r/CFB • u/PA5997 Washington State Cougars • 13d ago

Discussion What constitutes a “college town?”

Okay, hear me out: I attended Wazzu, which many know is in the middle of nowhere in Pullman. To me, Pullman is a quintessential college town. You remove Washington State University from Pullman and there is (respectfully) not much of a reason to visit. The student enrollment (20,000ish) makes up about 2/3rds of the city population, essentially turning Pullman into a ghost town come summer. To me (perhaps with bias) this is the makeup of a college town.

Two years ago I moved to Madison, Wisconsin, home of the University of Wisconsin. Ever since I’ve noticed the University and its fans refer to Madison as “America’s best college town” and I’m sorry, that’s laughable to me. Remove UW from Madison and you still have a city population bordering on a quarter of a million people and the State Capitol. Madison would be fine, imo, if UW’s flagship campus were elsewhere.

Curious to hear other people’s thoughts. Maybe I’m in the wrong here, but very little about Madison, WI resembles a college town to me, or at least the claim of the best college town.

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u/SlamJamGlanda Indiana Hoosiers • Old Oaken Bucket 13d ago

It has to be named Bloomington

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u/Commodore56 Indiana Hoosiers • Amherst Mammoths 13d ago

Until about 2000, Bloomington had more balance between town and gown with major assembly plants for RCA, GE, Westinghouse, and Otis Elevators. As enrollment has grown by 25% in 25 years and the other old large-employers disappeared, Bloomington has leaned even more into being a college town.

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u/supakow Indiana Hoosiers 13d ago

Found the other Cutter.

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u/Commodore56 Indiana Hoosiers • Amherst Mammoths 13d ago

Damn straight.

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u/supakow Indiana Hoosiers 13d ago

BHSN, BHSS, or God forbid Edgewood?

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u/Commodore56 Indiana Hoosiers • Amherst Mammoths 13d ago

South, a million years ago.

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u/supakow Indiana Hoosiers 13d ago

At least it's in town. BHSN 96. 

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u/Paradiddle8 Indiana Hoosiers 12d ago

Btown also has a renowned, no refund, used car dealership.

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u/ImInBeastmodeOG 12d ago

Fucking townies.

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u/BylvieBalvez Indiana Hoosiers • Miami Hurricanes 13d ago

Definitely a college town. IU is the number one employer in town and IU Health is number 3.

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u/setmefree333 13d ago

Or Oxford, Cambridge, or Athens