Lewisburg, Pennsylvania

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
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settlement_type = Borough
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image_caption = Lewisburg as seen from Mays Drive In on the opposite bank of the West Branch Susquehanna River.


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pushpin_label_position =left
pushpin_map_caption =Location within the state of Pennsylvania
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Pennsylvania
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Union
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established_title = Settled
established_date = 1785
established_title2 = Incorporated (borough)
established_date2 = 1812
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_total_km2 = 2.5
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area_total_sq_mi = 1.0
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population_as_of = 2000
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population_total = 5620
population_density_km2 = 2214.2
population_density_sq_mi = 5724.7
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timezone = Eastern (EST)
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timezone_DST = EDT
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latd = 40
latm = 57
lats = 50
latNS = N
longd = 76
longm = 53
longs = 17
longEW = W
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postal_code_type = Zip code
postal_code = 17837
area_code = 570
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website = [http://www.lewisburgborough.org/ Borough of Lewisburg]
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Lewisburg is a borough in Union County, Pennsylvania, United States, 30 miles (48 km) south by east of Williamsport and 60 miles (97 km) north of Harrisburg. In the past, it was the commercial center for a fertile grain and general farming region. The population in 1900 was 3,456; and in 1910, 3,081. The population was 5,620 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Union CountyGR|6. Located in central Pennsylvania, on the West Branch Susquehanna River, Lewisburg is northwest of Sunbury. It is home to Bucknell University and Lewisburg Federal Penitentiary. Its 19th century downtown was recently placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

Lewisburg is located at coor dms|40|57|50|N|76|53|17|W|city (40.963895, -76.888154)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.0 square miles (2.5 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 5,620 people, 1,778 households, and 787 families residing in the borough. The population density was 5,724.7 people per square mile (2,214.2/km²). There were 1,938 housing units at an average density of 1,974.1/sq mi (763.5/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 91.57% White, 2.62% African American, 0.18% Native American, 2.79% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 1.00% from other races, and 1.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.33% of the population.

There were 1,778 households out of which 17.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.7% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 55.7% were non-families. 42.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.97 and the average family size was 2.64.

In the borough the population was spread out with 10.0% under the age of 18, 45.9% from 18 to 24, 16.4% from 25 to 44, 12.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females there were 87.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.3 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $30,137, and the median income for a family was $53,409. Males had a median income of $32,727 versus $25,436 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $14,146. About 6.3% of families and 22.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.9% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.

Government

There are four polling places in Lewisburg Borough. Ward 1 is found in the Senior Center, 116 N. 2nd St., Lewisburg. Ward 2 is located Union County Courthouse Lobby, 103 S. Second St., Lewisburg. Ward 3 is located in the Donald Heiter Community Center, 100 N. 5th St., Lewisburg. Ward 4 is located at St. John's United Church of Christ, 1050 Buffalo Rd., Lewisburg.

The borough is located in the 85th House District and the 23rd Senate District of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. With regards to the U.S. House of Representatives, residents are in Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district. Each state is represented by two at large senators in the United States Senate.

chools

The Lewisburg Area School District places its emphasis on the academic success of each student. It is recognized regionally and statewide as a high performing district. This commitment to excellence is reflected in the high school students' strong PSSA and AP scores for the past several years. The Lewisburg Area High School has been ranked in the top ten percent in the state. In 2007, "Pittsburgh Business Times" ranked the district 39th out of 499 Pennsylvania school districts based on three years of Pennsylvania System of Student Assessment test scores. [ Valley schools all over the chart, Daily Item June 6, 2007 http://www.dailyitem.com/archivesearch/local_story_163000144.html ] The district has been innovative in meeting the needs of their special education students which has led to substantially increasing costs. [A Performance Review of the Lewisburg Area School District, Robert P. Casey, Jr., Auditor General Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. http://www.auditorgen.state.pa.us/Archives/Performance/Lewisburg.html]

They provide technical training through the regional [http://www.sun-tech.org/ SUN Area Career and Technical Center] located in New Berlin, Pennsylvania.

Donald H Eichhorn Middle School serves 6th through eighth grades. The school was recognized as one of the finest in the nation when it received the National Blue Ribbon Award of Excellence from the United States Department of Education in 2002. [Paige Names 172 Blue Ribbon Schools, US Department of Education, May 24, 2002. http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2002/05/05242002.html]

Linntown Intermediate houses grades four and five with a student population of 270 and approximately 20 professional staff members. [Linntown Elementary School website http://www.dragon.k12.pa.us/ln/ln.cfm]

Kelly Elementary serves kindergarten through third grades. The school has approximately 560 students. It offers a child centered learning program that builds a solid foundation of reading and math skills for all students. Class sizes are typically 20 or less to maximize learning experiences in the formative years. [Kelly Elementary School website http://www.dragon.k12.pa.us/kl/kelly.cfm] In 2008, the district changed to all day kindergarten in order to prepare its students to meet rigorous academic goals. A small school district, the enrollment in kindergarten in 2008 is 141 pupils.

Pennsylvania conducted a Costing Out Study to identify how much per pupil spending should be to achieve student success. The study called for the district to spend $11,538 per child. The district spends $9,242 per pupil ( a $2,297 deficit in spending per pupil according to the study), with outstanding results and a well rounded program. [ Costing Out Study Report http://www.dragon.k12.pa.us/about/DistrictNews/Costing%20Out%20Study.pdf ] Lewisburg Area School District ranked 220th of all 501 districts in per pupil spending Lewisburg ranked 39th of all 501 districts in academic performance on the PSSA. [LASD in top 9 percent in state, The Daily Item Sept 12,2008 http://www.dailyitem.com/0100_news/local_story_256003035.html]

In 2007 the district levied a variety of taxes to support its programs. Taxes include a levy of 13.06 mills on real estate, a per capita tax of $15 on residents who are at least 18, and a tax of 1.5 percent on the earned income. [ Lewisburg School Board adopts $23.7M budget http://www.dailyitem.com/archivesearch/local_story_166000100.html] In May 2007 the district's voters rejected raising the local earned income tax to reduce property taxes. [Tax reform fails, Daily Item, May 15, 2007. http://www.dailyitem.com/archivesearch/local_story_135215041.html]

Parks

Hufnagle Park is located on Market Street in the downtown area. It offers open space, a picnic pavilion, playground equipment and gardens. It is named in honor of former Police Chief Gordon Hufnagle. Chief Hufnagle died saving lives during the Agnes Flood on June 21, 1972. The park is in his honor, as is a footbridge built in 1982. ["Hoof-nogle or Huff-nagle? Popular park is pronounced, ‘fun’" WKOK radio news report June 16, 2007.]

External links

* [http://www.lewisburgpa.com/ Lewisburg Business & Professional Association]
* [http://www.facstaff.bucknell.edu/marsh/lewisburg_tour/ A Walking Tour of Lewisburg and Bucknell University]
* [http://www.bucknell.edu/index.html Bucknell University]
* [http://www.bop.gov/locations/institutions/lew/index.jsp United States Penitentiary (USP) in Lewisburg ]

Notes and references