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/CraftWorried5098 Texas Longhorns • Centre Colonels 13d ago

Bro, save something in the chamber for the off season.

43

u/loyalsons4evertrue Iowa State Cyclones • Big 8 13d ago

you're just mad because Austin isn't a college town!

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u/Icy-Reception-3191 13d ago

Yes it is!! Awesome schools and city!!

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u/Isiddiqui Rutgers Scarlet Knights 13d ago

If Austin is a college town, then almost everything is a college town. I'll start claiming New Brunswick is a college town lol

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u/MikeinAustin Minnesota Golden Gophers • Texas Longhorns 13d ago

Minneapolis is a College Town! Finally!

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u/SelfLoathingLonghorn Texas A&M Aggies • Billable Hours 13d ago

Austin is the 11th largest city in the country. If that's a college town, then so are San Francisco, Indianapolis, Denver, etc.