Liberty Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania

Liberty Township,
Adams County,
Pennsylvania
Township

Map of Adams County, Pennsylvania highlighting Liberty Township

Map of Adams County, Pennsylvania
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
County Adams
Settled 1736
Incorporated 1800
Area
 • Total 16.24 sq mi (42.05 km2)
 • Land 16.23 sq mi (42.04 km2)
 • Water 0.008 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Population (2010)
 • Total 1,237
 • Density 76/sq mi (29.4/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
Area code(s) 717

Liberty Township is a township in Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,237 at the 2010 census.[1]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 16.62 square miles (43.05 km2), of which 16.62 square miles (43.04 km2) is land and 0.0077 square miles (0.02 km2), or 0.04%, is water.[1] The township is split into two sections by the borough of Carroll Valley.

Demographics

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 1,063 people, 407 households, and 326 families residing in the township. The population density was 65.7 people per square mile (25.4/km²). There were 433 housing units at an average density of 26.8/sq mi (10.3/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.40% White, 0.19% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.19% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.19% of the population.

There were 407 households out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.3% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.9% were non-families. 16.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the township the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.8 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $50,833, and the median income for a family was $53,456. Males had a median income of $36,094 versus $27,120 for females. The per capita income for the township was $22,789. About 2.1% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The Liberty Township is governed by three locally elected Township Supervisors. The Township has an appointed planning commission and a Permit/Zoning Officer. The offices are at 39 Topper Road, Fairfield. The locally elected Liberty Township Tax Collector is Natalie A. Williams.

County level

Three, elected at large, Adams County Commissioners. In 2014, they are: Randy Phiel, Chairman; Jim Martin, Vice Chairman; and Marty Karsteter Qually.

State level
Federal level 

Education

Map of Adams County, Pennsylvania School Districts

Residents of Liberty Township may attend the local, public schools operated by Fairfield Area School District which provides full day kindergarten through 12th grade. In 2013, the Fairfield Area School District's enrollment had declined to just 1,117 students in kindergarten through 12th grade.[3] In 2013, the Pittsburgh Business Times ranked Fairfield Area School District 303rd out of 498 public schools for academic achievement of its pupils.[4] In 2012, Fairfield Area School District achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), even though the Fairfield Area High School was in Warning AYP status , due to lagging student achievement, especially in reading.[5]

Liberty Township residents may also choose between two local public charter schools: Vida Charter School and Gettysburg Montessori Charter School. In Pennsylvania, residents may attend public charter schools at no cost to the parents. The tuition is paid by their public school system. By Commonwealth law, if the public school district provides transportation for its own students, then the district must also provide transportation to any school that lies within 10 miles of its borders, as well as, all schools within its borders.[6]

Vida Charter School is a public school located in the Eisenhower Center, 120 E. Broadway, Gettysburg. Vida Charter School offers full day kindergarten through 6th grade. In 2013, Vida Charter School achieved a score 81.1 of out of 100 for student achievement.[7] According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,181 public schools (less than 73 percent of Pennsylvania public schools), achieved an academic score of 70 or higher. In 2012, Vida Charter School achieved Adequate yearly Progress (AYP).[8]

Children residing in the Liberty Township may also attend Gettysburg Montessori Charter School which offers full day Kindergarten through 6th grade. This public charter school operates at 120 E Broadway, Gettysburg. The Gettysburg Montessori Charter School achieved AYP in both 2011 and 2012.[9] In 2013, Gettysburg Montessori Charter School achieved a score of 64 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement.[10]

Liberty Township school aged residents may apply to attend any of the Commonwealth's 14 public cyber charter schools (in 2013) at no additional cost to the parents. 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.[11][12] 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. In 2012, the tuition fees for Fairfield Area School District were: Elementary School - $9,208.47, High School - $9,232.05.[13]

High school aged students living in Liberty Township can attend the taxpayer funded Adams County Tech Prep for training in the building trades, the culinary arts, diesel mechanics, allied health including Emergency Medical Technician certification and other areas. The school is located on the Gettysburg Area High School campus at 1130 Old Harrisburg Road. Adams County Tech Prep is funded by a consortium of the school districts, which includes: Gettysburg Area School District, Littlestown Area School District, Fairfield Area School District, Conewago Valley School District and Bermudian Springs School District.

Lincoln Intermediate Unit #12 provides a wide variety of services to children living in its region which includes Liberty Township. Early screening, special educations services, speech and hearing therapy 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.

Community members have access to the Fairfield Area Library located at 31 Worts Drive in Fairfield; the Adams County Historical Society Library which is located on 111 Seminary Ridge, in Gettysburg; the Adams County Law Library located in the Court House, 117 Baltimore Street, Room 305 in Gettysburg and to the statewide PA Power Library which is an online library funded with tax dollars from the state's education budget.

At Harrisburg Area Community College Gettysburg Campus, Liberty Township residents have access to college courses at a discounted tuition rate for state residents. Fairfield Area School District is not a tax funding district of the College. Residents have supported the College through state taxation directed to community colleges.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Liberty township, Adams County, Pennsylvania". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
  2. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (October 4, 2013). "District Fast Facts Fairfield Area School District".
  4. ↑ Pittsburgh Business Times (April 5, 2013). "Guide to Pennsylvania Schools Statewide ranking 2013".
  5. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 21, 2012). "Fairfield Area School District AYP Overview 2012".
  6. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2013). "Pupil Transportation -Frequently Asked Questions".
  7. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (October 4, 2013). "Vida Charter School Academic Performance Data 2013".
  8. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Vida Charter School AYP Overview 2012, September 21, 2012
  9. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 21, 2012). "Gettysburg Montessori Charter School AYP Overview 2012".
  10. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (October 4, 2013). "Gettysburg Montessori Charter School, Academic Performance Data 2013".
  11. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2013). "Charter Schools".
  12. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2013). "What is a Charter School?".
  13. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (May 2012). "Pennsylvania Public School District Tuition Rates".

Coordinates: 39°45′28″N 77°21′14″W / 39.75778°N 77.35389°W