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Northern Tier Coalition of Townships
Susquehanna County, PA
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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
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP
Franklin Township Lake lies on the eastern edge of the Northern Tier Coalition and is bordered by Liberty Township to the north and Bridgewater to the south. Franklin is home to Salt Springs State Park, a 400-acre public open space. Approximately 9,544 acres, or 63% of total land area, is forested. Franklin does not have recent numbers for agricultural land use; however, the majority of the farms in the Township are dairy. Snake Creek is the major water feature in the township.
Early History Franklin Township was officially established as a township in 1835. For many years in the early 1800s Franklin, now known as Franklin Forks, was the center of population for the Franklin-Liberty region. Franklin separated from Liberty over the issue of mandated public school. The early settlers were from Connecticut – specifically Cheshire in New Haven County, and were primarily Congregationalists. The township opened its first post office in 1811.
Recent Development According to the 2000 census, Franklin Township is home to 938 residents. The population is stable as compared to other NTC communities – with only a 2% increase between 1990 and 2000. The demographic make up of the township is not aging at the same rate as many of the other NTC communities, however, the general trend to an older demographic is true for the township. In terms of development, Franklin only grew four percent in the decade of the 1990s. Between 1990 and 2000 only 19 new housing units were constructed to give Franklin a total of 484 housing units. Franklin also saw 8 new subdivisions between 1998 and 2000 – with no new subdivisions in 2000. Recent residential development in Franklin is primarily occurring along Snake Creek and Route 29. There is no sewer or water infrastructure in the township. Properties are serviced by private well and septic systems and there are no schools in the township.
Conservation Issues and Opportunities Franklin township has the one State Park in the entire County, Salt Springs State Park, which was just supplemented with the Feldstein Purchase. Conserving the area around the Park, as well as in the watersheds of the streams that run through the park, i.e. the Fall Brook and the Silver Creek are of importance to the quality of the park. This goes hand in glove with the recreational interests of some of the supervisors and others in the township who are avid sportsmen and snowmobilers. Roadside development and loss of prime agriculture land along the Snake Creek are also an issue in the township. The Snake Creek is very important riparian habitat in the area and also a fine trout stream. Therefore, the township is likely to be supportive of efforts to limit future development in this corridor. The supervisors were interested in understanding rural zoning better and how that could work for them in their township.
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP
Liberty Township Lake lies in the northeastern corner of the Northern Tier Coalition and is within relatively short driving distance of the I-81 corridor as well as the major populations centers of Binghamton and Scranton. About 75 % of Liberty residents work in New York State. The township is extremely rural and forested, with some agricultural activity and a larger proportion of the quarries then many other townships in the NTC. The township is known for its recreational resources including Snake Creek which runs the length of the township, an excellent trout stream). Two private camps, Camp Iroquois and the internationally renowned Camp Susquehanock are located in Liberty.
Early History Liberty Township (along with Franklin) was originally known as “Old Lawsville” and was the less settled of the two townships comprising Lawsville. Sheep, corn and rye were the main products of the township and along the banks of the Snake Creek grew up a significant agricultural community. Timothy Pickering was the first settler in the area. In 1830, the first post office was established at Lawsville Center, the primary hamlet in the township. Development also grew around Brookdale as grist and sawmills were built. A fine Baptist church was built in 1868 and the Union- Sabbath school was built at Lawsville Center and enjoyed over seventy students and ten teachers.
Recent Development According to the 2000 Census, Liberty Township has a population of 1,266 persons. Unlike many of the other NTC townships, Liberty is losing population – the township experienced a seven percent decline in population between 1990 and 2000. This decline is currently being challenged as local officials are sure that this decline is due to a low census form return rate. Liberty is also showing a decline in housing units (again a possible error in the return rate.) The township saw a total of 12 new subdivisions in the 1998-2000 period, but only one in 2000. Liberty’s development pattern is primarily residential and the township has experienced concentrated growth around Bel-Aire Lake and the Liberty Court Mobile Home Park, both may require sewage treatment in the future. Second-home developments are around Tripp Lake and Bel-Aire Lake. As is the case with Franklin Township, residential development is occurring along Snake Creek and Route 29. Properties are serviced by private well and septic systems as there is no sewer or water infrastructure in the township.
Conservation Issues and Opportunities Development along Snake Creek is of particular concern in Liberty, because the riparian corridor is ideal for residential development and the yet, creek and its corridor is the most important water resource, wildlife habitat, farming soils and recreation area in the Township. There is an added level of concern for development, because of Liberty’s proximity to the New York and the recent industrial/commercial development just across the border. In fact, Liberty was the first township in the NTC to develop a comprehensive plan and more stringent subdivision regulations in order to counteract the perceived New York born sprawl. Loss of rural livelihoods and rural scenic quality are also of prime concern to the supervisors and many of their constituents.