents also have a selection of alternative programs. 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 109 Market Street, Sunbury, PA 17801 Northumberland County Phone: (570) 286-5983 is a parochial school providing a education to grades: PK-8. Their enrollment is about 180. Noncatholics frequently seek admission to the school.

Triangle Tech Sunbury School located in Upper Augusta Township on Rt. 890 just off of Route 61. (570) 988-0700.

Bucknell University a private university located in Lewisburg, PA. (570) 577-2000.

Susquehanna University a private school located in Selinsgrove, PA. (570) 374-0101.

The Selinsgrove Community Library is a public library that is part of the Snyder County Library system. Patrons have free use of the PA Power Library and Access Pennsylvania which provide extensive online resources for children and adults. The library is on the corner of High Street and Pine Street, one block west of Market Street in downtown Selinsgrove. A small book exchange cart is hosted in the U.S. Post Office building on Rte 11&15, Shamokin Dam.

Snyder County Historical Society 30 East Market St., Middleburg, PA.17842 570-837-6191 Museum and Library Research services are provided for a fee.

Degenstein Community Library 40 South Fifth Street, Sunbury, Northumberland County, PA 17801 570-286-2461

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