Sunbury, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Sunbury is a city in Northumberland County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The city is located on the east bank of the Susquehanna River
, just downstream of the confluence of its main and West
branches. The population was 9,905 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat
of Northumberland County
.
, built in 1756, was the stronghold in the Susquehanna Valley providing protection for early settlers. Sunbury was founded in 1772, four years prior to the Declaration of Independence
. Magnificent historical buildings, dating back as far as the 18th century, still maintain their significant architectural facades.
Thomas Edison
installed the first successful three-wire electric lighting system in July 1883 at what was then known as the City Hotel. In honor of the event, the hotel was renamed the Edison Hotel.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), of which, 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (1.40%) is water.
Sunbury is the largest principal city of the Sunbury-Lewisburg-Selinsgrove CSA, a Combined Statistical Area
that includes the Sunbury
(Northumberland County), Lewisburg
(Union County
), and Selinsgrove
(Snyder County
) micropolitan areas, which had a combined population of 173,726 at the 2000 census
.
As of the census
of 2010, there were 9,905 people, 4,540 households, and 2,637 families residing in the city. The population density
was 4,716.7 people per square mile. There were 4,864 housing units at an average density of 2,316.2 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city in the year 2000 was 95.26% White, 1.29% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.91% from other races
, and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.09% of the population.
In 2000, there were 4,540 households, of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.2% were married couples
living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.9% were non-families. 36.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.91.
In 2000, the city the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,893 in 2000, and the median income for a family was $33,148. Males had a median income of $26,497 versus $18,994 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,350. About 14.6% of families and 18.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.7% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.
These officials and the controller and treasurer are elected at-large for four-year terms. Appointments of all other city officers and employees are made by the council. The current members of city council are James Eister, Kevin Troup, Joseph Bartello, III, and Todd Snyder. The goals of these members are to enact legislation for the ethical operation of the City Government, to assist in the planning of the City's revitalization and future, and to maintain discussions with the City Administration and City residents to ensure a smooth and efficient government to govern the city.
The city's police department is headed by chief of police Stephen Mazzeo. There is an extensive staff including police officers, a K-9 unit and clerical support. The department participates in the DARE anti-drug program, bolstered by drug sweeps of the city.
The Sunbury Municipal Authority manages the following services for residents, businesses and industries of the City of Sunbury and parts of Upper Augusta: drinking water, wastewater, flood control, recycling, and the Municipal Transfer Station for large rubbish. Residents may bring their trash there for disposal for a per bag or by weight fee.
In July 2007 the city council voted to begin a program aimed at dealing with blighted properties. Initially the program will address seven properties. The properties will be demolished at the taxpayer's expense and put to public use.
The city is located in the 108th District Pennsylvania House of Representatives
and the 27th district of the Pennsylvania Senate in the Pennsylvania General Assembly
. With regards to the U.S. House of Representatives, residents are in Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district
.
In 2006 the following crime statistics were reported to the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting System by the city police department:
Sex related offenses - 20
Robbery - 7
Assaults - 178
Property Offenses - 460
Arson - 4
Drug Violations - 54
Total Alcohol Crimes - 36
Are You Aware? Pennsylvania State Police Focus Report 2006.
Nineteen registered sex offenders live within the city in 2006 as reported by the Pennsylvania Megan's Law website.
----
2007
In 2007 the following crime statistics were reported to the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting System by the city police department:
Sex related offenses - 18
Robbery - 2
Assaults - 185
Property Offenses - 419
Arson - 8
Drug Violations - 46
Total Alcohol Crimes - 56
Are You Aware? Pennsylvania State Police Focus Report 2007.
Twenty registered sex offenders either live or work within the city in 2007-2008 as reported by the Pennsylvania Megan's Law website.
----
2009
In 2009 the following crime statistics were reported to the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting System by the city police department:
Homicides - 0
Sex related offenses - 11
Robbery - 4
Assaults - 183
Property Offenses - 400
Arson - 2
Drug Violations - 85
Total Alcohol Crimes - 73
Are You Aware? Pennsylvania State Police Focus Report 2009.
Twenty-seven registered sex offenders either live or work within the city in 2009-2010 as reported by the Pennsylvania Megan's Law website.
is a world-known roller coaster design and manufacturing firm and lists its contact address in Sunbury, though it is actually located outside of the city limits.
Weis Markets
, a regional supermarket chain operating in five states, is headquartered in Sunbury. The company is a significant employer in the city and the region.
The local public school system is the Shikellamy School District
. The administrative offices are located at Administration Center, 200 Island Blvd, Sunbury, PA 17801. Shikellamy High School
has a 84% graduation rate according to the district report card 2010. In 11th grade, 49% were proficient in math. For reading 62% were proficient in 2005-2006. The high school is ranked 384th out of 606 public high schools in Pennsylvania.
In 2007, the Pittsburgh Business Times ranked the district 434th out of 499 Pennsylvania school districts based on three years of Pennsylvania System of Student Assessment test scores.
The Shikellamy School Board set the budget at $34.62 million for 2007-2008. The board levies a variety of taxes to support its programs. Taxes include 62.5 mills real estate tax in 2007. Per capita taxes are $5 per resident. An earned income taxes of one-half of 1 percent of income yields a revenue of approximately $1.8 million. Additionally, the real estate transfer tax of one-half percent (Nothumberland borough, Point Township, Rockefeller Township) and one percent (Snydertown borough) is levied on real estate transfers.
Voters rejected a tax referendum in May 2007 which would have increased local earned income tax by 0.5 percent to reduce property taxes for homeowners and farmers by $176.
SUN Area Career & Technology Center is a regional vocational school, offering adult education classes, vocational education, and technical career training. SUN Tech serves over 1500 people annually. ISO9001 and Middle States Accredited. SUN Tech was presented with the Significant Achievement Award in Education for raising their Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Program criteria score to 648 points, a 345 point increase from 303 points in August, 2000.
Residents also have a selection of alternative schools. By law, the local public school must provide transportation to schools within 10 miles (16.1 km) of the borders of the school district at no charge to the student.
The Central Susquehanna LPN Career Center, located in Sunbury, provides a one year full time program to prepare the indidivual to enter a career in licensed practical nursing. Classroom instruction and laboratory experience are offered in Sunbury. Affiliated hospitals, nursing care facilities, doctors' offices and childcare settings provide clinical experience.
The Northumberland County Historical Society maintains the Charlotte Darrah Walter Genealogical Library. It contains material on local history along with thousands of records of early families
from Northumberland County and surrounding counties. Access to records is on a fee basis. There are also permanent exhibits dealing with the site in prehistoric times, at the time of the Moravian Mission and blacksmith shop, and Fort Augusta during the French and Indian War and later under the Americans, during the Revolutionary War.
The Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way in 2006 commissioned a study regarding what matters most in area communities. They found that some major concerns were: alcohol and drug use among all age groups and its effects on the community, the dependency on social services and assistance across generations, and a lack of public transportation. It is the intention of the organization to focus spending on these issues.
, and there are a variety of local radio stations, including the All News/Sports channel WKOK 1070 kHz AM, the Big Country Radio Network (WLGL 92.3 FM, WYGL-FM
100.5 FM, and WWBE 98.3 FM) and WFYY Y106.5 FM and 94.1 WQKX.
Hurricane Agnes in late June 1972 was blamed for 10 deaths in Lancaster County, eight in Dauphin County, five in York County and four in both Northumberland and Luzerne counties, according to the Susquehanna River Basin Commission
.
Additionally, a multimillion dollar fish ladder is being built across the river in Shamokin Dam to mitigate the impediment of the shad migration up the Susquehanna River that the annual inflation of the Adam T. Bower Fabri Dam causes.
The Adam T. Bower Memorial Dam
, an inflatable fabric-tube dam barrage impounding the Susquehanna River
, creates a 3000 acres (12.1 km²) Augusta Lake for recreation. It is inflated in May and deflated in the fall. The new waterfront development in Sunbury will provide a marina with transient boat docks, walking trails, gardens, an amphitheater and a new accessible fishing pier. In all three acres of land will be added to the river side of the flood wall.
The city offers baseball fields, a skating park, tennis courts, playgrounds, a community pool and a small park that is located next to the county courthouse, in the downtown area.
A vacant building in the Shikellamy State Park along the river is under consideration for redevelopment as an environmental research and education center. Designed in the 1960s, the facility was originally the Basse Beck Environmental Center. It has been vacant for several years.
". A Brookings Institute publication has cited reasons including a lack of inter-municipal coordination and cooperation, a changing employment base and a dearth of jobs paying a living wage, out-migration of young people, an aging population, the need for workforce development, and an inequitable local tax structure.
The Susquehanna Industrial Development Corporation (SIDCO) received $173,500 in planning grant funding (2005) to support the redevelopment of the Wilhold Manufacturing facility located in Sunbury. The BOS funding paid for a market study, phase II environmental study, wetland review, traffic impact study and title survey. The site, an 11.6 acres (46,943.6 m²) former rail yard and plastic manufacturing plant, is to be developed into four, 2 acres (8,093.7 m²) shovel-ready sites. It was suggested that the redevelopment of this facility will result in the creation of 120 jobs. The site was purchased by Moran Industries, based in Watsontown, for $200,000. Moran is using the space for food grade storage.
Northumberland County, Pennsylvania
There were 38,835 households out of which 27.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.40% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were non-families. 30.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.50% had...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The city is located on the east bank of the Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
, just downstream of the confluence of its main and West
West Branch Susquehanna River
The West Branch Susquehanna River is one of the two principal branches, along with the North Branch, of the Susquehanna River in the northeastern United States. The North Branch, which rises in upstate New York, is generally regarded as the extension of the main branch, with the shorter West Branch...
branches. The population was 9,905 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Northumberland County
Northumberland County, Pennsylvania
There were 38,835 households out of which 27.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.40% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were non-families. 30.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.50% had...
.
History
Sunbury has a unique history dating back to 1724 as the most western settlement in Pennsylvania. It was named after an English village near London. Located at the site of the former Fort AugustaFort Augusta
Fort Augusta was a stronghold in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, in the upper Susquehanna Valley from the time of the French and Indian War to the close of the American Revolution. The fort was erected by Col...
, built in 1756, was the stronghold in the Susquehanna Valley providing protection for early settlers. Sunbury was founded in 1772, four years prior to the Declaration of Independence
United States Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain regarded themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. John Adams put forth a...
. Magnificent historical buildings, dating back as far as the 18th century, still maintain their significant architectural facades.
Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison
Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. In addition, he created the world’s first industrial...
installed the first successful three-wire electric lighting system in July 1883 at what was then known as the City Hotel. In honor of the event, the hotel was renamed the Edison Hotel.
Geography
Sunbury is located at 40°51′50"N 76°47′21"W (40.863894, -76.789174).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), of which, 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (1.40%) is water.
Demographics
Combined Statistical Area
The United States Office of Management and Budget defines micropolitan and metropolitan statistical areas. Metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas consist of one or more counties...
that includes the Sunbury
Northumberland County, Pennsylvania
There were 38,835 households out of which 27.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.40% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were non-families. 30.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.50% had...
(Northumberland County), Lewisburg
Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
Lewisburg is a borough in Union County, Pennsylvania, United States, south by southeast of Williamsport and north of Harrisburg. In the past, it was the commercial center for a fertile grain and general farming region. The population was 5,620 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Union...
(Union County
Union County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 41,624 people, 13,178 households, and 9,211 families residing in the county. The population density was 131 people per square mile . There were 14,684 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile...
), and Selinsgrove
Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania
Selinsgrove is a borough in Snyder County, Pennsylvania, United States. It was founded in 1787 by Captain Anthony Selin, who fought with Washington in the Revolutionary War....
(Snyder County
Snyder County, Pennsylvania
Snyder County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 39,702. Snyder County was formed in 1855 from parts of Union County...
) micropolitan areas, which had a combined population of 173,726 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
.
As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2010, there were 9,905 people, 4,540 households, and 2,637 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 4,716.7 people per square mile. There were 4,864 housing units at an average density of 2,316.2 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city in the year 2000 was 95.26% White, 1.29% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.91% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.09% of the population.
In 2000, there were 4,540 households, of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.9% were non-families. 36.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.91.
In 2000, the city the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,893 in 2000, and the median income for a family was $33,148. Males had a median income of $26,497 versus $18,994 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $13,350. About 14.6% of families and 18.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.7% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Sunbury is a city of the third class. Pennsylvania Third Class Cities are municipalities with a population of at least 10,000 (at one time) but less than 80,000 residents. The city operates under a commission form of government, with a Mayor and four Councilmen. The mayor is a member and serves as president of the council. All third class cities are governed by the Third Class City Code. Each Councilman and Mayor is in charge of one of the city’s major departments. The current mayor is David Persing.These officials and the controller and treasurer are elected at-large for four-year terms. Appointments of all other city officers and employees are made by the council. The current members of city council are James Eister, Kevin Troup, Joseph Bartello, III, and Todd Snyder. The goals of these members are to enact legislation for the ethical operation of the City Government, to assist in the planning of the City's revitalization and future, and to maintain discussions with the City Administration and City residents to ensure a smooth and efficient government to govern the city.
The city's police department is headed by chief of police Stephen Mazzeo. There is an extensive staff including police officers, a K-9 unit and clerical support. The department participates in the DARE anti-drug program, bolstered by drug sweeps of the city.
The Sunbury Municipal Authority manages the following services for residents, businesses and industries of the City of Sunbury and parts of Upper Augusta: drinking water, wastewater, flood control, recycling, and the Municipal Transfer Station for large rubbish. Residents may bring their trash there for disposal for a per bag or by weight fee.
In July 2007 the city council voted to begin a program aimed at dealing with blighted properties. Initially the program will address seven properties. The properties will be demolished at the taxpayer's expense and put to public use.
The city is located in the 108th District Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
and the 27th district of the Pennsylvania Senate in the Pennsylvania General Assembly
Pennsylvania General Assembly
The Pennsylvania General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The legislature convenes in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. In colonial times , the legislature was known as the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly. Since the Constitution of 1776, written by...
. With regards to the U.S. House of Representatives, residents are in Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district
Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district
Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district is located primarily in the northeast corner of the state. The district was one of the 12 original districts created prior to the 4th Congress. It is currently represented by Republican Tom Marino, who defeated Democratic incumbent Chris Carney during the...
.
Crime
2006In 2006 the following crime statistics were reported to the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting System by the city police department:
Sex related offenses - 20
Robbery - 7
Assaults - 178
Property Offenses - 460
Arson - 4
Drug Violations - 54
Total Alcohol Crimes - 36
Are You Aware? Pennsylvania State Police Focus Report 2006.
Nineteen registered sex offenders live within the city in 2006 as reported by the Pennsylvania Megan's Law website.
----
2007
In 2007 the following crime statistics were reported to the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting System by the city police department:
Sex related offenses - 18
Robbery - 2
Assaults - 185
Property Offenses - 419
Arson - 8
Drug Violations - 46
Total Alcohol Crimes - 56
Are You Aware? Pennsylvania State Police Focus Report 2007.
Twenty registered sex offenders either live or work within the city in 2007-2008 as reported by the Pennsylvania Megan's Law website.
----
2009
In 2009 the following crime statistics were reported to the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting System by the city police department:
Homicides - 0
Sex related offenses - 11
Robbery - 4
Assaults - 183
Property Offenses - 400
Arson - 2
Drug Violations - 85
Total Alcohol Crimes - 73
Are You Aware? Pennsylvania State Police Focus Report 2009.
Twenty-seven registered sex offenders either live or work within the city in 2009-2010 as reported by the Pennsylvania Megan's Law website.
Notable businesses
Great Coasters InternationalGreat Coasters International
Great Coasters International, Inc. is a Sunbury, Pennsylvania-based roller coaster manufacturer which has created several award-winning rides since its formation in 1994. Starting in 2006 with Thunderbird in Finland, the company expanded beyond the United States and began building coasters in...
is a world-known roller coaster design and manufacturing firm and lists its contact address in Sunbury, though it is actually located outside of the city limits.
Weis Markets
Weis Markets
Weis Markets, Inc. is a chain of supermarkets based in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, with a presence in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, West Virginia, and Maryland. In 2011, it operates 162 stores in five states.-History:...
, a regional supermarket chain operating in five states, is headquartered in Sunbury. The company is a significant employer in the city and the region.
Education
Shikellamy School District
Shikellamy School District is a suburban, public school district in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. It serves Northumberland Borough, Point Township, Rockefeller Township, Snydertown Borough, the City of Sunbury, and Upper Augusta Township with 4 elementary schools, two middle schools, and one...
. The administrative offices are located at Administration Center, 200 Island Blvd, Sunbury, PA 17801. Shikellamy High School
Shikellamy High School
Shikellamy High School is a public high school located in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, USA. it is part of the Shikellamy School District. It is the senior high school for the communities of Northumberland, Point Township, Rockefeller Township, Snydertown Borough, the City of Sunbury, and Upper Augusta...
has a 84% graduation rate according to the district report card 2010. In 11th grade, 49% were proficient in math. For reading 62% were proficient in 2005-2006. The high school is ranked 384th out of 606 public high schools in Pennsylvania.
In 2007, the Pittsburgh Business Times ranked the district 434th out of 499 Pennsylvania school districts based on three years of Pennsylvania System of Student Assessment test scores.
The Shikellamy School Board set the budget at $34.62 million for 2007-2008. The board levies a variety of taxes to support its programs. Taxes include 62.5 mills real estate tax in 2007. Per capita taxes are $5 per resident. An earned income taxes of one-half of 1 percent of income yields a revenue of approximately $1.8 million. Additionally, the real estate transfer tax of one-half percent (Nothumberland borough, Point Township, Rockefeller Township) and one percent (Snydertown borough) is levied on real estate transfers.
Voters rejected a tax referendum in May 2007 which would have increased local earned income tax by 0.5 percent to reduce property taxes for homeowners and farmers by $176.
SUN Area Career & Technology Center is a regional vocational school, offering adult education classes, vocational education, and technical career training. SUN Tech serves over 1500 people annually. ISO9001 and Middle States Accredited. SUN Tech was presented with the Significant Achievement Award in Education for raising their Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Program criteria score to 648 points, a 345 point increase from 303 points in August, 2000.
Residents also have a selection of alternative schools. By law, the local public school must provide transportation to schools within 10 miles (16.1 km) of the borders of the school district at no charge to the student.
Parochial schools
- St. Monica's School is a Catholic Pre-K through 8th grade parish elementary school in the Harrisburg Diocese and is affiliated with IU 16. Students are enrolled from Saint Monica, St. Pius X, Sacred Heart, and other central Pennsylvania parishes. Noncatholics are also enrolled from various local school districts.
- Sunbury Christian Academy offers pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The campus is located just north of the borough of Northumberland. The student population is nearing 160. Programs and student accomplishments are noted regularly in local media.
- Northumberland Christian School was founded in 1972 and is a ministry of the First Regular Baptist Church of Northumberland, Pa. The school offers an educational program for students from preschool through high school.
Charter schools
- Connections Academy provides a form of public school that students can attend from home. This is a unique program that combines strong parental involvement, the expertise and accountability of publicly funded education, and the flexibility of online classes. Centered on meeting students needs and goals. Has a K-11th program. Students are required to take all state mandated, standardized tests in person at locations designated by the school.
- SusQ-Cyber Charter School provides students in grades 9-12 with an electronically delivered accredited high school curriculum. SusQ-Cyber, started in Milton, PA, is now located in Bloomsburg, PA and offers individualized support and a unique learning experience.
- 21st Century Cyber Charter School is a state accredited, diploma granting school serving Pennsylvania students in grades 6 through 12. Modifications are made to suit individual student learning styles, varying academic levels and scheduling needs. Most classes are offered in honors, college prep, and career paths. All of the classes are designed to prepare the student for standardized tests such as the PSSAs. A specialized program meets the individual needs of Gifted students permitting them to escape the constraints of the local education entities.
- Pennsylvania Virtual Charter SchoolPennsylvania Virtual Charter SchoolThe Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School is a public virtual charter school. According to its website, PAVCS has roughly 4,000 enrolled students...
provides a structured yet flexible, interactive environment in a program for Kindergarten through 10th grade. The rigorous instruction, high standards, informed guidance, and individual attention provide each student with the opportunity to be highly successful. Teachers interact with students via email. Additionally the Elluminate classroom gives the student access to their teachers during the teacher’s office hours to ask questions related to content of a subject. "An independent audit of cyber-charter schools by KPMG Consulting, which was commissioned by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, praised PAVCS for offering a well-researched program and an appropriate assessment plan."
The Central Susquehanna LPN Career Center, located in Sunbury, provides a one year full time program to prepare the indidivual to enter a career in licensed practical nursing. Classroom instruction and laboratory experience are offered in Sunbury. Affiliated hospitals, nursing care facilities, doctors' offices and childcare settings provide clinical experience.
Library
The Degenstein Community Library is located at 40 South Fifth Street. It provides print, video, microfilm and online resources. Programs promote reading for all age levels.The Northumberland County Historical Society maintains the Charlotte Darrah Walter Genealogical Library. It contains material on local history along with thousands of records of early families
from Northumberland County and surrounding counties. Access to records is on a fee basis. There are also permanent exhibits dealing with the site in prehistoric times, at the time of the Moravian Mission and blacksmith shop, and Fort Augusta during the French and Indian War and later under the Americans, during the Revolutionary War.
The Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way in 2006 commissioned a study regarding what matters most in area communities. They found that some major concerns were: alcohol and drug use among all age groups and its effects on the community, the dependency on social services and assistance across generations, and a lack of public transportation. It is the intention of the organization to focus spending on these issues.
Media
The local newspaper is The Daily ItemThe Daily Item (Sunbury)
The Daily Item is a daily newspaper in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, covering the Central Susquehanna Valley Region. It is owned by Community Newspaper Holdings Inc....
, and there are a variety of local radio stations, including the All News/Sports channel WKOK 1070 kHz AM, the Big Country Radio Network (WLGL 92.3 FM, WYGL-FM
WYGL-FM
WYGL-FM is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Elizabethville, Pennsylvania, USA, the station is currently owned by MMP License LLC and features programing from Westwood One.-External links:...
100.5 FM, and WWBE 98.3 FM) and WFYY Y106.5 FM and 94.1 WQKX.
Notable people
- Timothy Murphy, American Revolutionary War soldier/sniper (Battle of Bemis Heights)
- Tim BoetschTim BoetschTim Boetsch is an American mixed martial artist currently fighting in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship . He was released by the UFC in late June 2009, with a record of 2 wins and 2 losses...
is a UFC fighter with training in American mixed martial arts. - Lorenzo da PonteLorenzo Da PonteLorenzo Da Ponte was a Venetian opera librettist and poet. He wrote the librettos for 28 operas by 11 composers, including three of Mozart's greatest operas, Don Giovanni, The Marriage of Figaro and Così fan tutte....
, Mozart's librettist (Cosi fan Tutte, Le Nozze di Figaro and Don Giovanni) lived in Sunbury from 1811 to 1818. - Chief Shikellamy, Oneida chief and overseer or vice-regent of the Six Nations asserting Iroquois dominion over conquered Delaware and other tribes. He lived at Shamokin Indian town, Sunbury, from about 1728 until his death, 1748. Said to be buried near here.
Parks and recreation
The extensive Sunbury Riverfront Park Project is in the planning and implementation stages in Sunbury. An extensive floodwall protection system was designed and built by the US Army Corps of Engineers in 1951. Additional height was added to the wall in 2003. The system has provided protection from 15 major flood events over the past 50 years. In 1972, flood waters from Hurricane Agnes crested at 35.8 feet (10.9 m) at Sunbury, two feet higher than the crest in 1936. The wall held back the water and residents showed their gratitude in messages they wrote on the wall.Hurricane Agnes in late June 1972 was blamed for 10 deaths in Lancaster County, eight in Dauphin County, five in York County and four in both Northumberland and Luzerne counties, according to the Susquehanna River Basin Commission
Susquehanna River Basin Commission
The Susquehanna River Basin Commission is federal-interstate compact commission created by the Susquehanna River Basin Compact between three U.S states: , and the federal government, and signed into law by President Richard Nixon on Christmas Eve 1970 to be effective 30 days later on January 23,...
.
Additionally, a multimillion dollar fish ladder is being built across the river in Shamokin Dam to mitigate the impediment of the shad migration up the Susquehanna River that the annual inflation of the Adam T. Bower Fabri Dam causes.
The Adam T. Bower Memorial Dam
Adam T. Bower Memorial Dam
The Adam T. Bower Memorial Dam is the world's longest inflatable dam. The dam is located just below the confluence of the Western and Main Branches of the Susquehanna, between the town of Shamokin Dam and the city of Sunbury, Pennsylvania.The dam is 2,100 feet long...
, an inflatable fabric-tube dam barrage impounding the Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
, creates a 3000 acres (12.1 km²) Augusta Lake for recreation. It is inflated in May and deflated in the fall. The new waterfront development in Sunbury will provide a marina with transient boat docks, walking trails, gardens, an amphitheater and a new accessible fishing pier. In all three acres of land will be added to the river side of the flood wall.
The city offers baseball fields, a skating park, tennis courts, playgrounds, a community pool and a small park that is located next to the county courthouse, in the downtown area.
A vacant building in the Shikellamy State Park along the river is under consideration for redevelopment as an environmental research and education center. Designed in the 1960s, the facility was originally the Basse Beck Environmental Center. It has been vacant for several years.
Development
The city and state struggle economically, part of America's "Rust BeltRust Belt
The Rust Belt is a term that gained currency in the 1980s as the informal description of an area straddling the Midwestern and Northeastern United States, in which local economies traditionally garnered an increased manufacturing sector to add jobs and corporate profits...
". A Brookings Institute publication has cited reasons including a lack of inter-municipal coordination and cooperation, a changing employment base and a dearth of jobs paying a living wage, out-migration of young people, an aging population, the need for workforce development, and an inequitable local tax structure.
The Susquehanna Industrial Development Corporation (SIDCO) received $173,500 in planning grant funding (2005) to support the redevelopment of the Wilhold Manufacturing facility located in Sunbury. The BOS funding paid for a market study, phase II environmental study, wetland review, traffic impact study and title survey. The site, an 11.6 acres (46,943.6 m²) former rail yard and plastic manufacturing plant, is to be developed into four, 2 acres (8,093.7 m²) shovel-ready sites. It was suggested that the redevelopment of this facility will result in the creation of 120 jobs. The site was purchased by Moran Industries, based in Watsontown, for $200,000. Moran is using the space for food grade storage.