Kratzerville, Pennsylvania

Geography

Kratzerville is located at 40°51′26″N 76°53′38″W (40.857229, -76.893989).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.0 square mile (2.6 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 391 people, 160 households, and 122 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 398.6 people per square mile (154.0/km²). There were 167 housing units at an average density of 170.2/sq mi (65.8/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.98% White, 0.51% African American, 0.51% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.51% of the population.

There were 160 households out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.3% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.8% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.79.

In the CDP, the population was spread out with 18.4% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $42,292, and the median income for a family was $46,250. Males had a median income of $30,682 versus $22,321 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $20,008. About 1.6% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Snyder County Government directory

Snyder County is governed by three elected county commissioners.

Schools

Selinsgrove Area School District is the local public school system. There are approximately 2700 students clustered on a campus located in Selinsgrove borough. The Pennsylvania Department of Education projects a declining enrollment for the foreseeable future. In 2012, SASD enrollment is projected to be less than 2550.

In 2007, the district was ranked 325 out of 499 Pennsylvania school districts by Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking is based on three years of Pennsylvania System of Student Assessment test scores.

SASD employed about 350 people in 2007. Two hundred of the employees are teachers. The median teacher salary in 2007 is $58,000 plus benefits. Seventy percent of spending is allocated to employee costs. The district reports spending $9800 per pupil in 2007. According to Hummel, costs for building projects coupled with salaries, transportation costs and increased charges for energy, will mean continued property tax increases.

Selinsgrove Area High School has about 970 students in grades 9-12. There is a strong emphasis on music education and extracurricular athletics. In 2005 the high school was ranked 306th out of 601 Pennsylvania high schools on the annual state testing.

The Selinsgrove Area Middle School serves students in grades 6-8 using a team teaching approach. The school has been the district leader in providing rigorous instruction that prepares students to be successful on annual state assessments. The middle school ranked 179 out of 506 PA middle schools.

Selinsgrove Area Intermediate School has students grades 3-5. Test scores for reading and math at this school have been lagging both regionally and statewide. The 3rd grade ranked 1215th out of 1779 Pennsylvania third grades.

Primary grades are at Selinsgrove Area Elementary School. Kindergarten is located at Jackson Penn School. In 2007, the district implemented All Day Kindergarten as a method of improving the low elementary math and reading scores. Selinsgrove Elementary will be renovated and enlarged to hold all kindergarten, first and second grades.

In 2005, Standard & Poors reported the district's student teacher ratio was 15.9 to 1.

Public school busing is provided.

Residents also have a wide selection of alternative schools. By law, the local public school must provide transportation to schools within 10 miles of the borders of the school district at no charge to the student.

Libraries

The Selinsgrove Community Library is a public library that is part of the Snyder County Library system. Patrons have free use of the PA Power Library and Access Pennsylvania which provide extensive onlline resources for children and adults. The library is on the corner of High Street and Pine Street, one block west of Market Street in downtown Selinsgrove. A small book exchange cart is hosted in the U.S. Post Office building on Rte 11&15, Shamokin Dam.

The State Library of Pennsylvania Commonwealth & Walnut Sts., Harrisburg, PA. This library provides information for State Government and citizens, collects and preserves Pennsylvania's written heritage through materials published for, by, and about Pennsylvania.