Freeburg, Pennsylvania

Freeburg is a borough in Snyder County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 575 at the 2010 census.

Freeburg, Pennsylvania
Borough
Market Street (PA 35) in 2013
Location of Freeburg in Snyder County, Pennsylvania.
Freeburg Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Freeburg Freeburg (the United States) Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 40°45′50″N 76°56′15″W
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Snyder
Settled	1796
Incorporated (borough)	1920
Area [1]
• Total	0.32 sq mi (0.83 km^2)
• Land	0.32 sq mi (0.83 km^2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km^2)
Elevation [2] (center of borough)	525 ft (160 m)
Highest elevation [2] (western and northeastern borough boundary)	580 ft (180 m)
Lowest elevation [2] (Susquehecka Creek)	482 ft (147 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	575
• Estimate  (2019)[3]	566
• Density	1,774.29/sq mi (685.34/km^2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST)
• Summer (DST)	EDT
FIPS code	42-27696

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.3 square miles (0.78 km²), all of it land.

Freeburg is surrounded by Washington Township.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	523		—
1890	540		3.3%
1930	391		—
1940	467		19.4%
1950	506		8.4%
1960	575		13.6%
1970	636		10.6%
1980	643		1.1%
1990	640		−0.5%
2000	584		−8.7%
2010	575		−1.5%
Est. 2019	566	[3]	−1.6%
Sources:[4][5][6]

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 584 people, 242 households, and 171 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,066.6 people per square mile (805.3/km²). There were 248 housing units at an average density of 877.6 per square mile (342.0/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.32% White, 0.34% African American, 0.17% Asian, and 0.17% from two or more races.

There were 242 households, out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 23.6% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $30,729, and the median income for a family was $40,357. Males had a median income of $29,821 versus $20,625 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $15,893. About 4.5% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Freeburg is governed by a seven-member elected borough council. The Borough Council meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the Freeburg/Washington Township School Building. There is also an elected mayor, a tax collector and a Water and Sewer Authority representative.

Subdivisions are reviewed by the Freeburg Borough Council and Snyder County Planning Commission and approved by the Borough Council.

The Freeburg Polling place is the Freeburg Community Building. The Snyder County Election Calendar follows the state's calendar. Nomination Petitions (for party members) and Nomination Papers (for Independents) can be obtained at the Commissioners Office in the Snyder County Courthouse.[7]

History

Andrew Straub in approximately 1796 laid out the village of Freeburg, Snyder County, PA, which at first was known as 'Straubstown' but later changed to Freeburg. He gave a plot of land to form a church and graveyard. The grave yard is called the Evergreen Cemetery.

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 online 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. It offers specialized reading programs for children year round. Some programs are also provided for adults.

Degenstein Community Library 40 South Fifth Street, Sunbury, Northumberland County, PA 17801 570-286-2461

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.

Schools

Map of Snyder County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts

Freeburg once had a number of educational institutions including the Freeburg High School/Freeburg Washington Elementary School, the Freeburg Academy, and The Moyer Musical College.

Freeburg High School/Freeburg Washington Elementary School - The Freeburg High School was opened in 1895 in a newly erected two-story brick building. The school became famous for both its success on the sport's field as well in the classroom. In 1953 Freeburg High School graduated its last class. In 1994 members of the board of directors of the Selinsgrove School board voted to close Freeburg-Washington Elementary School.

Freeburg Academy - The Freeburg Academy prospered from 1855 to 1895. The building was twice burned to the ground. The second of which was never rebuilt. In 1870, boarding, bedding and tuition for a semester of 11 weeks cost $40.00.

Freeburg Musical College - Frederick C. Moyer established the Freeburg Musical College in 1871. The musical College was located on the northwest corner of South and Market Streets. The three story building contained dormitories for its students and the third floor held a concert hall with a capacity of 600 as well as other studios. The school year consisted of three termswhich varied in length from 6–8 weeks. The Musical College was permanently abandoned in 1907.

Selinsgrove Area School District is the local public school. There are approximately 2900 students clustered on a campus located in Selinsgrove borough. Selinsgrove Area High School has about 960 students in grades 9-12. The Selinsgrove Area Middle School serves students in grades 6-8 using a team teaching approach. Selinsgrove Area Intermediate School has students grades 3-5. Primary grades are at Selinsgrove Area Elementary School. Kindergarten is located at Jackson Penn School. Public school busing is provided.

Enrollment in the district is declining and is projected to continue to decline for the next decade.[8][9]

In 2005, Standard & Poors reported the district's student teacher ratio was 15.9 to 1.[10]

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.

Residents

Notes

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
2. "Salem Topo Map, Snyder County PA (Freeburg Area)". TopoZone. Locality, LLC. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
4. "Census of Population and Housing". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
5. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
6. "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 17 June 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
7. "County Government directory".
8. "SASD Demographic report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-27.
9. "PreK-12 school statistics Enrollment Projections".
10. Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine School Matters report on Selinsgrove Area School District, Standard & Poors.