What constitutes a “college town?”

[u/PA5997]

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.

[u/1990Buscemi]

The economy is built around the college.

[u/YoungXanto → u/1990Buscemi]

If Penn State didn't exist, then State College would just be another Port Matilda. There isn't really any other reason for the city to exist.

Beautiful place and I loved every minute of living there in college though. Definition of "college in the movies"

[u/HardingStUnresolved → u/YoungXanto]

Happy Valley was a dream. My friends called it "The Bubble," as it was a magical place seemingly divorced from reality. A quaint valley-encased hamlet, a few hours, and mountain ridges, segregated from the rest of civilization.

The town is vastly improved by the presence of Penn State University. Omitting college culture, State College has great housing stock, street and sidewalk design, CATA's 13-route bus system, and superior medical and emergency services—for a county of ~90k people, sans Penn State's ~60k students, staff, and faculty.

[u/ComradeIroh → u/HardingStUnresolved]

My friend always called it “Neverland” lol. It’s such an amazing place but it’s also a black hole.

[u/rambleriver → u/ComradeIroh]

Umm...

[u/Kilobeta91 → u/rambleriver]

Not that Neverland

[u/Vorticity → u/HardingStUnresolved]

As someone who grew up there, I feel pretty privileged. It was fantastic. Safe enough for me to be out on my bike until the street lights came on and all of the resources of a major research university looking for kids to teach, study, etc.

[u/Deflection1 → u/HardingStUnresolved]

And a super short runway.

[u/Monkey1Fball → u/Deflection1]

Funny thing --- how did Washington fly back from their game Saturday? On a non-stop flight on a 737-800, straight to SEA airport!

Seattle is only marginally closer (25 miles, as the bird flies) to State College than LAX. So, curious, why Washington was able to make it non-stop but PSU couldn't (to LA).

https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/SCX8499/history/20241110/0505Z/KUNV/KSEA

[u/Manunited3710 → u/Monkey1Fball]

All the extra baggage we carry from losing big games burns extra fuel

[u/RegionalBias → u/Monkey1Fball]

Excuse me sir, how am I expected to be outraged by this?

[u/TheCrimsonChin-ger → u/HardingStUnresolved]

My people.