Gaines Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 48.7 square miles (126 km²), of which, 48.7 square miles (126 km²) of it is land and 0.02% is water.

Gaines Township is bordered by Clymer Township to the north, Shippen Township to the east, Elk Township to the south and Potter County to the west.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 553 people, 259 households, and 155 families residing in the township. The population density was 11.4 people per square mile (4.4/km²). There were 752 housing units at an average density of 15.4/sq mi (6.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.83% White, 0.54% African American, 0.54% Native American, and 1.08% from two or more races.

There were 259 households out of which 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.69.

In the township the population was spread out with 18.8% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 21.0% from 25 to 44, 33.1% from 45 to 64, and 21.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $26,083, and the median income for a family was $31,528. Males had a median income of $30,500 versus $20,288 for females. The per capita income for the township was $16,105. About 9.0% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.2% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations

Politics and government

The Township is governed by three locally elected Township Supervisors.

Three, elected at large, County Commissioners.

Education

Residents of Gaines Township may attend the local, public schools operated by Galeton Area School District which provides taxpayer funded preschool, full day kindergarten through 12th grade. The District's enrollment declined to 362 students preschool through 12th grade. in 2013. Galeton Area School District ranked 409th out of 500 public schools for academic achievement of its pupils in 2013.

Gaines Township residents may also apply to attend any of the Commonwealth's 13 public cyber charter schools 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. By Commonwealth law, if the District provides transportation for its own students, then the District must provide transportation to any school that lies within 10 miles of its borders. 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 Galeton Area School District were: Elementary School - $9,828.42, High School - $12,543.99.

BLaST Intermediate Unit #17 provides a wide variety of services to children living in its region which includes Gaines 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.