Coalition
Members

Apolacon Twp..
Bridgewater Twp.
Choconut Twp.
Forest Lake Twp.
Franklin Twp.
Jessup Twp.
Liberty Twp.
Middletown Twp.
Rush Twp.
Silver Lake Twp
Friendsville
Little Meadows
Montrose

IV. THE MUNICIPALITIES

APOLACON TOWNSHIP & LITTLE MEADOWS BOROUGH

Apolacon Township is located in the extreme northwestern corner of Susquehanna County approximately twenty miles southwest of Binghamton and is over ninety miles from the largest urban center in the region – Scranton, Pennsylvania. The township, as is the case with the entire NTC can be characterized as rural, with a sparse and dispersed population and little development. However a tight knit sense of community and strong family roots characterize the area. Much like other NTC townships a newcomer in the township is someone who arrived a decade or two ago, yet the general feeling is not one of exclusion but one of pride in the strong networks of families and friends that have made their home in the townships for generations.

Early History The township of Apolacon was established on November 27, 1846. The name Apolacon is one of many variations on the word “Appelacunck,” which means ‘from whence the messenger returned,’ and is also the basis for the nearby New York State town by the name of Appalachin. David Barney of New Hampshire made the first white settlement within the township that is now Apolacon near Little Meadows in 1800. By the time he arrived, only two known Native Americans were left in the area. After David Barney’s arrival, settlement continued along the creek. The population of the area was predominantly Irish and of Irish descent. By 1873, many orchards and small dairy farms were established in the area.

Recent Development According to the 2000 census, Apolacon Township is home to 507 residents. The population is constant – with only a 2% increase between 1990 and 2000. The demographic make up of the community is aging – with the age group of 65 and older dramatically increasing in the past decade. Apolacon is developing slowly as well. Between 1990 and 2000, 14 new housing units were constructed, a change of only 6 percent. Apolacon saw ten new subdivisions between 1998 and 2000 – with four new minor subdivisions and one major subdivision in 2000. The major industries in Apolacon, as is the case for many NTC communities, stems from timber harvesting and non-coal quarries. In recent decades, the former agricultural uses of the land have dwindled and the majority of the landscape has returned to forest.

Conservation Issues & Opportunities Apolacon and Little Meadows residents and the township supervisors expressed concern with loss of the family farms and sprawl from New York State. There are two farms in Little Meadows, one is the former Barney farm. One township supervisor of Apolacon owns the last remaining working farm in the township. NTC Landfills were also a concern, since a landfill had once been proposed for the State Line Quarry lands. Little Meadows supervisors also expressed interest in the possibility for a greenway running up the Apolacon Creek through the State Game Lands to Friendsville or onto Middletown Township along the Wyalusing Creek. They are also interested in main street redevelopment and street tree plantings along the Old Turnpike, which runs through the center of town.

CHOCONUT TOWNSHIP & FRIENDSVILLE BOROUGH

The Township of Choconut is located in the northern portion of Susquehanna County in northeastern Pennsylvania. It is in close proximity to Binghamton, Endicott and Johnson City where a large proportion of township residents work. The area has been a popular vacation spot for second homeowners and has experienced steady population growth in the last couple of decades. The township is rural, heavily wooded and a popular hunting and fishing area. On the southwest border of Choconut lies the borough of Friendsville (Figures 1 & 2) – a small historic borough that was at one time a population center for the area.

Early History Choconut Township was settled in 1806 and established as a township in 1813. The township derives its name from the stream that traverses the entire length of the township. Choconut was settled mainly by New Yorkers, and saw a significant influx of Quakers from Philadelphia. The Quaker influence in the area led to the naming of the borough to the southwest of the township – Friendsville in 1819. Friendsville became the prime commercial center of Choconut, Middletown and Forest Lake during the early 1800s, and was incorporated in 1846. The township’s first post office was built in 1829, and a second built in 1830. In 1839 Mannington Academy (a small boarding school held at John Mann’s residence) was opened. In 1814 the Choconut Baptist church was chartered, and in 1841 the Presbyterian church was erected in Friendsville.

Recent Development The township spans 20.1 square miles. 799 people resided in Choconut in 1990 and changing on to 797 people in 2000. The largest age group is between 25-44 years; however, the generally demographic trend for the township shows an aging population. The 45-65 year old age group grew by 39 percent between 1990 and 2000, and the 65 and older age group grew by 37 percent, while the younger age groups shrunk in size. The median household income in 1998 was $31,711, much larger than the Susquehanna County median. In 1990, some of the larger employment opportunities were sales and support, managerial, craft and repair, and operator/laborer. Most people work outside of Choconut because of the proximity to Binghamton, Endicott and Johnson City area. In 1998, Choconut’s land use divided into the following: 22% in agriculture, 60% in forest, 3% in residential, and 10% in new recreational land use. The township has seen little new development in the 1990s – both new subdivision development and new housing units have been stagnant. In terms of infrastructure, the township lacks public sewer, municipal water, zoning or building codes, however some areas have localized wastewater treatment facilities. Friendsville Borough is small (with 92 residents in 2000) and despite having a large area where on-site septic could be relatively easily supported, has seen little to no additional development in the 1990s.

Conservation Issues & Opportunities The Choconut Watershed Association is very active in the Township and the Supervisors are very interested in water quality issues. Of particular concern are flood plain construction and poorly conceived upland development, which have both contributed to the flashiness of the Choconut Creek and its tributaries. There is also a Heron rookery, which some township supervisors identified as a unique natural area. Great Blue Herons are a listed species in Pennsylvania and nesting areas are worthy of long term sustained conservation effort through both public and private initiatives. No Dairy farms remain in the Township or Friendsville, and wholesale development of the Choconut valley is a concern. Friendsville could sustain new development, but the heritage and historic qualities if the Borough should remain intact. Supervisors of both Choconut and Friendsville share the concern of other NTC municipalities with respect to land fills and loss of the rural quality of life

< previous section | return to index | next section >