Osceola Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 13.9 square miles (36.1 km²), all of it land.

Oseola Township is bordered by Woodhull, Steuben County, New York to the north and Elkland and Nelson Township to the east. Farmington Township is on part of the eastern and southern border. Osceola Township is borderd by Deerfield Township to the south and west.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 700 people, 268 households, and 192 families residing in the township. The population density was 50.2 people per square mile (19.4/km²). There were 297 housing units at an average density of 21.3/sq mi (8.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.86% White, 0.57% African American, 0.14% Asian, and 1.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.14% of the population.

There were 268 households out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% 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 3.02.

In the township the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $33,482, and the median income for a family was $36,364. Males had a median income of $26,389 versus $22,083 for females. The per capita income for the township was $15,113. About 13.7% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.9% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations

Education

Residents of Osceola Township may attend the local, public schools operated by Northern Tioga School District which provides full day kindergarten through 12th grade. In 2013, the District's enrollment declined to 2,085 students kindergarten through 12th grade. In 2013, Northern Tioga School District ranked 389th out of 498 public schools for academic achievement of its pupils, by the Pittsburgh Business Times.

Osceola 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. 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 Northern Tioga School District were: Elementary School - $8,463.08, High School - $9,853.49.

BLaST Intermediate Unit #17 provides a wide variety of services to children living in its region which includes Osceola 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 Westfield Public Library which is located on Maple Street, in Westfield; the Elkland Area Community Library located on East Parkway Avenue, in Elkland and to the statewide PA Power Library [1] which is an online library funded with tax dollars from the state's education budget.

Mansfield University of Pennsylvania is a state university located in Mansfield, Tioga County, Pennsylvania. Residents may take courses at a discounted tuition rate for state residents.

Politics and government

Osceola Township is governed by three locally elected Township Supervisors. They meet the second Thursday of each month at the Osceola Township Building.

In 2014, the locally elected tax collector is Janet Hatch.

Three, elected at large, County Commissioners.