White Deer Township, Union County, Pennsylvania

The Watsontown River Bridge and Factory Bridge are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[3]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 46.6 square miles (120.7 km²), of which, 46.5 square miles (120.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (0.21%) is water.

White Deer Township is bordered by Lycoming County and Gregg Township to the north, the West Branch Susquehanna River to the east over which lies Northumberland County, Kelly and Buffalo Townships to the south and West Buffalo Township to the west. Within White Deer Township are the unincorporated communities of White Deer and New Columbia, plus a portion of West Milton.

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 4,273 people, 1,644 households, and 1,269 families residing in the township. The population density was 91.9 people per square mile (35.5/km²). There were 1,734 housing units at an average density of 37.3/sq mi (14.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.15% White, 0.61% African American, 0.21% Asian, 0.26% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.70% of the population.

There were 1,644 households, out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.3% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.8% were non-families. 18.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the township the population was spread out, with 24.0% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 27.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.4 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $41,994, and the median income for a family was $46,417. Males had a median income of $32,222 versus $21,219 for females. The per capita income for the township was $18,486. About 4.7% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.2% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.

The township has four polling places. White Deer Township 1 is in the Township Municipal Building, 2191 Creek Rd., New Columbia. White Deer Township 2 is located in the New Columbia Community Center, 224 3rd St., New Columbia. White Deer Township 3 is located in the Community Park Building, 992 White Deer Pike, White Deer. White Deer Township 4 is found in the Revival Tabernacle, Social Hall, 214 Tabernacle Rd., New Columbia.

Map of Union County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts

The local public school system is the Milton Area School District. It serves just over 2000 students. Enrollment is projected by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to decline significantly over the next ten years. In 2005, Standard & Poors reported the district's student teacher ratio was 13.9 to 1.[6]

Milton High School has an 89.9% graduation rate according to the district report card 2005–2006. In 11th grade, 49.4% were proficient in math. For reading 63.2% were proficient in 2005-2006. The high school is ranked 374th out of 606 public high schools in Pennsylvania.

In 2007, the Pittsburgh Business Times ranked the district 356th out of 499 Pennsylvania school districts based on three years of Pennsylvania System of Student Assessment test scores.[7]

The Montandon Elementary School earned a No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Award for outstanding performance on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment for 2005. The students scored 97.7% proficient or better in mathematics and 72.4% proficient in reading.[8]

The Milton Area School Board set the budget at $24.8 million for 2007–2008. The board levies a variety of taxes to support its programs. Taxes include 48.39 mills real estate tax in 2007 for district properties located in Northumberland County. For properties located in White Deer Township, Union County the real estate property tax was set at 10.10 mills.[9]

Voters rejected a tax referendum in May 2007. The proposal increased local earned income tax to reduce property taxes for primary homeowners and farmers.[10]

White Deer Township played a vital role in the American Revolution

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.[11]

Several alternative schools, including parochial and charter, are available in the region.