Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania

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Selinsgrove is a borough in Snyder County, Pennsylvania, United States. Susquehanna University, a 4-year private liberal arts school, is located in Selinsgrove. The population was 5,383 at the 2000 census. It is the largest borough in Snyder County.

Nestled in the middle of the Susquehanna River Valley in Central Pennsylvania, Selinsgrove is located along US Route 11 & US Route 15, 50 miles north of Harrisburg and about five miles southwest of Sunbury. The borough includes an elementary school, Selinsgrove Area Intermediate School, a middle school, and Selinsgrove Area High School. Routes 11 & 15 once traversed the borough by its primary artery, Market Street. Traffic concerns led to the construction of a bypass to funnel long haul traffic around the historic downtown. Like many similar projects, an unintended consequence of this bypass was the growth of commercial auto-based businesses north of the borough in an area locally known as The Strip. Selinsgrove's downtown has sought to reinvent itself by emphasizing its historic charm.

The Selinsgrove Community Library is a public library that is part of the Snyder County Library system. Patrons have free use of the Power PA Library which provides extensive onlline resources for children and adults. There is a public swimming pool that is run by a community board. The Dauntless Hook & Ladder volunteer fire company serves the area.

Music at the Gazebo is a program that runs from June through August with free concerts held in Pump House Park. The Selinsgrove Adult Band gives an annual spring concert. This concert benefits the American Cancer Society raising over $91,000 to help with research, education, advocacy and services for people with cancer.

An active commercial railroad line crosses a portion of the borough. No passenger service is available.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Selinsgrove is located at 40°48′9″N, 76°51′47″W (40.802539, -76.862940)GR1.

Elevation: 444 feet

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 5.0 km² (1.9 mi²).

Selinsgrove borders the Susquehanna River. The portion of the borough that is located between Penn's Creek and the Susuquehanna River is known locally as the "Isle of Que." This neighborhood is prone to flooding whenever the river swells its banks. The borough is bisected by Weiser's Run. It is a small creek that expands substantially when heavy rains occur. The borough provides flooding awareness information.

[edit] Government

The borough is governed by an elected council of seven residents. The Borough Council meets the first Monday of the month (with exceptions), in the borough buidling. There is an elected mayor, a borough manager and a chief of police.

The Borough levys the Emergency and Municipal Services Tax. The tax rate is $52.00 per year and the income limitation for exemption from the tax is $5,000.00 per year. A property tax is also levied.

Local government has been challenged by the increasing amount of property that is tax exempt. In 2004 it was reported that 49.3 percent of the properties were exempted from paying taxes. This includes the land owned by Susquehanna University, the land held by local churches, and the campus of the Selinsgrove Area School District. The Borough has been facing a continued decrease in the value of the taxable real estate for many years. The borough has requested "payment in lieu of taxes" from the exempt entities with limited success. There have also been several successful property tax assessment challenges that have decreased tax revenues.

The Selinsgrove Shade Tree Commission meets the fourth Thursday of the month, in the borough building, if it has business to conduct.

Subdivisions are reviewed by the Selinsgrove Borough Planning Commission and the Snyder County Planning Commission and are approved by the Selinsgrove Borough Council. The Selinsgrove Borough Planning Commission meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Borough Office Building, if they have business to attend to. The Selinsgrove Borough Zoning Hearing Board meets on the first Thursday of each month at 7:30pm if they have business to attend to.

Selinsgrove Borough provides curbside recycling on a monthly basis. There is a Borough Spring Cleanup service that hauls away large trash items. Brush and leaves can be disposed of at the Compost Yard at the south end of Strawberry Alley.

Selinsgrove Borough Council participates in the P H E A A (Pennsylvania Higher Education A s s i s t a n c e Agency) and the Degenstein Foundation to offer summer jobs for college students.

Selinsgrove is in the 85th Legislative District for the Pennsylvania General Assembly held by Russ Fairchild and the Pennsylvania Senate District 27 held by John Gordner. It is in the US House of Representatives 10th district held by Christopher Carney.

[edit] Crime

In 2005 the following crime statistics were reported to the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting System:

Sex related offenses - 11
Robbery - 1
Assaults - 129
Property Offenses - 366
Arson - 1
Drug Violations - 16
Other Alcohol Crimes - 57

PSP Focus Report

[edit] Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 5,383 people, 1,767 households, and 987 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,076.9/km² (2,790.3/mi²). There were 1,912 housing units at an average density of 382.5/km² (991.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.67% White, 2.73% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.91% Asian, 0.87% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.92% of the population.

There were 1,767 households out of which 23.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.1% were non-families. 34.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.75.

In the borough, the population was spread out with 14.6% under the age of 18, 34.9% from 18 to 24, 18.7% from 25 to 44, 15.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 77.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.7 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $31,034, and the median income for a family was $42,500. Males had a median income of $29,679 versus $22,115 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $13,401. About 7.8% of families and 16.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Famous residents or former residents

Site of Guinness World Record for "Longest Banana Split," achieved in 1988 when residents prepared a 4-mile, 965-yard dessert

[edit] Cemeteries

Evergreen (Baker's)
Saint Paul's United Church of Christ
Trinity (English, New) Lutheran
Sharon (German) Evangelical Lutheran
Wagenseller's Union
Old Lutheran Cemetery - Simon Snyder is interred here.

[edit] Assistance

  • AL-ANON 1-888-425-2666
  • Alcoholic Anonymous referral 387-4940, 717-234-5390.
  • Central Susquehanna Sight Services 570-286-1471 Serves Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Union counties
  • Snyder County Assistance Office 570 South High Street P.O. Box 56 Selinsgrove, PA 17870-0056 FAX: 570-374-6347, Phone: 570-374-8126, LIHEAP 570-374-8126
  • Snyder County Chapter American Red Cross 10 S Main Street, Middleburg, PA 17842
  • C.O.R.E. Susquehanna AmeriCorps [1] 713 Bridge St. Suite 10 Selinsgrove, PA 17870 570-374-8938
  • Susquehanna Valley Women in Transition abuse shelter and aid (570) 374-7773
  • Union - Snyder Transportation Alliance Shared-Ride Program for Senior Citizens (age 65+) and Disabilities 570-743-0029.
  • Union-Snyder Community Action Agency works in partnership with consumers, agencies, and communities to address and alleviate the causes and impacts of poverty. 713 Bridge Street Suite 10, Selinsgrove, PA 17870 (570) 374-0181
  • Sunbury Community Hospital & Outpatient Center Is an inpatient and outpatient care facility providing personalized, caring, and efficient service to patients, with total satisfaction as a top priority. Has Behavioral Health, Diagnostic Imaging, 24 hour Emergency Services, Laboratory, Healthy Woman Resources, Sleep Laboratory, Radiology services. 350 N. 11th Street, Sunbury, PA 570-286-3431 286-3333.
  • The Daily Item is the region's daily newspaper. Offers events calender, church directory on Saturdays, local assitance contact numbers.
  • Union/Snyder County Area Agency on Aging, 116 N. Second Street, Lewisburg, PA 17837; tel. 570/524-2100; 1-800-533-1050 toll free;
  • Snyder County Housing Authority, 103 Drake Court, Middleburg, PA 17842, Telephone 570/837-3979
  • Pennsylvania State Police – Selinsgrove 570-374-8145 non emergency, 911 for emergencies
  • Selinsgrove Borough Police 570-374-8655 non emergency, 911 for emergencies
  • Tapline 1-800-222-9016 Provides emergency mental health services, support, and assessment. Should be contacted immediately when an individual (child or adult) expresses suicidal and/or homicidal thoughts and/or intentions. Serves Columbia, Montour, Snyder, and Union Counties.
  • ChildLine 1-800-932-0313 Pennsylvania’s statewide reporting center for child abuse and neglect. After taking reports, ChildLine refers this information to the applicable County Children and Youth Agency.
  • Snyder County Children & Youth Services Suite 15, 713 Bridge Street Selinsgrove, PA 17870 (570) 374-4570
  • FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency - 800-621-3362
  • PEMA - Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency717-651-2001
  • NOAA Weather Alert Frequency - 162.400
  • Selinsgrove Careerlink - job assistance 713 Bridge Street Selinsgrove, PA 17870 570-374-5751
  • Salvation Army 570 742-4231
  • Better Business Bureau Covers Northeastern PA Email: info@nepa.bbb.org (570) 614-4222 4099 Birney Avenue, Moosic, PA. 18507
  • Habitat for Humanity 570-374-2437
  • Haven Ministry 570-286-1672 housing assistance

[edit] External links


Municipalities and Communities of Synder County, Pennsylvania
(County Seat: Middleburg)
Boroughs Beavertown | Freeburg | McClure | Middleburg | Selinsgrove | Shamokin Dam
Townships Adams | Beaver | Center | Chapman | Franklin | Jackson | Middlecreek | Monroe | Penn | Perry | Spring | Union | Washington | West Beaver | West Perry
Communities and CDPs Beaver Springs | Hummels Wharf | Kratzerville | Kreamer | Mount Pleasant Mills | Paxtonville | Penns Creek | Port Trevorton | Troxelville
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