Tuscarora School District
Encyclopedia
The Tuscarora School District is a public school district located in Franklin County, Pennsylvania
. It encompasses the borough of Mercersburg, as well as the townships of St. Thomas, Peters, Montgomery, and Warren.
The Tuscarora School District covers an area of 201 square miles (520.6 km²), stretching north-south from just south of 40 degrees north latitude to the Maryland border and from east of the 78 degree west longitude line to just west of Chambersburg, PA. The District is located within the borders of Franklin County in south-central Pennsylvania and includes the Borough of Mercersburg and Montgomery, Peters, St. Thomas and Warren townships. The District is primarily a rural agricultural area with a total population of approximately 17,000 people. The District consists of four K-5 elementary schools (Saint Thomas, Mountain View, Mercersburg, Montgomery), one grade 6-8 middle school (James Buchanan MS) and one grade 9-12 high school (James Buchanan HS). Tuscarora, the name of the mountain on the western boundary, is derived from the Tuscarora Tribe of the Iroquois Confederation. The Tribe came north from the Carolinas about 1713 and settled for a time along the mountains. The name Tuscarora comes from the Indian name Skaruron or hemp gatherers. Conococheague, the name of the creek that flows through the District on its way from the Path Valley south to the Potomac River, is an Indian name from the Delaware Tribe meaning clear water.
Franklin County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 129,313 people, 50,633 households, and 36,405 families residing in the county. The population density was 168 people per square mile . There were 53,803 housing units at an average density of 70 per square mile...
. It encompasses the borough of Mercersburg, as well as the townships of St. Thomas, Peters, Montgomery, and Warren.
The Tuscarora School District covers an area of 201 square miles (520.6 km²), stretching north-south from just south of 40 degrees north latitude to the Maryland border and from east of the 78 degree west longitude line to just west of Chambersburg, PA. The District is located within the borders of Franklin County in south-central Pennsylvania and includes the Borough of Mercersburg and Montgomery, Peters, St. Thomas and Warren townships. The District is primarily a rural agricultural area with a total population of approximately 17,000 people. The District consists of four K-5 elementary schools (Saint Thomas, Mountain View, Mercersburg, Montgomery), one grade 6-8 middle school (James Buchanan MS) and one grade 9-12 high school (James Buchanan HS). Tuscarora, the name of the mountain on the western boundary, is derived from the Tuscarora Tribe of the Iroquois Confederation. The Tribe came north from the Carolinas about 1713 and settled for a time along the mountains. The name Tuscarora comes from the Indian name Skaruron or hemp gatherers. Conococheague, the name of the creek that flows through the District on its way from the Path Valley south to the Potomac River, is an Indian name from the Delaware Tribe meaning clear water.
School Board of Directors
- Clifford A. Smith, Jr.-President
- Larry E. Funk-Vice President
- Guy N. Hollenshead-Treasurer
- Chris D. Ardinger (Incoming Member)
- Thomas C. Black
- Harold S. Hunsberger
- Daryl S. Hunsberger
- Daniel C. Reeder
- Erich E. Hawbaker
- Donald L. Piper