Coal Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 26.5 square miles (69 km²), of which, 26.5 square miles (69 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km²) of it (0.15%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 10,628 people, 3,732 households, and 2,369 families residing in the township. The population density was 401.2 people per square mile (154.9/km²). There were 4,233 housing units at an average density of 159.8/sq mi (61.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 89.44% White, 9.02% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.61% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.10% of the population.

There were 3,732 households out of which 23.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the township the population was spread out with 17.5% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 21.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 127.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 128.1 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $26,547, and the median income for a family was $34,339. Males had a median income of $25,638 versus $19,387 for females. The per capita income for the township was $15,329. About 9.1% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.2% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Children residing in Coal Township may attend the local, public schools operated by the Shamokin Area School District. They may also opt to attend a private school with tuition at the parent's expense. The public school district is required by state law to transport children to any school within ten miles of its borders. Local private schools include Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School and the Darul Uloom Al-Qasim School.

Shamokin Area School District provides taxpayer funded half day preschool and full day kindergarten through 12th grade, with an enrollment of 2,522 pupils in 2013. In 2011, Shamokin Area School District enrollment was 2,356 pupils. The District's enrollment was 2,443 pupils in 2005-06. Shamokin Area School District operates four schools in two buildings: Shamokin Area High School (9-12), Shamokin Area Middle School (7 & 8), Shamokin Area Intermediate School (5&6) and Shamokin Area Elementary School (preschool-4th). In 2014, Shamokin Area School District’s graduation rate was 82.8%.

In 2014, the Pittsburgh Business Times ranked Shamokin Area School District 407th out of 496 public schools for academic achievement of its pupils. In 2012, Shamokin Area School District achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) despite the low academic achievement at the high school.

High school aged students can attend the taxpayer funded Northumberland County Career and Technology Center, located in Coal Township, for training in the building trades, auto mechanics, cosmetology, culinary arts, allied health careers and other areas. Northumberland County Career and Technology Center is funded by a consortium of the school districts, which includes: Line Mountain School District, Mount Carmel Area School District and Shamokin Area School District. It also receives funds through grants from the state and federal government.

Coal Township residents may also apply to attend any of the Commonwealth's 14 public cyber charter schools (in 2013) at no additional cost to the parents. This includes SusQ Cyber Charter School which is locally operated. 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. The tuition rate that Shamokin Area School District must pay was $7,050.50 in 2012. 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.

Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit #16 provides a wide variety of services to children living in its region which includes the Coal Township. Early screening, special education services, speech and hearing therapy, autistic support, preschool classes 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. Intermediate units receive taxpayer funding: through subsidies paid by member school districts; through direct charges to users for some services; through the successful application for state and federal competitive grants and through private grants.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania is a public university located in Bloomsburg. It is one of the 14 state universities that make up the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). Eleventh and twelfth grade students may attend the University at a significant tuition discount through its Dual Enrollment program earning college credits, while still earning their high school diploma. The university also operates a summer college program called ACE, where high school students can earn credits at a 75% tuition discount. The credits are transferable to many other Pennsylvania universities through the state’s TRAC system.

Community members have access to the Shamokin and Coal Township Public Library Inc. which is headquartered at the 210 E Independence Street, Shamokin. Through it Pennsylvania residents have access to all POWER Library online resources.