Snyder County, Pennsylvania


Snyder County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 39,702. The county seat is Middleburg. Snyder County was formed in 1855 from parts of Union County.
Snyder County comprises the Selinsgrove, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Bloomsburg-Berwick-Sunbury, PA Combined Statistical Area.

History

Snyder County was settled in the 1740s by Pennsylvania Germans from Berks and Lancaster counties, and became an independent political unit on March 2, 1855, when formed under part of Union County. Snyder County took its name in honor of the famous citizen and political figure Simon Snyder, who was governor of Pennsylvania for three terms, from 1808 to 1817, and made his home in Selinsgrove. The county seat of Middleburg was laid out in 1800 and incorporated in 1864.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water. It is the fifth-smallest county in Pennsylvania by area. Snyder County is in the Ridge and Valley region of the Appalachian Mountains. Two parallel mountain ridges, Shade Mountain and Jacks Mountain, run southwest to northeast. The Susquehanna River is the eastern border. Between the ridges are steep hills, gently rolling hills, and flat creek valleys. With over 400 active farms in the county, agriculture plays an important role in the economy and environment. Roughly half the county remains forested with both softwoods and hardwoods. These woods provide a place for wildlife to roam which provides for the sport of hunting.

Climate

Snyder has a humid continental climate which is hot-summer except in higher areas where it is warm-summer. Average temperatures in Selinsgrove range from 27.4 °F in January to 72.8 °F in July, while in Beavertown they range from 26.6 °F in January to 72.1 °F in July.

Adjacent counties

According to the 2010 federal census, there were 39,702 people, 14,414 households, and 9,981 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile. There were 14,890 housing units at an average density of 45 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 97% White, 1.2% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.42% Asian, and 0.07% Pacific Islander. Two percent of the population were Hispanic or Latino. US Veterans – 2,681. Median household income, 2010–2014 was reported as $48,718, while the per capita income was $23,886. In 2014, the median household income in the USA was $53,700.
As of the census of 2000, there were 37,546 people, 13,654 households, and 9,981 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile. There were 14,890 housing units at an average density of 45 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 97.93% White, 0.82% Black or African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander. 0.98% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 48.2% were of German, 17.2% American and 5.5% English ancestry.
There were 13,654 households out of which 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.00% were married couples living together, 7.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.90% were non-families. 22.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the county, the population was spread out with 24.00% under the age of 18, 11.20% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.10 males.
The average wage per job reported for 2003 was $26,650. County population in 2003 had risen to 37,965. Jobs in 2003 were 17,907, with a total labor force in 2004 of 19,863. The unemployment rate in 2004 was reported at 4.8%. Average household size in Snyder County in 2004 was 2.58.
;County poverty demographics:
According to research by The Center for Rural Pennsylvania, which is a legislative agency of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the poverty rate for Snyder County was 13.1% in 2014. The statewide poverty rate was 13.6% in 2014. The 2012 childhood poverty rate by public school district was: Midd-West School District – 47.1% living at 185% or below than the Federal Poverty Level, and Selinsgrove Area School District – 39.5%.
According to the US Census Bureau, from 2009-2014 Snyder County saw a 51% increase in the number of families in the federal food assistance program called SNAP. The number of people or families receiving monthly SNAP dollars rose from 1,006 in 2009 to 1,511 people in 2014.
;Teen pregnancy rate
The Pennsylvania Department of Health reports the annual teens aged 15–19 birth rate. From 2011 to 2015, Snyder County experienced a 17% decline in teen pregnancies. In Pennsylvania the majority of pupils graduate from high school at age 18 years old. Snyder County is home to a large Amish population where pregnancies at 17–19 years old are common.
The United States Office of Management and Budget has designated Snyder County as the Selinsgrove, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area . As of the 2010 census the micropolitan area ranked 15th most populous in the State of Pennsylvania and the 313th most populous in the United States with a population of 39,702. Snyder County is also a part of the Bloomsburg–Berwick–Sunbury, PA Combined Statistical Area , which combines the populations of Snyder County, as well as Columbia, Montour, Northumberland and Union Counties in Pennsylvania. The Combined Statistical Area ranked 8th in the State of Pennsylvania and 115th most populous in the United States with a population of 264,739.

Politics

The county is strongly Republican in presidential elections. The last Republican nominee to receive less than 60% of the county’s vote was Bob Dole. In 2008 John McCain received 64% of the county’s vote. In the 1964 presidential election Snyder County was one of only four counties in Pennsylvania to vote for Barry Goldwater, and by 0.6 percentage points shaded Carroll County, New Hampshire as Goldwater’s strongest county in the Northeast. The last Republican presidential candidate to lose Snyder County was incumbent president William Howard Taft when he split the Republican vote with challenger and former president Theodore Roosevelt, who took the county for the insurgent Progressive Party. In fact, no Democratic presidential candidate has been able to claim the county since Pennsylvania native James Buchanan won the presidency in 1856. The only county in Pennsylvania to be more steadfastly Republican in presidential contests has been Snyder County's neighbor to the north, Union County, which voted for John C. Fremont over Buchanan in 1856.
The county is located in Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district, which has a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+17 and is represented by Republican Fred Keller. As part of Pennsylvania Senate, District 27 it is represented by Republican John Gordner. The county contains locations in Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 82, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 85, and Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 108. All of these have been represented by Republicans since 1989.
Of "Straight Party" voters in Snyder 73.2% are Republican and 24.65% are Democratic. In the 2008 election Republicans won in all races and in most they won by over 20%. Chris Carney lost by roughly 13% in the county while winning by 12% in the district.

County commissioners

Malcolm Derk, Resigned mid term, December 2017.

Row offices

In 2015 the County Commissioners approved a budget of $18.2 Million. This required a 2 mill real estate tax increase. 2015 - 21.8 mills. 2014 - 19.8 mills.
In December 2017, the Commissioners approved a budget of $19.67 million for 2018. This budget does not require a tax increase.

State Representatives

Serve 2 year terms in Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Serves six year terms in U.S. Senate
Electric – All 21 municipalities within Snyder County receive electric service from PPL Electric Utilities, Inc. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a 500 kilovolt line runs through Snyder County. Three 138 kilovolt lines stem from this 500 kilovolt line at the Sunbury Generation coal-fired power plant in Shamokin Dam, which is capable of producing roughly 400 megawatts of electrical power.
Water – Water service in Snyder County is provided by various municipal and regional authorities, private water providers, and private well water sources.
Gas – UGI Penn Natural Gas is the only natural gas provider in Snyder County, providing service to Jackson,
Middlecreek, Monroe, and Penn Townships, as well as Selinsgrove and Shamokin Dam Boroughs. Several propane dealers
exist to service the rural community.
Communications – Verizon provides telephone service and EvenLink provides VoIP telephone
service to all 21 municipalities in Snyder County.
Cable television service is provided by Service Electric Cablevision, Nittany Media, Inc., and Beaver Springs Community TV Association.
High-speed Internet access is principally provided by Verizon, EvenLink, and Service Electric Cablevision.
There are several restaurants featuring high speed wireless internet in Snyder County. Dunkin Donuts and Applebee's provide fee-based services provided by PenTeleData Unleashed. The White House Deli in MP Mills provides a free service.

Economy

Manufacturing since the year 2001 was faced with the largest loss in employment in Snyder County. The sector dealt with a loss of 427 jobs, or 7.2 percent of the employment in the industry. This made up a total of 36 percent of all county employment losses since 2001.
In 2005 manufacturing was the largest of 20 major sectors. It had an average wage per job of $34,042. Per capita income grew by 7.7% between 1994 and 2004. Two Selinsgrove based manufacturing facilities announced closings in Spring 2007. Both are building related manufacturing facilities. Together they represent a loss of over 250 jobs. During the Spring of 2008 a new manufacturing facility, , opened in Selinsgrove, PA adding 100 jobs to the local economy.
Between 2000 and 2005, a total of two businesses in Snyder County received funds totaling $550,000 through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s Opportunity Grant Program.
In 2015, JC Penney's at the Susquehanna Valley Mall located in Hummels Wharf closed. Friendly’s Restaurant and the Gap Store also announced closures.
County Major Employers and Industry Sector as reported by Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry December 2006.
County Major Employers and Industry Sector as reported by Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry December 2013
The county and region are struggling economically. The reasons include: a lack of inter-municipal coordination and cooperation, a changing employment base and a dearth of jobs paying a living wage, out-migration of young people, an aging population, the need for workforce development, and an inequitable local tax structure.
County Major Employers and Industry Sector as reported by Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry February 2015
Source: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
In 2015, the regional business chamber organization has touted the conversion of a coal fired power plant to natural gas, the installation of a 20 inch wide natural gas pipeline to service the plant and the building of a large bridge across the Susquehanna River, just north of Snyder County as major employment and business opportunities. Thousands of jobs are anticipated between the three projects, with perhaps 50% open to local region residents.
County Major Employers and Industry Sector as reported by Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry June 2016.
Agricultural Conservation Easements
Snyder County uses state tax dollars to purchase farm land for prevention of development. The Pennsylvania Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program is not intended simply to preserve open space, but rather to preserve enough farmland in sufficient concentration to support continued agricultural production. By 2008, in Snyder County, 20 farms had been included in the program. This controlled 2,199 acres at a price of $2,501,709. Statewide over 3,579 farms have entered the program, preserving 395,636 acres and costing taxpayers $940,246,844. Central Susquehanna Valley Transportation Project in Snyder County, Union County and Northumberland County has used eminent domain condemnation of preserved land citing the Federal Takings Clause to the US Constitution.
Snyder County Agricultural Conservation Easements spending: 2008 - $66,481; 2007 - $108,838; 2006 - $226,467; 2005 - $63,499; 2004 - $119,311.

Education

Colleges and universities

Public school districts

According to the Office of Child Development and Early Learning of the Pennsylvania Department of Education June 2007 report, Snyder County is rated low to moderate risk level for children who are “at risk” and therefore might benefit from more taxpayer funded services. Snyder County was rated 1.86 ARL, in the lowest 25% of counties for average risk level.
Head Start is a federally and state funded preschool program for low income children. The program serves 3 and 4 year olds. In order to participate the family income must be below federal poverty guidelines.
As reported by the National Center for Educational Statistics
In 2014, 353 child abuse reports were made to the Snyder Children and Youth Agency. In 2015, reported cases increased to 587 a 66% increase in reports over 2014. The increase in cases was attributed to a new state law specifying more professions are mandated reporters including: teachers, college professors, coaches, advisors of youth organizations and public school employees.

Transportation

Snyder County has two main arteries. U.S. Routes 11/15 travel through the county on the east end generally following the path of the Susquehanna River. The highway is a major travel artery through the region. Flow is constant with very heavy loads and backups on Fridays and holiday weekends. There is a proposed major highway bypass project called the Central Susquehanna Valley Thruway. It is meeting with funding challenges that have delayed the project for decades. The proposed thruway would cross Monroe Township just north of Shamokin Dam. Many residential properties are designated for eminent domain actions. Residents along the proposed route have expressed concerns about the negative impact on their quality of life that the thruway would mean. Others are concerned that the bypass will mean the loss of local revenue and jobs that the traffic brings to the many local restaurants and hotels that are located along the current U.S. 11/15 highway. In June 2007 another two-year delay was announced by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. The primary roadblock is a lack of funding for the estimated over $300 million project.
U.S. Route 522 begins in Selinsgrove and travels west through Kreamer, Middleburg and on to Lewistown. Route 35 begins on U.S. 11/15 south of Selinsgrove and runs roughly parallel to Route 522 crossing through Freeburg and Mount Pleasant Mills then westward to McAllisterville and Richfield in western Snyder County.
Snyder County is in Pennsylvania Department Of Transportation District 3. According to PennDOT there are 240 state-owned bridges in the county. Currently, many existing bridges and roads in the county are in need of repair. In 2007, 27 of the bridges were rated structurally deficient and 4 were posted with weight limits. The bridge that spans Middle Creek in Kreamer has been deemed structurally deficient by the state.
State routes 235, 104 and 204 cross the county in a north–south direction.

Communities

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following boroughs and townships are located in Snyder County:

Boroughs

s are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated communities, such as villages, may be listed here as well.
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Snyder County.
† county seat
RankCity/Town/etc.Municipal typePopulation
1SelinsgroveBorough5,654
2Shamokin DamBorough1,686
3Hummels WharfCDP1,353
4† MiddleburgBorough1,309
5BeavertownBorough965
6McClureBorough941
7KreamerCDP822
8Port TrevortonCDP769
9Penns CreekCDP715
10Beaver SpringsCDP674
11FreeburgBorough575
12Richfield CDP549
13Mount Pleasant MillsCDP464
14KratzervilleCDP383
15PaxtonvilleCDP265
16TroxelvilleCDP221

Culture

Snyder County is well known for its unmistakable Pennsylvania German language and culture, agricultural heritage, as well as its fraktur, Kentucky rifles, wood products industries, Middleswarth chip factory, and the annual fairs, festivals, and auctions that keep the local heritage alive. Some of the more famous historical structures of the county are the Governor Snyder Mansion, Pomfret's Castle, Schoch Block House, ruins of the Pennsylvania Canal, and its covered bridges. Snyder County is home to Snyder-Middleswarth State Park, the Tall Timbers Natural Area, and thirteen Pennsylvania state historical markers.

Historical markers