Just A Small Town World…?
STATE COLLEGE, Pa- State College is one of the most well-known college towns in the nation. It is located in the center of Pennsylvania. Some students say they cannot wait to leave this town when they graduate. What is the reason why some stay or other people come to live here? What does State College have to offer?
Penn State is one of the finest institutions in Pennsylvania. This makes State College an attractive place to live. State College is an easy journey for people who live in Pennsylvania. It is about three hours from major cities such as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. State College has attracted many people to live. In 2019, the population was over 42,000 residents. State College is close to other cities such as Bellefonte. State College, like any town, has its pros and cons.
Sara Wilson is a 40-year-old woman living in State College Wilson is a lead process specialist for medical records at Mount Nittany Health. She has lived in the area since 2000. It is safe to say she’s seen changes over her 22 years here.
This Penn State graduate was drawn to State College because she liked the college atmosphere. “I enjoy the closeness of everything and having a ‘downtown’ and nightlife. I like how State College has a city feel without the crime,” Wilson said.
John Joseph Delahanty is another State College resident. Delahanty is Wilson’s 42-year-old life partner. Delahanty has lived in the area for 16 years. Similar to “the love of his life” he enjoys the culture. He’s made many friends and every Tuesday they play poker together. Delahanty and Wilson have three children. They have two girls and a boy. State College has a well-respected school system. This is a plus for them.
Kat Murray, a 30-year-old resident, also likes this fact. Murray has a six-year-old child, Clay. She mentioned how she wanted to make sure she lived in the area so Clay could benefit from the school system.
Marley Fultz is a 28-year-old resident of the State College area. She grew up in the neighboring Penns Valley. Fultz is also a Penn State graduate. Similar to the aforementioned couple, Fultz likes the atmosphere here, especially during football season. She likes to be able to walk to the bars or take a short Uber trip. “I have a lot of friends here. The people are so welcoming. It’s for that reason why I never considered leaving,” Fultz said.
Fultz also likes the fact that there are many things to do outside the “downtown”. There is Mount Nittany, a great place to hike. She likes that there are places to kayak. She also enjoys the many wineries the area has to offer.
Sam Mato is a 30-year-old commercial constructor and bouncer at Cafe 210 West. Mato describes himself as a redneck and loves the country vibe that is synonymous with State College. His favorite pastime is going camping with his girlfriend, Megan Sylvia.
State College is not without its issues. A major point that these individuals pointed is the lack of diversity. Penn State continues to make efforts increasing diversity. Minorities are not comfortable living here because of the demographic. The demographic is primarily white and conservative. Once the public becomes more open to change, this will lead to more diversity.
Another major problem is the lack of affordable housing. This keeps the minorities away and it makes it harder for the locals to find housing. Most of the jobs are hourly pay. Ask any local and the one thing they hate is the high-rise buildings.
Wilson, in particular, explained how the town is losing its small-town charm. All of the residents struggle to find homes within their price range. Mato and Murray, for example, find themselves looking out for a place to rent each other. This lack of affordable housing makes Mato consider leaving.
Despite its flaws, State College still attracts many people to live there. “The lack of diversity and affordable housing are major issues. However, the pros to the area are what keep us here,” Wilson said.
